Studio MB...don't mean to hijack this thread, however we are about to replace our current curved island countertop and looking to both extend our current kitchen island and change the shape to rectangular. The current base of the island (without the countertop) is 3 x 5'6" and we would like to extend it to 4.5 x 7.25 with posts at either end. The inside opening will be 63" with a clearance of 19" for seating. The reason for the weird/odd extension is that we would like to make the island as big as possible and still have the recommended clearance in the kitchen for prep and etc. I would post picture of our current area, however unable to do so. Thank you!

I’m lucky enough that I get to build a custom house. Yes, lucky! 2 islands or 1 island that opens into the great room? I've never seen a two-island kitchen that I liked /thought flowed well /had a good traffic pattern. Waste of space. Btw I hate kitchen tables, I dont know why- I guess I have always loved being in the middle of the chaos. We will have a kitchen table- but it will probably only be used on holidays. If you hate kitchen tables, don't include a kitchen table. It'll be something around which you'll have to clean, and it'll always irritate you ... even if it is useful on holidays. For my money, though -- in general terms, without seeing the space -- I'd rather have one island for working and a kitchen table for sitting. Hon, aging parents don't want to dine nightly at an island:) No one of any age wants to dine at an island. You can't see /interact with the rest of the family from a typical island position. Mealtime is important. It's not a time to line up like birds on a wire. If you do stick with the island-as-dining-area, be sure to choose stools that work well for elderly people. I have SWIVEL bar stools that are exactly "butt high", and my mother loved them just after her hip replacement. She could "slide onto" the stool, then swivel to face the peninsula. On the other hand, I hated my daughter's college apartment barstools, which were about a foot higher than my rear end (and that was her only dining spot ... she said they never used it because the whole thing was just too high). but a 35 foot long kitchen is likely going to be a huge regret. Consider that you're talking about a kitchen the length of a THREE CAR GARAGE. Let that visual sink in. You're going to lose "human proportion" in something that size. Bigger rarely means better, though it usually does mean more expensive. Often very large kitchens are less functional, and less welcoming, because they are just too big, and require too much walking, and family members aren’t connecting because everyone is spaced too far apart. Yes. This. Actually 10ft ceilings because I don’t want to cool 12ft ceilings. And we are using ikea cabinets. The counters will be expensive, the flooring will be same same thorough out the entire house at $2.99/ sq Foot. Appliance package is $10k. I just dont see where $300k comes from. People around here are prone to making up huge numbers without any justification to formula such bottom lines (aside from a grasp at huge size = huge price). However, I see a couple things that will run up your prices: - You're talking about a huge, bloated kitchen. Everything will end up being expensive just because of the size. - The cabinets (even using Ikea) will add up to more than you expect -- 10' is very high, and you'll probably go with stacked cabinets; that's a whole extra "row" of cabinets for which you'll have to pay. - You've already said you want expensive countertops ... inch for inch, they'll cost even more than the cabinets. - You'll need lots of lighting for an oversized kitchen. - You say appliances are 10K ... do you know the brands /models for that price, or is that an allowance? - Consider, too, that once you build this giant space, things are going to need replacing. Those Ikea cabinets won't last forever. You'll grow tired of that lovely countertop one day. And then you're tied into big costs for renovations too. And I don’t like cozy. I love large, open and airy. What I hear you describing is natural light ... not more square footage. I’m not skimping on floors. I just like the wood look tile floors and happenEd to find a tile I like for $2.99. Talk to your parents about whether they're okay with tile. I stand up on tile all day while I'm teaching -- it's hard on my knees, and I'm not really old yet (early 50s). Added storage cabinets are always a plus. A more reasonable (and affordable choice) is a walk-in pantry. A pantry stores food, small appliances, and more more efficiently than expensive cabinetry.

If the fixture isn't part of a collection such that you can buy different variations on a theme easily, I find it's best to at least stay with the same manufacturer so that the finishes match. "Gun metal" and "coffee ombre" are going to mean different things to different manufacturers and in fact may not exist with other makers. But if the fixtures are far enough away from each other that no one can really make a direct comparison you can get close but not match and no one will notice. I think @acm has provided you with some good options that are thinking outside the box a bit.

For various reasons, I removed the island from our final kitchen plan. It was a difficult decision, but after time and thought, I’m positive it was the correct one. So now, as we wait for our project to really get going, I spend time researching how I want to go forward once the kitchen is complete and I’m ready to furnish it, primarily with a new dining table and some sort of island or work table to fill the space available in the working portion of the room. Today I came across this company and while browsing their products hit upon the idea of purchasing a “matching” dining table and island. In other words, choosing the same finish on both pieces. They have so many choices I think I’d be able to put something together to make me happy. https://www.vintagemillwerks.com/product-category/kitchen-islands/ https://www.vintagemillwerks.com/product-category/tables/ I haven’t thought too deeply into exactly what finishes I’d go for, but probably the dining table would have the same painted finish on the top and the base, and the island would have a matching painted finish on the base, with a wood stain top. I tried to look for photos of kitchens with matching dining tables and islands, but wasn’t able to come up with much. Am I not thinking about this correctly, because it seems like a good idea to me. Also, even though I’m sure to get feedback on the layout itself, it is definitely cast in stone at this point. I don’t really mind people telling me what I could have done better, but that ship has sailed. What I’m really looking for is advice, experience, pictures or opinions about the idea of matching a dining table and kitchen island. Thanks - Here are my final layout and finish choices for reference: (This is a picture I found online with Arlington Grey quartz and a very similar SS sink and cabinets)