Before and After: 3 Kitchen Remodels That Added a Large Island
Home pros, including one found on Houzz, create stylish family hubs with storage, shelving and microwave drawers
Becky Harris
February 27, 2023
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia.
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More
Kitchen islands, particularly large islands, remain a popular feature in remodels. More than half (55%) of homeowners remodeling a kitchen either add an island or upgrade an existing one, according to the 2023 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study. Three-quarters of the islands are 6 feet or longer.
In addition to seating, islands can be used to add storage and prep space, a sink and dishwasher, cookbook shelves or a microwave drawer. Style-wise, they provide a place to introduce a contrasting countertop material or cabinet finish.
Here’s a look at three kitchens that gained a beautiful large island as a result of a renovation and how they function within the kitchen.
In addition to seating, islands can be used to add storage and prep space, a sink and dishwasher, cookbook shelves or a microwave drawer. Style-wise, they provide a place to introduce a contrasting countertop material or cabinet finish.
Here’s a look at three kitchens that gained a beautiful large island as a result of a renovation and how they function within the kitchen.
1. Waterfall Counter Provides a Pretty View
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: An active family of four
Location: Reston, Virginia
Size: 308 square feet (29 square meters)
Designers: Mina Fies and Emily Bickl of Synergy Design & Construction
Before: These Reston, Virginia, homeowners wanted a larger kitchen and a great-room layout. With the help of designers Mina Fies and Emily Bickl of Synergy Design & Construction, they took over an existing dining room space and opened up the kitchen to a newly configured living room-dining room space. This took the kitchen from 130 square feet to 308 square feet and transformed it into a hub for the family of four.
Find a local design-build firm on Houzz
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: An active family of four
Location: Reston, Virginia
Size: 308 square feet (29 square meters)
Designers: Mina Fies and Emily Bickl of Synergy Design & Construction
Before: These Reston, Virginia, homeowners wanted a larger kitchen and a great-room layout. With the help of designers Mina Fies and Emily Bickl of Synergy Design & Construction, they took over an existing dining room space and opened up the kitchen to a newly configured living room-dining room space. This took the kitchen from 130 square feet to 308 square feet and transformed it into a hub for the family of four.
Find a local design-build firm on Houzz
After: Expanding the kitchen allowed for a large island that serves as a hub within the hub. It measures 9⅓ by 4½ feet.
The waterfall countertop combined with the blackened green cabinet paint makes the island a lovely focal point within the large, open space. This side of the island has seating and cabinet storage.
Cabinet paint: Dakota Shadow by Benjamin Moore; chandelier: Rami, Matteo Lighting; countertops: Calacatta Gold, Silestone by Cosentino
Shop for kitchen island lighting
The waterfall countertop combined with the blackened green cabinet paint makes the island a lovely focal point within the large, open space. This side of the island has seating and cabinet storage.
Cabinet paint: Dakota Shadow by Benjamin Moore; chandelier: Rami, Matteo Lighting; countertops: Calacatta Gold, Silestone by Cosentino
Shop for kitchen island lighting
The interior side of the island has numerous drawers, two electrical outlets and a 24-inch stainless steel microwave drawer. It also helps complete a work triangle between the fridge, sink and range, providing plenty of prep space.
Learn more about this kitchen renovation
Learn more about this kitchen renovation
2. Island Time Is Family Time
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: An empty-nest couple
Location: Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota
Size: 478 square feet (44 square meters)
Designer: Kate Roos of Kate Roos Design
Builder: Hamann’s Custom Carpentry
Before: When these Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota, empty nesters found designer Kate Roos on Houzz, their biggest priority for their kitchen renovation was to encourage family time. The couple love to host large family gatherings at their home. And gathering and working in the kitchen together is one of their favorite activities.
The original kitchen was dark because none of the finishes reflected the light coming in from the windows. The original island seated three and faced a wall with a door to the family room. Roos’ assignment included brightening up the room, making it more functional and improving the flow.
Find a kitchen remodeler
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: An empty-nest couple
Location: Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota
Size: 478 square feet (44 square meters)
Designer: Kate Roos of Kate Roos Design
Builder: Hamann’s Custom Carpentry
Before: When these Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota, empty nesters found designer Kate Roos on Houzz, their biggest priority for their kitchen renovation was to encourage family time. The couple love to host large family gatherings at their home. And gathering and working in the kitchen together is one of their favorite activities.
The original kitchen was dark because none of the finishes reflected the light coming in from the windows. The original island seated three and faced a wall with a door to the family room. Roos’ assignment included brightening up the room, making it more functional and improving the flow.
Find a kitchen remodeler
After: The kitchen space remained about the same size but is now open to the dining room on the right. This makes it feel larger and airier. Roos designed a new long island and turned it 90 degrees to improve flow. The island measures approximately 4½ by 8 feet. This size and layout maintain wide work aisles and allow traffic to move comfortably between the rooms. And the seating area now enjoys a view out the windows.
One potential issue large islands can pose is being so hefty they overwhelm the room. Roos addressed this here by balancing quartzite on the working side of the island with a walnut waterfall counter on the seating side. “We were able to break up its heaviness by adding the walnut breakfast bar on the end,” she says. “It gives you a lot of nice counter surface, and it also gives you a place to sit and eat that’s a little bit softer and warmer than the stone.”
Browse counter stools in the Houzz Shop
One potential issue large islands can pose is being so hefty they overwhelm the room. Roos addressed this here by balancing quartzite on the working side of the island with a walnut waterfall counter on the seating side. “We were able to break up its heaviness by adding the walnut breakfast bar on the end,” she says. “It gives you a lot of nice counter surface, and it also gives you a place to sit and eat that’s a little bit softer and warmer than the stone.”
Browse counter stools in the Houzz Shop
The homeowners requested grab-and-go dish space on the side of the island, and the result is one of Roos’ favorite features. The monolithic-look quartz niches are also handy for cookbooks and display items.
Almost half the participants in the Houzz survey said they chose an island base color that contrasts with the rest of the kitchen cabinets, and this island is a good example of the trend. Picking up on the subtle greens in the quartzite, Roos selected Benjamin Moore’s Dark Pewter paint for the island cabinetry.
She also tucked a row of electrical outlets just under the countertop on the working side of the island. This keeps them handy but out of sight. In addition, the island has a microwave drawer and drawers in various sizes for different storage needs.
Learn more about this kitchen renovation
Almost half the participants in the Houzz survey said they chose an island base color that contrasts with the rest of the kitchen cabinets, and this island is a good example of the trend. Picking up on the subtle greens in the quartzite, Roos selected Benjamin Moore’s Dark Pewter paint for the island cabinetry.
She also tucked a row of electrical outlets just under the countertop on the working side of the island. This keeps them handy but out of sight. In addition, the island has a microwave drawer and drawers in various sizes for different storage needs.
Learn more about this kitchen renovation
3. Long, Narrow Island Allows for Easy Flow
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with two sons
Location: Basking Ridge, New Jersey
Size: 343 square feet (32 square meters)
Designer: Carly Gockeler of KraftMaster Renovations
Before: As their sons entered their teenage years, this suburban New Jersey couple needed the kitchen to keep up. Wanting a more open and airy layout with a welcoming style, they looked at inspiration photos on Houzz, then hired designer Carly Gockeler to help them update the space. She incorporated an unused adjacent playroom, practically doubling the 173-square-foot kitchen’s size to 343 square feet. With all this new floor space, there was an opportunity to add the kitchen island.
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with two sons
Location: Basking Ridge, New Jersey
Size: 343 square feet (32 square meters)
Designer: Carly Gockeler of KraftMaster Renovations
Before: As their sons entered their teenage years, this suburban New Jersey couple needed the kitchen to keep up. Wanting a more open and airy layout with a welcoming style, they looked at inspiration photos on Houzz, then hired designer Carly Gockeler to help them update the space. She incorporated an unused adjacent playroom, practically doubling the 173-square-foot kitchen’s size to 343 square feet. With all this new floor space, there was an opportunity to add the kitchen island.
After: The new kitchen, which has farmhouse-inspired style, is longer than it is wide. Working within the room’s new proportions, Gockeler designed a narrow island to serve the main work area of the kitchen. This creates an open flow for working within the kitchen and for traffic through it. The back of the kitchen has an eat-in area.
The long, narrow island measures 9½ by 2⅕ feet. It features a quartz countertop with marble-like veining and a rustic alder base. These two materials provide a balance of elegance and warmth in the kitchen. Gockeler created a recess on one side of the island where two counter stools can be tucked away when not in use.
Learn more about this kitchen renovation
Learn more about this kitchen renovation
The working side of the island has electrical outlets and lots of storage. This includes deep drawers for ergonomic storage of pots, pans and other kitchen implements, another growing trend among homeowners remodeling their kitchens.
Your turn: Do you have a kitchen island or are you considering adding one in a remodel? How do you want it to function within your kitchen? Please share your favorite things about kitchen islands in the Comments.
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Your turn: Do you have a kitchen island or are you considering adding one in a remodel? How do you want it to function within your kitchen? Please share your favorite things about kitchen islands in the Comments.
More on Houzz
Read more kitchen stories
Browse kitchen photos
Shop for kitchen products
Find a pro to help with your kitchen remodeling project
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I like #3, except if it were my kitchen, I'd go with a different counter top. I'm not a huge fan of the white with white cabinets. The rest, especially the wood used on the island, is very nice.
My kitchen included an eat in area when we purchased the house, but was severely lacking in storage. I found a fantastic low dresser from Ethan Allen and gave it a complete face lift including paint (Rain by Sherwin Williams) which contrasted beautifully with my oak cabinets, along with a rustic butcher block top which was a nod to the farmhouse (which my house happens to be!
Adding one in my remodel. 11 ft long, 36 in deep. Can't wait.