Thanks to their varied uses, kitchen islands are now a regular feature in our homes. Islands provide a place for family to come together, extra storage and prep space, while also housing appliances, and as our love of open-plan living continues to grow, it seems kitchen islands are definitely here to stay. Here’s how to make the most of yours.
Create a colour contrast with a painted island
Simply painting your island in a contrasting but complementary colour to the rest of your kitchen cabinetry will set it apart, and you can be as bold or as subtle as you like. We like the combination of fresh white or warm ivory cabinetry with the vibrancy of deep reds or powder blues for the island.
Light grey cabinetry also works particularly well with a smoky or charcoal grey island. If you’ve been browsing kitchen designs recently, then you’ll know that painted grey kitchens are hugely popular right now, and create an elegant finish in a variety of styles, from contemporary and classic, to country and traditional.
Before you commit to a new paint colour for your island, browse a range of colours to create a shortlist of favourites. Next, look at your preferred colours in your home so you can see can get a true sense of how the colours will appear in your kitchen. Factors to consider are lighting, the kitchen’s orientation and other colours in the room. Prestige Painting has a vast range of painted colour samples to choose from, which helps to make the search for your perfect island colour all the easier.
Splash out on a new worktop
Changing your island’s countertop is another way to transform your kitchen. For contemporary kitchens, materials such as granite, stainless steel and quartz are good options. Granite and quartz worktops are sleek, durable, and available in a variety of colours, while stainless steel provides a modern finish with an emphasis on the practical and durable.
Marble creates the same luxurious finish as granite and quartz, but it’s more susceptible to chips and stains. Honed and sealed marble, however, will ensure your new island worktop is fit for the demands of food preparation, cooking, and dining – basically, everyday kitchen life. If you’re looking for a slice of opulence, then it’s also worth considering granite, quartz or marble countertops for the luxurious finish they create.
Rustic, country or traditional style kitchens with a matching island will complement lighter shades of granite or quartz, as well as solid wood or laminate worktops. Look for creams, greys and whites both plain and veined to find the best fit for your island and kitchen.
Solid wood worktops in a country, rustic and traditional-style kitchen creates an harmonious and natural finish. Small kitchens will benefit from the golden tones and freshness of light maple or beech, while larger kitchens can opt for deep walnut or rich oak worktops.
If you’re on a budget, then a laminate countertop is a good option. Some modern laminates offer a true-likeness to real wood or granite, but at a fraction of the price. Ultimately, it’s best to choose an island worktop that fits your lifestyle, one that you’re happy to maintain over the years, and of course, one that creates a unified decor with the rest of your kitchen.
Finally, if you would like your island to also serve as a casual dining area, choose an overhanging worktop and complete the look with counter or bar stools in your preferred style.
Design, build and install
Bespoke kitchen island designed and installed.
If you have your eye on a new kitchen island, then we can help make this happen. We recently worked with Mike of Clever Carpentry in a south Dublin home to design, build and install a new island for our clients.
The end result was a bespoke island, designed to meet our clients’ needs while complementing their existing decor. The island catered for casual dining with a breakfast bar area, provided handy storage by way of presses and open shelving, and it also gave the kitchen a modern focal point.
Kitchen islands have the scope to provide a multitude of functions, while enhancing your decor. Drop us a line at Prestige Painting for a chat about a new kitchen island or for advice on how to revamp and get the most out of an older island.