What will you be using the kitchen island for? How would you like it designed to fit in with your needs? We have seen the kitchen island on many wish lists and right at the top, and this kitchen trend will continue to grow as many homeowners are now opting to improve their homes rather than move.
Why are they so popular? There are many reasons why the island is popular, so many options to choose from and a place where everything can be. They have different purposes for example some are designed specifically for food prep with a seating area and plenty of storage and others are the cooking central. You can also have the island hand-painted in an alternative colour to the rest of the cabinetry to make a ‘wow’ statement.
What will the island be for? Are you after an entertaining place where you can gather with friends over a glass of wine and a wine cooler is on hand? Will it be where you prep food as well as cook those delicious recipes from your latest cookbook?
When it comes down to the planning of the kitchen island you want to make sure you discuss with the designer exactly how you plan to use it. This then allows the design to be exactly what you are after and a treasured piece of handmade bespoke furniture for a very long time.
Here at Planet Furniture, we are a family-owned business and have been creating beautiful, bespoke kitchens and fine-fitted furniture for over 20 years. We pride ourselves on being truly bespoke and having an exceptional reputation which we are incredibly proud of.
You want to make sure it’s perfect for you and your lifestyle and a truly handmade bespoke island has endless possibilities. Below we take a look at many examples from our projects to help you decide what works for you and your home.
Bright & Versatile, Tewin Project
Our client wanted to create a bright and fresh hub of the home where the island would be a beautiful feature. The island blue has been inspired by the blue ribbon found on Louis Vuitton’s luxurious gift boxes. This statement piece soon becomes part of the conversation as well as offering a multi-functional area for the kitchen – including storage and the induction hob.
Elegant & Nautical, Hertfordshire Project
We worked in this huge space in a newly built barn to create the perfect family kitchen and living space. Our client opted for the island to be hand-painted in blue to match the gorgeous Lacanche range cooker. It serves as a multi-functional unit as it’s where the sink sits, integrated storage and a seating area, where two worktop materials can be seen and a raised bar.
Light & Fresh Country, Hertfordshire Project
For this 1920s home, a prep island was created that’s open at the front complete with slated timber at the bottom. It becomes the ideal functional piece of the kitchen. Hand-painting the island in a darker hue than the rest of the cabinetry, it looks delightful in this hygge design.
Bold & Smart, Haynes Project
In this bold, green kitchen, is where we find this multi-functional island. It serves as a large prep area, seating two guests and is filled with plenty of storage. It’s the ideal space when you want to whip up a cake mixture!
Beautiful & Neutral, Digswell Project
Nestled in the beautiful countryside, the Digswell island looks wonderful in green that matches the light olive Lacanche. It’s a nice-sized island as it seats 6 guests, houses the sink and is full of storage.
Sleek & Handleless, Preston Project
What makes this island special is the combination of worktops, where the solid planked oak breakfast bar lies, raised and creates a great seating area where guests can sit sociably. It is built and works around a structural post in the middle of the room and is also home to great storage solutions.
Fresh In-Frame, Hertfordshire Project
The new project we bring to our portfolio is this fresh and beautiful In-Frame shaker kitchen located in the stunning countryside of Hertfordshire. A decent-sized room to work with and plenty of room to incorporate a kitchen island. Our client wanted something that stood out and had some character to it, so we designed the seating area as a curve – this allows the space to be more social. It also became the home for the sink and extra storage.
Blue In-Frame, Hitchin Project
A practical island and a design that fills the room with purpose. Large in size and hand-painted in a dark hue, this one seems to be a popular one on socials. An ideal place where you can pull up a chair for brunch, children can complete their homework or the dishes can be washed while still entertaining guests.
Fresh Handleless, Royston Project
To make this an eye-catching feature in this large open-plan space, our client opted for it to be hand-painted in a blue tone that complemented the crisp white of the main cabinetry. Our clients were after maximising as much light and minimising the clutter in their new kitchen design. The island consists of a seating area, lots of storage and a hob where the views can be taken in.
Lay-On Shaker, Lower Stondon Project
This handmade bespoke kitchen island in Lower Stondon is fully functional, including a seating area for four, large pan drawers below the induction hob and cutlery/utensil drawers on either side with double-door storage cabinets below. This space at the back of the property features a banquette seating area as well as a snug and the island acts as a divider.
In-Frame Industrial, Baldock Project
Sat in front of a Fisher & Paykel stainless steel fridge freezer, a long island is seen. This large piece of furniture has many functions to it, a seating area for four, a cooking area and a butcher’s block for prep. The choice of materials in this hub of the home gives beautiful industrial vibes.
Traditional Green, Ashwell Project
In this traditional green kitchen layout, the island is a large prep space that is used as a seating area and an additional cooker. Due to the client’s love for an AGA, they invested in one and we built it in its own space alongside the sink, so the island could just be used for prep!
Vibrant Lay-On Shaker, Letchworth Project
The rich colour of the bespoke shaker cabinets creates a zone where the vibrancy of the blue/green pops in the otherwise neutral colour scheme of the wider space and the perfect island sits in front. Designed with an integrated hob, seating and plenty of storage, it’s perfect for the whole family.
Meticulous design and craftsmanship are what you get with a Planet Furniture kitchen, so contact us today for more information about your dream kitchen island ideas and let us make them come true.
Written originally on 02/12/22 – Updated 23/07/24.