Take a Seat at the New Kitchen-Table Island
Hybrid kitchen islands swap storage for a table-like look and more seating
Lately, a whole lot of kitchen islands are starting to look an awful lot like kitchen tables. Sure, furniture-style legs and other details have been around for ages in kitchen island design, but this trend is taking the table idea bit further, with more and more wood tops, little or no storage underneath, and seating on at least two sides. When these islands do have storage, it's high enough off the ground so you can see under them. These islands look and feel more like tables, but for practical purposes, they're still a 36" counter-height island.
This table-style island’s marble countertop makes it more island-like (it would read very differently with a wood top), and the counter stools have backs, making them look a bit more like chairs. Three pendants overhead is more likely to be seen over an island than a kitchen table. It’s the seating on both sides of the island and the lack of closed cabinet storage that really makes an island look like a table.
Tip: For more of a dining-room feel, opt for a chandelier instead of pendants.
Tip: For more of a dining-room feel, opt for a chandelier instead of pendants.
This hybrid island has counter stool seating on both sides but an open shelf cabinet at one end. This allows the cook to use a bit of counterspace without having to move the stools.
Here's another hybrid — part island with base storage and seating on one side only. This arrangement allows for the main sink to be in the island as well. This island is a work horse, handling prep, cleanup and dining in one area.
If you have a larger kitchen, you can always go for the best of both worlds: a full island with base cabinet storage and a table-like island attached (or just pushed up along side) at the end. I can't tell if this table has seating on both sides, but it certainly could.
In a more modern style kitchen, transitioning the island into a table with seating on both sides can be a seamless affair. In this case, using the same countertop material and creating a waterfall edge as the end of the table.
This terrific square island, complete with butcherblock countertop, doubles as a kitchen table with seating for 8.
If you have a quirky space, an "L" shaped island can sometimes feel like a huge obstacle. But if you make part of the "L" a table by keeping it open underneath, you'll get to have your cake and eat it too.
If you don’t have the room for seating on both sides, but still want a table-style island, getting the cabinets off the floor is key.
Having space underneath so you can see the floor under the island makes all the difference.
Find a cabinetmaker to create your dream island
Having space underneath so you can see the floor under the island makes all the difference.
Find a cabinetmaker to create your dream island
Being able to see under and past the island creates an airy feeling in a kitchen and gives the island a more table-like feel. Just because you don't have an overhang on both sides doesn't mean you can't pull up a few counter stools to the other side. You might have to sit at an angle, but it's doable in a pinch.
Freestanding stainless steel work tables are great solutions to get a table and island in one. Because there's no storage underneath, your knees have a place to go when you pull up a stool. This work table could fit four more stools if needed, and certainly made the idea of a kitchen table unnecessary in this kitchen.
A Houzz reader just asked a question about whether to do a table or island along with this terrific photo, so I had to add it. Because the wood is the same as the cabinetry — even though this is actually table height — it looks like an island.
The stools at this island live on three sides most of the time, but when friends are over for dinner, two are pulled on the cooking side to create more of traditional table set-up.
Find kitchen islands on Houzz
Find kitchen islands on Houzz
Help me decide what to do in my own kitchen! I've been looking for examples of the table-style island lately. We had a fire in our house last year, and we're currently in the process of rebuilding. It's a small city coachhouse and therefore has limited space, so we were originally thinking of putting our dining table in the kitchen instead of an island. But now we're considering a table-style island to give us a little more workspace at counter height. I'm hesitant to give up a dining table, but I'm being swayed. An island with seating all around could be the solution. What would you do?
More:
Ideas for L-Shaped Kitchens
Ideas for U-Shaped Kitchens
More:
Ideas for L-Shaped Kitchens
Ideas for U-Shaped Kitchens
Tip: Standard table height is 30"-32", standard counter height is 36". Bar height is 39"-42".