From monochrome terrazzo to “sensual red-toned” quartzite, our latest lookbook collects 10 kitchen interiors from around the world with show-stopping islands.
Kitchen islands are freestanding worktops that are accessible from all sides, originally designed to make food preparation more flexible.
Architects and interior designers have made the most of this feature, selecting unusual yet hardy materials to add style as well as convenience to the well-loved kitchen island.
This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring homes with corner windows, pink sinks and self-designed studios.
Daddy Cool, Australia, by Pattern Studio
Daddy Cool is a renovated suburban Sydney terrace for a father and his grown-up children.
Pattern Studio selected various freestanding units for the interior, chosen as an alternative to the traditional built-in joinery often found in terrace renovations.
Among the furniture is a striking jade-green stone island in the centre of the kitchen, characterised by meandering lines.
Find out more about Daddy Cool ›
New York apartment, USA, by GRT Architects
Gleaming oxblood-coloured tiles clad this kitchen island in an apartment in New York City’s East Village.
Local studio GRT Architects rearranged the home’s layout and added material touches including the statement island and chequerboard two-inch mosaic tiling spread across the kitchen floor.
Find out more about this New York apartment ›
Lovers Walk, Ireland, by Róisín Lafferty
Lovers Walk is a family townhouse in Cork, Ireland, renovated by Dublin studio Róisín Lafferty – formerly known as Kingston Lafferty Design.
Central to the project is a “sensual red-toned jewel kitchen” anchored by a veiny quartzite island and ruby-toned timber cabinets.
“It sounds like a disaster, but it’s a delight,” studio founder Róisín Lafferty told Dezeen.
Find out more about Lovers Walk ›
Zwaag home, the Netherlands, by DAB Studio
Dutch interior design practice DAB Studio transformed the kitchen of this family home in Zwaag, the Netherlands, by crafting its floors and ceilings out of hand-scraped oak and creating its walls and cabinets from quarter-sawn Afromosia wood.
The swathes of timber exist in striking contrast to the boxy island, which features a waterfall countertop made from Arebescato Orobico marble.
Find out more about this Zwaag home ›
Athens apartment, Greece, by Point Supreme Architects
A bespoke wooden dining table with a steel frame doubles as a kitchen island topped with a red Corian hob area in this Athens apartment.
Local studio Point Supreme Architects ran a distinctive storage wall made from stained green plywood along one side of the home, adding to its colourful interior.
Find out more about this Athens apartment ›
White Rabbit House, UK, by Gundry & Ducker
An oversized slab of black and white terrazzo provides decent workspace on the vivid green kitchen island at White Rabbit House, a renovated 1970s home in north London.
Local studio Gundry & Ducker completed the project, which includes multiple archways and a central staircase that curves around into a cantilever.
Find out more about White Rabbit House ›
Fruit Box, UK, by Nimtim Architects
Fruit Box is an extension to another 1970s London townhouse in the city’s Forest Hill area.
Local studio Nimtim Architects selected traditional white tiles for the kitchen island for a deliberately simple look. The worktop’s curved edges were designed to make the space safer for children to run around.
Find out more about Fruit Box ›
House and the River, Lithuania, by After Party
A sugary pink kitchen island topped with pale pink terrazzo injects a pop of colour into the white interiors of House and the River, a creekside home in northern Lithuania.
Vilnius-based studio After Party added a terrace that slices diagonally through the living space, creating a secluded patio that faces the river. The home also features a green roof.
Find out more about House and the River ›
Loma Residence, Mexico, by Esrawe Studio
The minimalist kitchen of this Mexico City house is characterised by a green-toned granite island.
Designed by local practice Esrawe Studio, Loma Residence features an oak “skin” that wraps the living spaces – making material accents like the island all the more standout.
Find out more about Loma Residence ›
Rylett House, UK, by Studio 30 Architects
Local firm Studio 30 Architects remodelled this west London home using reclaimed materials and bright licks of paint.
The skylit kitchen features an old carpenter’s bench as an island, which contrasts with the room’s sleeker elements including smooth white cabinetry and freshly laid terrazzo flooring.
Find out more about Rylett House ›
This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring homes with corner windows, pink sinks and self-designed studios.
The post Ten striking kitchen islands designed to stand out appeared first on Dezeen.
