It seems that what we all want is a bespoke kitchen island. The vast majority of the luxury kitchens we design feature a beautiful made to measure kitchen island.

Why do so many of us yearn for one? A contemporary kitchen island creates a ‘social hub’ – a place for family to gather, friends to socialise and a place for informal dining. It also means that the cook is not cut off from the action at a hob elsewhere but remains at centre of things.

What to consider when designing a kitchen island

A modern kitchen island should be a multifunctional piece of clever design. It should perform three functions; it must be practical with plenty of storage, and because it takes centre stage it must look good, and it should host plenty of seating.

It should have tough kitchen worktops for food preparation, and often a sink and a hob for cooking. Usually there is somewhere for family and friends to sit, either at one end or at a raised breakfast bar. It will have plenty of storage, including kitchen cupboards and drawers. Sometimes people want very specific items built into a bespoke kitchen island like a wine storage/fridge or a teppanyaki grill.

Your kitchen island can be any size or shape, we often design islands with curved ends where people can sit and socialise with the cook/host – it just depends on the size of the overall space and how much room you can afford around it. Try to make it as large as you can comfortably fit into the space, if it’s too mean in size, you won’t get the benefits that an island brings to your bespoke kitchen.

What elements should you include in a kitchen island?

Some of the most popular items we’re asked for include a robust kitchen work surface like stainless steel kitchen island or composite stone.  A marble kitchen island is also very popular, as is a boiling water tap, a recessed gas hob. Many want a breakfast bar in a beautiful solid wood and plinth lighting to make the kitchen island appear to float.

Sliding door kitchen cupboards built into the kitchen island that mean you don’t have to move stools out of the way to access contents. Extra-long deep drawers can accommodate cooking utensils, pots and pans and all your other kitchen paraphernalia.

Should a kitchen island coordinate with the rest of your kitchen design?

For continuity of design and a sense of balance, the islands we design are normally (at least in part) in the same finish as the rest of the kitchen cabinetry to maintain a cohesive kitchen design. However, many clients like to make a design statement with their island, giving the space a beautiful focal point.

Ultimately the beauty of choosing a bespoke kitchen design is that you can have whatever you like. With a bespoke kitchen, the possibilities are endless.

If you’d like to read more about the latest design trends, get advice about what to choose and how to plan your own kitchen, or enter an exclusive competition why not sign up for our Newsletter

Our expert kitchen designers can help you make the best choices for your Roundhouse bespoke kitchen. Visit any of our six Roundhouse showrooms; Wigmore St, Clapham, Fulham, Richmond, Guildford & Cheltenham and get planning!