At the heart of the action, bespoke kitchen islands remain the ultimate good-looking, hardworking centrepiece that pulls the entire scheme together. At Roundhouse, it’s rare we design a luxury bespoke kitchen without one. Whether you’re working with a small space or have room for a large kitchen island, opting for a bespoke design will ensure your island enhances both the look and functionality of your kitchen. Here’s how to achieve a modern kitchen island that’s perfectly tailored to your space and lifestyle needs.

Size and shape

The first step in designing your kitchen island is determining its size and shape, which is generally influenced by the layout and dimensions of your room. A small kitchen island can be ideal for more compact spaces, offering just enough prep area and somewhere to perch without overwhelming the room. Alternatively, a narrow kitchen island is a clever solution if you’re tight on floor central floor space, as is often the case with a U-shape layout, but still need a working surface. The recommended allowance for easy passage around an island is between 100-120cm, but you could shave it down to 90cm in a small kitchen. For spacious kitchens, consider a large kitchen island, curved island or an L-shaped kitchen island, which can double as a social hub, workspace, and provide plenty of storage.

Add sociable seating

If you’re planning a kitchen for entertaining, a kitchen island with seating will transformthe island into more than just a workspace; it becomes a spot for casual dining, buffet spreads and socialising. Whether you want a few bar stools along one side or a more comprehensive dining space, seating is a great way to make your island a multi-functional piece. For a more relaxed, modern feel, a kitchen island table could be the perfect option. These two tier kitchen islands effectively blend a kitchen island with the functionality of a dining table, and are increasingly popular in homes without separate dining rooms.

Make it mobile

There are lots of different ways to use a kitchen island,but one of the best solutions if you’re short on space or want flexibility is a portable kitchen island. With lockable wheels or felted feet for easy manoeuvring, this style of island can be relocated to suit your needs—perhaps if you need to create more floor space for entertaining or to expand an extendable dining table at Christmas. In larger open-plan kitchens, a second portable kitchen island can be used as a back-up to a permanent island, providing extra prep space, or a separate drinks area away from the main hub of the kitchen.

Get that sinking feeling

Integrating a sink into your kitchen island can streamline meal prep and clean-up. A kitchen island sink allows you to wash vegetables, fill pots, and rinse dishes right at the heart of your kitchen, all while enjoying views into the room/out to the garden. When planning a kitchen island sink, size is important. Too big and your sink may dominate the surface and reduce prepping space, so find a balance. Also talk to your Roundhouse designer about plumbing access; installing water and drainage pipes to the centre of the room can require significant upheaval if not already in place.

Peninsulas have their place

While islands are never going out of fashion, don’t overlook the value of a kitchen peninsula, especially if you’re going for an L-shaped kitchen layout. A kitchen peninsula extends from existing cabinetry at a right-angle, offering additional workspace and breakfast bar functionality, without taking over the central floor area. The downside of a kitchen peninsula is it creates an extra corner cupboard, which is not the most effective use of space. Luckily, there are plenty of internal kitchen storage ideas focused specifically on boosting the usable capacity of deep corner units and making them more accessible.

For more island inspiration head to our island ideas gallery or visit one of our beautiful showrooms.