Designer Details
While custom work may cost more, a homeowner gets to enjoy the experience of a designer and the special knowledge that person can bring to a project. This island of beaded inset maple cabinetry is finished in antique white and separates the kitchen from the dining area in a New Hampshire lake home. Two island columns perfectly frame the kitchen and are topped by a beautifully designed arch detail. The split-level island, designed by Karen Laskoske of Crown Point Cabinetry of Claremont, N.H., is ideal for entertaining. Guests can gather at the upper level, socialize with the chef and enjoy hors d’oeuvres served on the wood top. The lower level, topped with blue Azul granite, is at the perfect height for food prep and clean-up. To the left and right of the fluted farmhouse sink are two dishwasher drawers conveniently placed for speedy cleaning.
Cost: Approximately $7,500. Check with the company for pricing details.
For more info: Crown Point Cabinetry sells direct to homeowners, architects, and custom builders across the country. See their showroom.
Defining Moment
This center island of maple cabinetry finished in Fawn stain with a Van Dyke glaze anchors this large kitchen and provides a second workspace. Designer Deb Foster of Crown Point Cabinetry in Claremont, N.H., chose an extra-thick granite countertop for a layered look since a single-thickness granite was not substantial enough for a kitchen of this magnitude.
A farmhouse sink adds practicality and style. The intricacies of the hand-crafted corbels are revealed by the Van Dyke glaze. It collects in each crevice, highlighting each grape and leaf. Pigeonhole drawers provide a place for everything. Matching end panels create a furniture end on the island. Decorative baseboard moulding, also highlighted by the glazed finish, completes the island.
Cost: Less than $9,000. Check with the company for pricing details.
For more info: Crown Point Cabinetry sells direct to homeowners, architects, and custom builders across the country. See their showroom.
Versatility Refined
This multi-level island is the centerpiece of a stunning kitchen designed by Jeff Schneider of Crown Point Cabinetry of Claremont, N.H. Its raised seating section topped with mahogany is the perfect place for after-school snacks or a casual meal. The lower level, topped with Colonial Gold granite, is the work area and includes a stainless steel double bowl sink. The square inset maple cabinetry is finished in Paper White.
Those extra touches — custom square legs and custom end panels — give the island a period style look to fit this Massachusetts’ home.
Cost: Approximately $14,000. Check with the company for pricing details.
For more info: Crown Point Cabinetry sells direct to homeowners, architects, and custom builders across the country. See their showroom.
Starring Role
DeWitt Designer Kitchens of Studio City, Calif., developed this kitchen along the lines of a movie feature with the curved café island as the featured star. Designer Elina Katsioula-Beall defined the island with dynamic triangular sides that project out sculpturally into the space. The custom-made piece is veneered in Mappa Burl from Rojas Custom Cabinetry. One island level is topped by thick glass raised to bar level and supported by stainless steel cylinders. The lower level of the island features a Viking stovetop. The supporting cast features natural maple sequence-matched cabinetry and a textured black-green granite countertop.
Cost: Approximately $18,000 to $20,000. Check with the company for pricing details.
For more info: Visit DewittDesignerKitchens.com
Photo credit: Suki Medencevic
Art Meets Function
This island was part of a custom-designed kitchen for a single professional who loves Art Deco. Elina Katsioula-Beall of DeWitt Designer Kitchens has the island serve a pivotal role in the cooking triangle as the site for a stainless steel prep sink. While the island works with the rest of the room, it also is its own entity. “Absolute Black” granite countertops are used for the kitchen perimeter and tiger-like “Cosmic Black” was chosen for the island.
The island does use the same honey-colored cherry cabinetry with large stile doors for cabinets and drawers. The half-inch-thick custom-cut curved counter allows friends and family to get close to the action. The Studio City, Calif., design firm suggests that any kitchen island be part of a review of the entire kitchen in terms of usage and design.
Cost: Approximately $11,000 to $13,000. Check with the company for details.
For more info: Visit DewittDesignerKitchens.com
Photo credit: Suki Medencevic
DIY with Style
This attractive furniture-style island is another option for able DIYers. The island’s components from Diamond Cabinets include an undercounter drawer, sink base with drawer below, two finishing sides called wood V-grooved beaded skins, two arched valances, four spooled legs, two base cabinets, a three-drawer base and a trash basket base.
The island shown is of maple and features Diamond’s Laureldale door style. Having the island finished in a Moss exterior to coordinate with the wall cabinets is a lovely touch.
Cost: Under $3,500 for island cabinetry only. Check with the company’s authorized dealers to learn more.
For more info: This semi-custom U.S. cabinet manufacturer — DiamondCabinets.com — is part of the MasterBrand Cabinets family.
One Island, Two Looks
Don’t feel stranded with a bad island. Replace it. When these homeowners realized that their existing kitchen island was too big, awkward and not attractive, they called on Kitchen Encounters of Annapolis, Md.. And Mark White and Shane Silverman co-designed a new island that has become a high-end showpiece for the happy owners’ kitchen.
The multi-level island with a variety of colors, textures and features actually offers two presentations. One side is alder wood finished with an Autumn stain. The other side is maple with a French Country finish of paint, glaze and distressing to coordinate with the homeowners’ hutch.
Cabinetry by Bentwood was chosen. The island contains the kitchen’s only sink with a tilt-down tray behind the drawer for sponge storage. A wine cooler has a functioning drawer above it to add extra storage and raise the counter up to bar height. An induction cooktop and many storage drawers enhance the practicality. The Uba Tuba granite countertop is from In-Home Stone of Annapolis. The raised wooden top is cherry, stained to match the cabinetry, and created locally by Bob Choisser of Choisser Cabinetmakers in Annapolis. Seating for two to three gets everyone in on the kitchen activities.
Cost: Approximately $40,000. Check with the company to learn pricing details.
For more info: Kitchen Encounters — is a family-owned business since 1981. It provides design services to clients nationwide.
Styled for Living
Stock cabinetry from Merillat’s Classic line was used to achieve this splendid kitchen island. A Sable finish brings out the good looks of the maple cabinetry with Merillat’s Classic Fusion door style. An extra kick is provided by the island’s front panels. They sport Lumicor® Ogee high-performance resin panels for both low maintenance and great aesthetics. For the decorative hardware, satin nickel wavy pulls play off the panels and complement the stainless steel sink.
Who says stock cabinetry can’t include all the extras? The island’s wine rack is made up of two stacked 30-inch pigeon-hole organizers under a 30- by 15-inch wall cabinet. Vanity height base cabinets allow the use of a 4.5-inch-thick counter to add extra visual interest. That also provided a standard 36-inch-high finished counter height. The Classic line has competitive pricing and design flexibility.
Cost: Approximately $3,500 for the island cabinetry only.
For more info: Merillat cabinetry is sold through its nationwide network.
Island on a Budget
Good news: A beautiful, functional kitchen island that is budget friendly is possible. This attractive island uses Aristokraft components from its Saybrooke door profile line. It’s a transitional style so it will work well whether you have a contemporary or traditional style kitchen. The door has a raised veneer center panel and square mitered styling for an attractive look. This cabinetry is shown in birch, an extremely strong wood with a flowing grain pattern, but other wood types are available. It’s completed with Aristokraft’s Rouge finish.
To create this island from Aristokraft cabinetry pieces, you’ll need a wall cabinet, peninsula base cabinet, molding, valances arch, panel, wall system and stock panel.
Cost: Less than $800 for cabinetry only. Check with the company’s dealers to learn pricing details.
For more info: Aristokraft cabinets, one of 12 cabinet brands in the MasterBrand Cabinets Inc. family, are available through its dealer network. Visit Aristokraft.com
No Limits on Imagination
Experienced DIYers only need to use their imaginations to create affordable, functional and stylish islands on a budget. This well-designed and practical kitchen island is assembled with stock cabinetry from Aristokraft. The Teagan cabinet door style is a maple veneer slab panel. It has a full overlay, meaning that the door covers the entire face frame so there is no “reveal,” or exposed frame. The drawer fronts also are slabs for an elegant and bold look.
The assembly includes a wall open cabinet, wall cabinets, base wastebasket, base filler pullout, base cabinet with double rollout trays, base filler pullout, base cabinet with rollout tray, two panels, a stock panel, and moldings.
Cost: About $1,700 for island cabinetry only. Prices are approximate. Check with authorized dealers for pricing details.
For more info: Aristokraft — is one of 12 cabinet brands in the MasterBrand Cabinets Inc. family. Its cabinets are available through its dealer network.
Three-tiered Island
Today’s custom kitchen islands are not limited in looks or utility as this island designed by the Westborough Design Center of Westborough, Mass., proves. It offers three tiers and provides a lot of interest and functionality for this kitchen. The top tier is 42 inches high, allowing easy accessibility to the microwave. The middle tier, at standard 36-inch countertop height, provides a large efficient space for the cook’s prep area. The lower level is at standard 30-inch kitchen table height provides generous dining space. The island was given a custom wood top to match the perimeter cabinetry. A cream paint glaze on the island provides an enchanting counterpoint to the kitchen’s traditional darker cabinetry. It also highlights door details and cabinet hardware.
Cost: Approximately $6,500, including granite and wood tops, cabinetry and pedestal to support wood top. Check with the company about pricing details.
For more info: This family-run full-service design/build firm — West Borough Design Center — serves clients throughout New England as well as Naples, Fla.
It Takes Two
Who says a kitchen can only have one island? The Westborough Design Center designed two islands for this three-person chef’s kitchen. At bottom is the working island, home to a farmer sink and dishwasher. Its shape was designed to mirror the shape and angles of the bump-out breakfast nook. Complementing this single-level island’s functionality is a second island of two tiers, at top. That island offers a large gathering space for guests. It was designed to provide a large prep area for such family favorites as pizza. For that reason, it was positioned for convenient access to the brick oven pizza unit. While the islands each have their purposes, they do it in a gorgeous way. They include a mix of copper and granite surfaces, maple cabinets and barnboard paneling to fit in well with this log home’s kitchen.
Cost: Approximately $15,000 for the two islands. Check with the company for pricing details.
For more info: This family-run full-service design/build firm — West Borough Design Center — serves clients throughout New England as well as Naples, Fla.
Charming Eye-catcher
A well-designed custom island can offer wonderful functionality and spectacular looks. That’s the case with this island by the Westborough Design Center of Westborough, Mass. It is simple yet exquisite. At eight feet long, it serves as a seating area, as a prep area and as home to an additional oven for the homeowner. The design – check out the detailed fluting and corbels — complements the Old World charm of this kitchen. The Labrador Green granite is certainly an eye-catcher with its double-edged, 2.5-inch-thick top.
Cost: Approximately $8,000. Check with the company for pricing details.
For more info: This family-run full-service design/build firm — West Borough Design Center — serves clients throughout New England as well as Naples, Fla.