THIS ISLAND’S NO DESERT

THINK AN ISLAND BENCH IS JUST ONE LONG SOLID RECTANGLE? THINK AGAIN, SAYS SHAYNNA BLAZE.

The kitchen is often the hub of the home and there’s nothing better than gathering family and friends around an island bench as you cook, eat and chat.

Kitchen and interior designers are doing some really creative things these days so the island bench is much more than just a preparation area with storage underneath and a couple of stools.

From incorporating fireplaces to dining tables, wine fridges and floating shelves, there are many ways to tailor an island bench with different design elements to suit your needs and add some interest. DINING TABLE MEETS ISLAND This idea where a dining table is joined at a right angle to the island bench is a great way to save space in the kitchen and avoid having two rectangular shapes just running parallel. It also provides an opportunity to incorporate some natural texture and colour of timber into the design, which works really well when it’s matched to some cabinets, keeping the other cabinets a neutral lighter and/or darker colour, providing a nice contrast.

FIREPLACE AND OPEN SPACES

Consider breaking up the structure of one plain, long and solid island bench by having the contrasting marble and fireplace at one end and some open shelving at the other end, which adds interest and removes some of the bulkiness. A floating middle section can also open up the space and make it feel less solid. PART OF THE FURNITURE

Traditional or French provincial and Hamptons-style kitchens are growing in popularity and not just in older-style homes. A signature element of this style is custom-made cabinetry with a lot of detail so it looks like a piece of furniture.