14 Kitchen Islands We Want To Eat At For Every Meal

A Nod to the Coast

“Repetition is key with colour and materials. The kitchen floor, bar stools and floating shelves are all a similar tone. I made sure to repeat the metallic elements elsewhere in the space: the light fixtures pick up on the brass strip on the vent hood. And the backsplash is the same slab of marble used on the fireplace,” says the designer.

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Island Time

Designer Veronica Martin’s mission was clear: transform this 1990s Toronto kitchen into a welcoming gathering spot for a young family. She happily complied with a design where some features – like timeless grey cabinets – form a subtle backdrop for eye-catching elements, such as the bold backsplash and new black windows.

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Undercover colour

With its crisp white cabinetry, warm walnut accents and quartz countertops, the chic kitchen now boasts a fresh look within the original layout. The bottom of the peninsula – painted rich blue – grounds the room and keeps it from feeling too uniform. 

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An Island And A Half

A continuous Caesarstone countertop replaced an awkward peninsula in the open and bright kitchen that exhibit designer Neil Asselin shares with his partner, John. The simple wooden stools are perfect for casual meals and chatting with the chefs.

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Clean as can be

“I love a white kitchen because I don’t like distractions when I’m cooking,” says one of the homeowners, “and I can also see what needs to be cleaned.”

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Moody meets modern

“I loved being able to customize the house to our needs,” says one of the homeowners. “My husband really loves the new kitchen.” 

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Dark with light

Dignified and dramatic, the black kitchen is accented with satin brass pulls, a black granite sink and a gold-hued sunburst light fixture. “I love the black sink because it feels like a natural shadow,” says condo-owner Jamie Alexander, half of Peloso Alexander Interiors, which he runs alongside Glen Peloso.

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Mix 'n' Match

The island is the room’s showpiece, so designer Tanya Krpan went all out with a marble slab countertop. “But for everyday durability, I chose coordinating quartz for the perimeter. It lets you cut a lemon or spill wine without rushing to wipe it up,” she says. The smoky blue veining in the marble complements the slate cabinetry.

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Fresh Farmhouse

To keep a white kitchen feeling cozy, not cold, layer in dark-coloured countertops and hardware, light woods, aged-looking metal accents and soft colour, such as the watery blue colour used in this room.

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Take on tile

An oiled-white oak breakfast bar is useful on busy mornings, as is the island’s prep sink. “The island has refrigerated doors for quick grab-and-go items for the kids,” says designer Danielle Campbell.

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It's all natural

The mix of natural materials, such as the honed-marble countertop and the rattan inserts on the cabinet doors, creates a warm and inviting space. 

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Into This Century

Although this bright contemporary 300-square-foot kitchen is set in a 100-year-old Edwardian home, you wouldn’t know it by looking at it. The homeowners resided in this midtown Toronto house for five years before deciding their family needed more living space and a larger kitchen. So overhauling the abode included building an extension on the kitchen and rejigging its entire layout. 

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Keep it clean

You’d never know the cabinetry in this space isn’t brand new, but thanks to a pro paint job, homeowner Janet Hamilton now has a high-end kitchen for thousands of dollars less than a new one would have cost. The 9-by-3-foot island is wrapped in cedar planks that she stained grey. This is where she hangs with her partner, and the four kids they have between them.

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Bright lights

On the main floor, light pours into the kitchen from black- framed floor-to-ceiling sliding doors, which lead outside. Black was also used on the lower cabinets to ground the space and to contrast all the white. 

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