Many of today’s home buyers want a kitchen island. The popular feature has become an indispensable focal point in homes across the country, due to their social, functional, and aesthetically pleasing elements, says Houzz contributor Camilla Østergaard Pedersen. Experts from Danish kitchen design firms delve into these three elements and discuss how islands will continue shaping kitchen design in the future below.
Social: The social element will become more and more important, Helle Fyllgraf of JKE Design says. “Busy young people and families with children have so many individual activities going on, but it is around the island that they spend time together, talk and enjoy each other’s company.”
Functional: Yet Fyllgraf points out that functionality is also key to the island’s predominance. “Everyone who has enough space in their kitchen wants an island. It provides more countertop and storage space, and at the same time it can incorporate features like a sink and a stove. The extra space is especially helpful if you cook a lot.”
Aesthetic: Another growing trend sees islands fulfilling more than just social or functional roles — aesthetics are becoming increasingly important. “In the future, we will see islands being made of different materials than the rest of the kitchen, so they will stand out as a design object, a beautiful icon of furniture design and quality,” Hornemann says. “The kitchen will change character and consist of more free-moving furniture of different materials and designs.”
Read More
