Double Up

With twice the amount of counter space, having two islands in the kitchen creates more work room, establishes a better traffic flow and provides more storage.

By Melissa Mauzy 

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Space Creator, By Michael Davis Design & Construction. The additional counter space of a double island is a great way to keep young kids on task, whether its eating or homework, while cooking. It also creates better flow around the kitchen and through the kitchen. Double islands add a great curb appeal for cocktail parties, doubling as a buffet or a bar setup. Photography by Nick Johnson.

Function + Entertainment, By Kitchens by Clay. One island is for function with the sink, dishwasher, waste, recycle and silverware with storage on the back for larger items such as platters and kitchen tools. The second island is the entertainment Island. The front is a bank of drawers, storage at the overhang area and USB ports for the “work at home” needs. Photography by Giovanni Photography.

Built for Entertaining, By Tina Kuhlmann, Primrose Designs. This kitchen for a set of empty nesters features one butcher block island and a second island topped with a Taj Mahal quartzite. This kitchen was built for entertaining large groups. The owners have integrated wine and beverage refrigeration on the outermost island, while keeping all the cooking tools at their fingertips at the island closest to the range. Photography by Remy Haynes.

Free Flow, By O + L building projects, LLC. The design of the kitchen and idea of the multi-island elements dividing the space came as a result of the two flanking glass walls that create the single-story pavilion-type structure that the public sees of this house. The house was designed for a growing family with three boys so the design had to be casual and durable yet in keeping with the architecture. To that end a series of low-island type elements were used to separate the three uses of the space (living, dining and kitchen) while allowing for a free flow of space and visual access throughout. Photography by Anna Dilthy.

Separate Functions, Separate Spaces, By Michelle Tumlin Design and architect John Hathaway, Vanguard Studio. One kitchen trend that remains constant is the need for a functional space, and a double-island kitchen is a great way to improve this. One advantage is more counter space to work on and a second is to maximize traffic flow. A creative design provides separate functions for separate spaces. Photography by Tre Dunham.