The kitchen has become the center of activity in the home, so why not arrange seating in a way that’s more conducive to conversation that a few seats in a row? These island create a convival atmosphere.
Photo by Wayne C. Moore
The Eleanor from Visbeen Architects features a hybrid island/dining table with seating for up to six people. With the range on the island, owners can cook up a feast without turning their backs on guests. A few steps away, the open dining room facilitates fancier occasions (while still feeling contemporary). See more images, information, and the floor plans.
Four Walls Photography
Four Walls Photography
While accessibility shouldn’t be an unusual feature anywhere in the home, it isn’t too common to see an island specifically designed to accommodate a wheelchair. Although this home was originally designed for a family with a disabled child, it would also work well for aging in place and for families with a live-in relative (perhaps an elderly in-law) in a wheelchair. See more images, information, and the floor plans.
While the shape of this island isn’t itself unusual, the sheer seating capacity is truly impressive. Six people can sit along the curving front, with two more on each side of the island for a total of ten. The sink and dishwasher are also located on this central island, making it the go-to spot for cooking, entertaining, and cleanup. See more images, information, and the floor plans.
A rounded end to the massive island in this plan (the Ellerton from Visbeen Architects, really the leader right now with cool kitchen islands) creates a casual cafe-like vibe. And who doesn’t want that? See more images, information, and the floor plans.
