Keeping Technology Quiet
To avoid making the island an eyesore, designers should consider a tedious but essential detail: electrical outlets. “No one wants to see a very bulky cover plate,” add Deville and Rauschwerger. They recommend sourcing round, bocce outlets to keep the plugs out of sight, especially on the island's short side. For Atkinson, allocating a drawer for charging and hiding the outlets under the island's worktop can also work well.
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Personalize, personalize, personalize
Concealment doesn't necessarily have to be the centerpiece of your kitchen island design. Though she, too, advocates for minimalist lines, Afshar is a proponent of individual taste. “I love all the ways you can personalize an island, from soft-sliding hinges and automated lighting to custom spice racks and utensil drawers,” she says. “We put a lot of time and care into making sure our clients' needs are met from top to bottom.” Austin-based designer and AD PRO directory member Annie Downing likes to make the most of her island décor. Energize it with a pop of color, she recommends. “When you open the drawer, it's a fun surprise.”
Simplify your styling
While storage is one of the most important functions of a kitchen island, designers recommend clearing out the surface area to leave room for a little more organized styling. “Less is more in my opinion,” says New York-based AD100 designer Josh Green when asked how to best accessorize empty counter space. He recommends “a super cool, really big fruit bowl, or a bowl with feet to add height.” Downing agrees: One large container for fruit or flowers “is pretty much all you need. It's a workspace, after all.”
The kitchen island's role as both a functional centerpiece and a design statement will continue to change as lifestyles and technology evolve. But for designers who can strike the delicate balance between maximizing utility and maintaining aesthetics, thoughtful integration and personalized touches are key to creating a timeless kitchen space.Sophie Alice Hollis
5 design experts pick the best kitchen products
Designers from the AD PRO directory share their favorite kitchen furniture pieces for entertaining, decorating, and organizing.
The kitchen is undoubtedly a hotbed of innovation when it comes to cooking, technology, cutting-edge design, and functional décor. To help you keep up with the culinary times, we asked five experts from AD PRO Directory – Sean Anderson, Fern Santini, Hema Persad of Sagrada Studio, Tiffany Howell of Night Palm, and Duvall Reynolds of Duvall Design – for their recommendations on the hottest rooms in the home, including organizing, decorating, and entertaining guests. Check out the full selection here.
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A high-tech kitchen needs design too: experts reveal timeless tools
The market is full of desirable kitchen appliances—why not, say, a soft-serve ice cream machine? But while these culinary marvels may grab attention at KBIS or CES, which ones make it into real-world designs? AD PRO consulted experts across the country to find out which appliances and accessories homeowners really want, and how these must-haves impact the look, feel, and layout of today's high-tech kitchens.
