STATEMENT ISLANDS

HARNESS THE FULL POTENTIAL OF THIS COVETED KITCHEN FOCAL POINT BY CHOOSING BOLD SHAPES, MATERIALS AND DESIGN TWISTS

- LINDA CLAYTON

1 FLOWING FEATURE

A popular design feature, a ‘waterfall edge’ involves continuing the worktop seamlessly from horizontal to vertical. ‘Deeply veined marbles look particularly fabulous, especially if you source a slab large enough to allow the veining to flow right down to the floor,’ enthuses Oana Sandu, lead designer, Blakes London. ‘It’s important to think about the flooring and how it will complement your choice of the worktop – usually, a contrast works best.’ Bespoke kitchen with Paonazzo marble worktops, from £45,000, Blakes London.

2 DYNAMIC FORM

Think outside the box with an island shape that’s totally unique. ‘It’s a brave move to step beyond classic rectangular designs but the pay-off can be huge in terms of visual impact. Here, we designed the island to look like a beautiful piece of furniture. It reflects the owners’ adventurous personality, while also helping to zone the open-plan room,’ explains Jane Powell, designer, Roundhouse. Urbo and Metro matt lacquer bespoke kitchen, from £30,000, Roundhouse.