Open Up Your Kitchen with Spectacular Floating Islands
Kitchens these days are being designed to feel more open, inviting, and spacious. An increasingly popular way to create that spectacular look is with a floating kitchen island.
Floating islands are detached from the floor and walls, giving the visual effect of a levitating counter or table in your kitchen. These eye-catching focal points open up floor space and allow more natural light to filter into the room.
What is a Floating Kitchen Island?
A floating kitchen island is essentially a freestanding structure that hovers in the kitchen, providing extra prep space and storage while making a serious style statement. Unlike a traditional fixed island, floating islands have an airy, lightweight appearance that enhances the modern aesthetic.
There are several types of floating islands to suit any kitchen layout:
- Cantilevered islands jut out from the wall via a bracket
- Freestanding islands conceal their base structure underneath for total detached allure
- Inset islands nestle into a carved-out section of flooring
- Slab islands appear cut out from a solid floating piece of material
Quartz, granite, and concrete are sleek countertop picks, while stained wood and lacquered finishes lend warmth. The best part is floating islands can hold appliances, integrate lighting, or provide seating while opening up valuable floorspace.
Benefits of Adding a Floating Kitchen Island
From a visual impact standpoint, floating kitchen islands are an interior showstopper. But they also offer an array of practical advantages:
- Creates an airy, spacious aesthetic
- Allows more natural light into the kitchen
- Focal point and design centerpiece
- Contemporary, minimalist style
- Flexible placement options to customize layouts
- Easy to integrate lighting, outlets, appliances
By choosing a floating island over a standard fixed option, you can open up floor area, boost brightness with light bouncing off more reflective surfaces, and design a kitchen that feels larger.
Floating Island Inspiration
When brainstorming your dream floating island, the design options are truly endless. Sculpt your island into an organic blob shape for an ultra-modern look. Opt for a two-tiered island to double the prep and dining space. Incorporate dramatic color contrasts, mixed materials like brick and metal, or even glass windows to take your island to the next level.
Other eye-catching options include an extra-long island spanning most of the kitchen for a bold statement, suspended islands that appear to defy gravity, and multi-level islands with different counter heights for defined prep and eating zones.
Getting the Lighting Right
Proper lighting can make or break a floating island design. LED strip lighting installed underneath adds both task illumination and sleek ambiance. For energy efficiency, install motion sensor lights. Overhead pendant lights correctly positioned above the island also make a striking style statement.
Other options like light bars provide helpful task lighting, while rope lights can outline the island's shape for added drama. Smart bulbs with adjustable brightness and temperature are also useful for setting the mood.
Maximize Storage Solutions
Despite seeming detached from the floor, floating islands can still incorporate storage solutions to corral cooking tools and essentials. Pull-out drawers maximize unused space underneath and keep frequently used items in arm's reach. Sliding shelves offer flexible organization for gadgets.
Wine racks, spice racks, or even baskets for fruit keep everyday items accessible yet tidy for guests and cleaning ease. For an unexpected surprise, add storage stair drawers that are only noticeable when pulled out from the island's hidden underside.
Upgrade With Smart Floating Islands
Beyond storage and lighting, today's floating kitchen islands can integrate all kinds of high-tech features through subtle or unseen design details:
- Touchscreen controls for appliances and task lighting
- Built-in wireless chargers to reduce cord clutter
- Integrated voice assistants like Amazon Alexa
- High-speed WiFi and built-in speakers to enable entertaining
Smart capabilities ranging from app-controlled lighting colors, voice-activated recipe instructions, auto-closing drawers, and video call screens make contemporary floating islands ideal for tech-loving homeowners.
Design a Stylish Bar Area
For an island that multitasks as a casual dining spot or drink station, incorporate stools or bar chairs right up against the island's edge. Add a transparent glass or acrylic waterfall dining table for seamless flow.
Underlit glass shelves properly anchored underneath can securely display glassware collections. For easy conversation flow, set up wraparound swiveling barstools.
Mirrored panels or lacquered finishes on the island itself beautifully catch and reflect light. By designing a functional floating island that doubles as an eat-in bar area, you amplify the style factor while adding seating space.
Floating kitchen islands create a contemporary style statement and open, breathable aesthetic loved by design enthusiasts and homeowners alike. With endless customization options, from shape to finishes to high-tech add-ons, they are incredibly on-trend focal points guaranteed to bring spectacular wow factor.
When considering remodeling or renovating your kitchen, take some inspiration from the gorgeous floating kitchen island ideas here to consider the look in your own space.