Your Next Island Getaway
The idea of an island getaway sounds pretty good about right now. White sand. Blue water. Swaying palm trees. Umbrella drinks.
But that kind of island getaway is so 2019.
To The English Contractor team, when we talk about an island getaway, we mean the one right in the center of your kitchen. If the kitchen is the heart of the home, the island is its lifeblood. But the pandemic has changed how we use our homes. Not everyone has the luxury of extra space to dedicate to a home office or classroom, so rooms need to have a multipurpose. Even the kitchen. According to Bill Daley, CEO of the National Kitchen and Bath Association, ““The kitchen has long been the heart of the home. But especially during the pandemic, it has emerged as the most prominent, multitasking room as well. We see this continuing with more open-space concepts, an extension into multi-season outdoor living spaces, larger kitchen island hubs and increased functionality and storage to allow homeowners to cook, eat, work, home-school and play, all in the same vicinity.”
While we wish we could send you pictures of our latest island vacation, instead we’ll share photos of our second favorite kind of island, that of the kitchen variety. Some are from The English Contractor projects, but others are islands that are inspiring us as we continue to renovate kitchens around Cincinnati. Take a look and see what you like. You might not be able to plan your getaway right now, but we’d love to help you plan your new kitchen island.
The English Contractor Islands
Ross Van Pelt
This wood-toned kitchen island seamlessly fits into the style of this home. It’s proximity to the family room makes it a true multipurpose space, a spot to eat, prep food, or watch TV. The home’s formal dining room is nearby, making it a natural buffet for large family dinners.
Ross Van Pelt
This large kitchen island serves many purposes. It’s home to a 6-burner Wolf cooktop and drawer microwave, as well as two cabinets for spices and other cooking essentials. The quartz countertop is another trend we’re seeing in kitchen design—it has the look of marble, but is so easy to care for and clean. One side of the island is for cooking, but the other is for gathering and is this family’s main spot for casual dinners—both home cooked and the door dashed variety.
Ross Van Pelt
This kitchen island is the very definition of swing space. It plays a more traditional kitchen role for dining and food prep at meal times, but pop up outlets and great lighting make it a home office space from nine to five. Quartz makes another appearance here, a beautiful foil to the dark leathered granite in the rest of the kitchen.
Ross Van Pelt
An island doesn’t have to be large to be useful. The scale is just perfect for this kitchen, with kitchen essentials on one side and dining on the other, and allows for the kitchen to feel open to the home’s living space, while providing a dedicated and light filled space for cooking.
This traditional kitchen island has a the look and feel of a piece of furniture, but was designed with storage in mind. A true kitchen hub, it holds so many kitchen essentials at the ready, but drawers and custom panels keep everything neatly hidden.
Island Inspo
We don’t just spend our time building custom islands—we dream about them too. Here are some that have caught our eye. While we’re still seeing our share of white kitchens, color is back in a big way. Customers are looking for easy-to-clean stone tops and waterfall countertops give a beautifully modern look. Some islands have space for seating and are elongated to allow for more table-like seating. Homes with larger spaces are even doing double islands—for the opportunity to island hop in your own kitchen. We love the organic elements that are giving many of these kitchens a clean, natural look.
If all this island talk has you thinking about a new kitchen, then we should talk. We’re happy to collaborate with your architect or interior design team—and we’re happy to make recommendations of professionals that can help bring your new kitchen to life. One day, we’ll be back on an island beach soaking up the warm sun. But for now, if you’re looking for heat—get in the kitchen.