10 Dramatic Kitchen Island Countertop Ideas
See how various styles of quartzite, marble, soapstone, quartz and wood elevate the look and feel of these kitchens
If you’re adding a kitchen island, the countertop selection is an important factor that affects the overall design of the room. Which means it’s also an opportunity to create something dramatic. Here, 10 kitchens show how various island countertop materials, colors, styles and features take the spaces to another level.
2. Soapstone Style
For this casual and comfortable Sacramento, California, kitchen by Design Shop Interiors, soapstone counters offer a living finish, meaning it will change over time. The homeowners decided not to oil the counters, which will allow the soapstone to become more ash gray over time. Green veining in the soapstone works well with the green island base (Treron by Farrow & Ball).
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For this casual and comfortable Sacramento, California, kitchen by Design Shop Interiors, soapstone counters offer a living finish, meaning it will change over time. The homeowners decided not to oil the counters, which will allow the soapstone to become more ash gray over time. Green veining in the soapstone works well with the green island base (Treron by Farrow & Ball).
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3. Marble Melodrama
Slabs of polished marble with lilac veining add dramatic strokes to the island and backsplash in this contemporary Berkeley, California, kitchen by Form + Field. To ensure that the slabs stand out, the designers leaned on clean and quiet slab-front white oak cabinets that balance the cool stone with warmth.
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12 Kitchen Island Designs Worth Considering
Slabs of polished marble with lilac veining add dramatic strokes to the island and backsplash in this contemporary Berkeley, California, kitchen by Form + Field. To ensure that the slabs stand out, the designers leaned on clean and quiet slab-front white oak cabinets that balance the cool stone with warmth.
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12 Kitchen Island Designs Worth Considering
4. The Empire Strikes Black
This open Detroit condo kitchen by Concetti has a bold black-and-white style with nods to Star Wars films. The pièce de résistance is a head-turning island that has a striking black marble-look quartz top with white veining and waterfall ends that embrace black-and-white porcelain tile. True black walls (Tricorn Black by Sherwin-Williams) and a cool white ceiling (Extra White by Sherwin-Williams) echo the colors in the countertop and tile.
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This open Detroit condo kitchen by Concetti has a bold black-and-white style with nods to Star Wars films. The pièce de résistance is a head-turning island that has a striking black marble-look quartz top with white veining and waterfall ends that embrace black-and-white porcelain tile. True black walls (Tricorn Black by Sherwin-Williams) and a cool white ceiling (Extra White by Sherwin-Williams) echo the colors in the countertop and tile.
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5. Marble Meets Concrete
When design-build pro Eric Bergstrom of EBCON and his wife built their new Redwood City, California, home, they created this two-tiered showcase island with beautiful Calacatta Macchia Vecchia marble slabs for the main section and a raised bar of concrete-look quartz. The quartz is repeated on the perimeter countertops, while the marble is featured behind the range.
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10 Kitchen Island Features Pros Always Recommend
When design-build pro Eric Bergstrom of EBCON and his wife built their new Redwood City, California, home, they created this two-tiered showcase island with beautiful Calacatta Macchia Vecchia marble slabs for the main section and a raised bar of concrete-look quartz. The quartz is repeated on the perimeter countertops, while the marble is featured behind the range.
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10 Kitchen Island Features Pros Always Recommend
6. Quartzite Couple
Two islands versus one big one loosen up traffic flow in this renovated contemporary Williamsport, Pennsylvania, kitchen by Trevor Fulmer Design. The islands are wrapped in statement-making Blue Explosion quartzite slabs that add dramatic movement.
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Two islands versus one big one loosen up traffic flow in this renovated contemporary Williamsport, Pennsylvania, kitchen by Trevor Fulmer Design. The islands are wrapped in statement-making Blue Explosion quartzite slabs that add dramatic movement.
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7. Quartzite Striation Station
This new-build open suburban Chicago kitchen by kitchen design firm O’Brien Harris, architectural firm Moment Design and J Jordan Homes blends rustic and contemporary styles. Striated details on the Calacatta quartzite island and backsplash give the space artistic flair, and a large block-like feature at the island end creates a serving station and gives the island design heft. White oak shiplap details add visual interest and warmth.
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This new-build open suburban Chicago kitchen by kitchen design firm O’Brien Harris, architectural firm Moment Design and J Jordan Homes blends rustic and contemporary styles. Striated details on the Calacatta quartzite island and backsplash give the space artistic flair, and a large block-like feature at the island end creates a serving station and gives the island design heft. White oak shiplap details add visual interest and warmth.
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New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
8. Quartzite and Walnut Wow
McGuire + Co. Kitchen & Bath created this suburban Boston kitchen with a large island that combines slabs of Super White quartzite in a leathered finish with a warm walnut butcher-block chopping station. The wood adds a wow factor and keeps the quartzite portion from looking like a bowling alley lane, the designer says. The perimeter countertops and backsplashes also feature the quartzite, but a mosaic-tiled appliance garage helps break up the slabs.
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McGuire + Co. Kitchen & Bath created this suburban Boston kitchen with a large island that combines slabs of Super White quartzite in a leathered finish with a warm walnut butcher-block chopping station. The wood adds a wow factor and keeps the quartzite portion from looking like a bowling alley lane, the designer says. The perimeter countertops and backsplashes also feature the quartzite, but a mosaic-tiled appliance garage helps break up the slabs.
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9. Quartzite Quietude
Paul Lopa Designs used khaki-and-cream Naica quartzite countertops and a white oak island and shelves to add warmth to this white-and-wood Staten Island, New York, kitchen. The quartzite’s textured leathered finish diffuses light in a way that quiets the appearance of the stone and helps minimize the appearance of smudges and water spots. Gold veining complements brass cabinet hardware, lighting and other details.
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How a Kitchen Designer Can Be the Key to a Smooth Remodel
Paul Lopa Designs used khaki-and-cream Naica quartzite countertops and a white oak island and shelves to add warmth to this white-and-wood Staten Island, New York, kitchen. The quartzite’s textured leathered finish diffuses light in a way that quiets the appearance of the stone and helps minimize the appearance of smudges and water spots. Gold veining complements brass cabinet hardware, lighting and other details.
Read more about this kitchen makeover
How a Kitchen Designer Can Be the Key to a Smooth Remodel
10. Glossy Quartz Glow-Up
This wood-and-green Spring Hill, Florida, kitchen by DCI Home Improvements features elegant high-gloss quartz countertops (Brittanicca Gold Warm by Cambria) with flowing streams of copper, gold and translucent greige — ribbons of warm earth tones on a soft white background.
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This wood-and-green Spring Hill, Florida, kitchen by DCI Home Improvements features elegant high-gloss quartz countertops (Brittanicca Gold Warm by Cambria) with flowing streams of copper, gold and translucent greige — ribbons of warm earth tones on a soft white background.
Read more about this kitchen makeover
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This elegant farmhouse-style Elgin, Minnesota, kitchen by Kate Roos Design features an island top and perimeter counters in a dramatic Fusion quartzite. The durable and visually stunning surface has warm colors and a lava-like pattern. Here, it creates a striking focal point that pops against creamy white cabinets and backsplash tile.
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