A kitchen island is the centrepiece of modern kitchen design. But getting it right requires careful planning around space, services and proportion. Here's our complete guide.
Minimum space requirements: you need at least 1 metre of clear space on all sides of your island for comfortable movement. This means your kitchen should be at least 4m wide to accommodate even a small island.
Standard island sizes range from 1200mm x 600mm (compact) to 2400mm x 1200mm (large). The most popular size we build is around 1800mm x 900mm — large enough for a hob, prep space and two bar stools.
Adding a sink or hob to your island requires running services under the floor. This is straightforward during a kitchen renovation but adds £1,500–£3,000 to the cost for plumbing and electrical connections. Downdraft or ceiling-mounted extraction is needed for island hobs.
Waterfall edges (where the worktop material continues down the sides) create a sleek, contemporary look. This works particularly well with quartz or porcelain worktops. Expect to add £800–£2,000 for waterfall ends depending on the material.
Storage options include deep drawers (better than cupboards for accessibility), open shelving for cookbooks or display, integrated wine racks, and pull-out bins. We design every island with a mix of storage solutions tailored to how you cook and live.
Kitchen island costs range from £3,000 for a simple freestanding unit to £15,000+ for a fully plumbed, bespoke island with premium worktops. At TEMBOK, we design and build kitchen islands as part of our complete kitchen service.