It’s often said that the kitchen is the heart of the home. Well, the island is the heart of the kitchen—so make sure yours stands out by stealing one of these designer ideas from the WL archives.

Peach stone island.
Photo: Joel Klassen

Choose a statement stone

It’s hard not to love the Roma Imperial stone that was used for this kitchen island. In fact, designer Suzanne Tetrault loved it so much that it inspired the rest of the house. The counter’s dark maroon, blues, creams and peaches are reflected in other elements, including the tiles in the ensuite bathroom. See more of this summery Calgary home.

Photo: Ema Peter

Go really, really long

With an active food Instagram account, the owner of this home needed a kitchen that was both artful and functional—so Andrea Rodman brought in a 13-foot-long island with a white countertop, faucet and basin. The tone-on-tone effect makes the hardware less pronounced, softening the space. “That’s something I like to do,” says the designer, “play with metal and colours, making them less emphasized or more.” Step inside this zen abode.

Photos: Eymeric Widling

Add a second kitchen island

This chic Calgary residence has not one but two islands… and yes, they’re in the same kitchen. Even so, designer Stephanie Charest decided to give each its own personality and style. One has been fitted with an almost-too-pretty-to-use butcher block while the other features a functional seating area and a dramatic waterfall countertop. Tour this elegantly renovated home.

Photo: Jon Adrian

Create custom shelves

What do you do when you have more than 200 cookbooks? You build a kitchen island to put them on! That’s what interior designer France Lefebvre did at least. The shelves are extra sturdy so that they don’t sag under the weight of her most beloved tomes, including L’Encyclopédie de la Cuisine de Jehane Benoit and a 1965 first edition of Vincent Price’s A Treasury of Great Recipes. Check out the rest of this designer and cookbook collector’s dream home.

The kitchen is white with a wooden island in the center
Photo: Ema Peter

Warm up a modern space with wood

White millwork, handleless cabinetry and a polished concrete floor give this D’Arcy Jones-designed kitchen a sleek and minimalist look. And thanks to the addition of a wooden island and bar stools, the room is warm and inviting. Explore this 2,600-square-foot beauty.

Photo: Janis Nicolay

Add a pop of colour

Architect Marianne Amodio wanted to pay homage to this home’s heritage and history, so she incorporated a ton of pink and mint green (the colours of its original asphalt shingles). You’ll see these hues on accent walls, doorways and the kitchen millwork. We especially love the pop of pink on the island. See the before and after renovation photos.

Photo: Sharon Litchfield

Stick a kitchen table on the end

As if this kitchen island wasn’t already beautiful enough, designer Brianna Hughes went ahead and attached a small eating area to the end of it. The cream and brown countertop is perfectly complemented by the table’s dark wood top and reeded base. Check out the rest of this decadent Calgary home.