Kitchen island with breakfast bar: types and design ideas for your home

Hardly anyone doubts that a kitchen island with breakfast bar is an important piece of furniture and can be a huge asset. A beautiful and at the same time comfortable kitchen is the dream of any housewife. To achieve this effect, it is worth choosing the right furniture. One of the best solutions is a kitchen island with a breakfast bar. In general, the island is a multi-functional piece of furniture that can be used for storage, worktop space and as a dining and seating area.

For the past decade, most of the new home floor plan designs include an eat-in kitchen and countertop seating. Usually, this is a kitchen island or a peninsula. We are used to think of large kitchen islands with seating as a must in spacious rooms, but you can have a fantastic breakfast bar even in a small or tiny kitchen.

By definition, a kitchen island is a freestanding unit providing counter and cabinet space and usually it is located in the center of the room. It is used to place a stovetop, oven, sink, and of course, provide additional seating.

What are the advantages of having a kitchen island with breakfast bar?

Having a kitchen island with breakfast bar comes with a number of undeniable advantages due to the fact that this is an independent piece of furniture separated from the cabinets.

Functionality – an island with a bar can be used as a storage system, work area or for built-in household appliances. For example, a mini fridge, a wine cooler, an oven, etc. It can have open shelves or cabinets or combine both types of storage;

Aesthetic appearance – kitchen islands with breakfast bar are suitable for almost any interior style and will transform the interior significantly. From traditional to contemporary and minimalistic designs – you will definitely find a great one that will complement the overall decor concept.

Zoning the space – with the help of an island you can separate different functional areas in a large kitchen or studio apartment.

Kitchen island with breakfast bar – types and design ideas

The variety of layouts in modern homes and the huge choice of design solutions provide the opportunity to select the best type of kitchen island with breakfast bar for your home. There are several types of islands – a standard island with seating, two tier kitchen islands (split level/multi level islands), portable islands, etc.

When choosing a countertop, it is worth considering that the shape can be very different. The simplest option is rectangular and more complex options can be with a variety of lines and shapes.

A standard kitchen island with seating is a great choice for any kitchen. This type of design highlights the beauty of your granite, quartz or other material. The single height provides a clear line and a sleek look and in addition, the flat surface is multi-functional. It can be used not only as dining area, but for food preparation, craft and homework projects or any other daily activity of the family members – from reading a newspaper to placing a laptop and working. Supersized islands make a big impression and if you have a large kitchen, this is surely become an immediate focal point in the design.

Two-tier kitchen islands are functional and elegant. They come in three major varieties:

Kitchen island with raised breakfast bar – this is a popular choice of homeowners and works with any style. Modern homes with open floor plans expose the whole kitchen to view. This means that all the mess is also exposed and a raised countertop will help you hide it behind a short wall. In this way, even if you are in the middle of cooking your kitchen will be a nice place to sit and eat, drink, and entertain friends. Bar height counters are great for eating breakfast in the morning and serving appetizers during a party. In addition, your island can be used as a partition or a divider between the kitchen and the rest of the home. Standard kitchen counter top height is 36″/91 cm while bar height is 42″/106 cm. This means you will need special bar stools – 30″/76 cm high.

Kitchen island with lower breakfast bar also offers a clear separation between the eating and preparation areas and makes the kitchen look a bit more organized. This type of design is very convenient for elderly people or small children. A height of 30″/76 cm is ideal for regular eating with standard height chairs 18″/45 cm.

A multi-tiered kitchen island is a versatile piece of furniture and can serve a number of purposes with its different levels.

Portable kitchen islands with breakfast bar provide additional counter space if you need the extra room for culinary preparation as well as storage. They are the perfect solution for small kitchens and come in many styles and colors to match your existing design.

When it comes to choosing the material of your kitchen island the options are numerous – from solid wood to stainless steel, natural stone in all its variety – marble, soapstone, slate, granite, engineered stone, Formica, glass, etc. Each material has its advantages and disadvantages. It is best if you select a material depending on your design concept and overall appearance of the kitchen.