Mr. Jackson
@mrjackson

We know remodeling can be a huge undertaking, especially in the kitchen. So when it comes to changing your living space, it’s important to feel like the upgrade you’re doing is right.Kitchen islands continue to be a mainstay of renovated kitchens and 61% of upgraded kitchens feature them. While relatively few remodel projects make no changes to the islands, some upgrade an existing island and roughly 33% add islands. Here’s a breakdown of what’s happening.

Cabinetry

Almost 40% contrasted island cabinet color with the perimeter cabinets. The top choice for contrast is grey, followed by blue, black and medium-toned wood. Over 10% opted for a different cabinet style altogether. The most popular is flat-paneled, followed by louvered and glass-front cabinets. Shaker cabinets continue to be the most popular door style overall. It’s no surprise that only 6% of renovating homeowners choose Shaker for their island cabinetry.

Counter-tops

Counter-tops feature big in remodel projects. Twenty-six percent upgraded their kitchen island counter-tops with a different material from their perimeter counters. Butcher block or wood slabs are the top choices, followed by engineered quartz, granite, marble, quartzite and solid surface.

Along with different materials, almost 30% of homeowners opted for a different color from the perimeter cabinets.  Again, wood tones from dark to light are the most popular choices. When it comes to color, white led the way followed by gray and multicolored tops. 

Storage and utility

Around 98% of homeowners add or upgrade their islands to increase storage.  More than half of the upgraded islands also included appliances.

A recent survey shows homeowners use their islands for eating, entertaining and socializing. If this applies to your home, the above information should help you with the numerous decisions that come with a kitchen remodel.

(PS – We have lots of articles about islands in our blog with photos and inspiration!)