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17 Incredible Kitchen Islands With Sinks, Seating, and Cooktops

White kitchen island in center of modern kitchen with black hanging lights

The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto

Guests and relatives and everyone alike will feel right at home when they socialize with you in your spacious kitchen. And the one thing that draws them—and keeps them—will be your kitchen island with seating for all.

Multiple configurations abound, and with enough time and imagination, you'll find just the perfect set-up to make your kitchen the one that everyone will remember.

  • 01 of 17

    Multi-Purpose Space

    kitchen island with overhang for seating

    Casa Watkins Living

    Kitchen islands with seating give your workspace and dining space and overall increased utility. Instead of shuttling plates back and forth from dining room to kitchen, it's a simple matter to slide them right on over to the diner—just a few feet away.

    One downside is that you cut into your kitchen workspace. In the case of this featured kitchen island, its only work functions are as a general food prep area—leaving much room for dining. It's an island with an overhang, the traditional way to create a dining table and free up plenty of room for eating.

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  • 02 of 17

    Just Enough Room for What You Want

    small island with seating

    Design: Mindy Gayer/Photographer: Vanessa Lentine

    Who said that your kitchen island seating had to accommodate multitudes? Sometimes it's enough just to have enough space for one person, namely you. Take a seat with a cup of coffee and a cookbook as you put together that evening's meal.

    It can be space enough for a friend to chat with you as you cook. This design by Mindy Gayer is small and compact, keeping the chairs out of sight when not being used—yet is an ideal space for a couple of people.

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  • 03 of 17

    Kitchen Island With Dining Table Nearby

    island with sink, blue drawers

    House 9 Interiors

    The seating in this luxurious kitchen island may be non-existent, the dining table close by help make up for it. With the golden handles and plenty of storage options, the island is already doing plenty of work—but add in the sink feature and it's clear how multi-purpose it truly is.

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  • 04 of 17

    Always Room for One More

    kitchen island with striped chairs

    Afro Bohemian Living

    The point of this kitchen island from Afro Boho Living isn't seating; it's more like an afterthought. However, add two chairs and it creates a cozy corner to eat or sip coffee in the mornings.

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  • 05 of 17

    Dual Level Eating/Workspace

    divider dining separate from prep

    D Burns Interiors

    As mentioned before, one problem with kitchen islands with seating is that dining space can eat up workspace or vice-versa.

    With this dual-level kitchen island, the dining space is delineated from the prep area. This is a very dependable and serviceable design from D Burns Interiors, which is built into the wall framework yet isn't impeded in any way.

    Tip

    One secret to effective island seating arrangement is to remember to leave 32 inches behind diners (to pull chairs in or out) and 15 inches on each side between diners for elbow room.

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  • 06 of 17

    Cooking Demonstration

    Kitchen Island With Stove

    Morsa Images / Getty Images

    Display your cooking prowess for all to see with a kitchen island and an embedded cooktop. On one side, the cook is the star of the show. On the other side, a rapt (and likely hungry) audience of six on bar stools. It's a fun variation that brings everybody together for that favorite bonding activity: eating.

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  • 07 of 17

    Contemporary Kitchen Islands With Seating

    marble island with sink and seating

    Brophy Interiors

    This marble setup from Brophy Interiors looks small, but includes seating and a sleek sink. It's a perfect compact piece that still delivers on the necessary aspects of a kitchen.

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  • 08 of 17

    Seating and Open Storage

    small island with gold stools tucked underneath

    Burchard Design Co.

    Kitchen islands that include storage are lovely, but open storage can really open up some possibilities. This kitchen from Burchard Design Co. proves our point—the playful pink hue sets the island apart, yet the open shelving on the one side allows for storage of dishes and other items, while the available space on the right is perfect for a few stools to be used when ready.

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  • 09 of 17

    Farmhouse Island With Sink and Seating

    navy farmhouse island with seating and sink

    Jessica Nelson Design

    This quaint farmhouse style kitchen is given a modern lift with a navy island that includes plenty of seating. The addition of the sink with gold faucets adds a bit of flair without compromising the aesthetic (or function).

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  • 10 of 17

    Statement Piece in More Ways Than One

    black kitchen island with white counter

    Design: Emily Henderson/Photographer: Sara Ligorria Tramp

    This kitchen designed by Emily Henderson boasts warm wood and white pieces—except for the island, that is. The black and white island creates a stark contrast to the rest of the room, making it a strong focal point. Add a few chairs and the luxurious fold faucet, and no one is taking their eyes off of it.

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  • 11 of 17

    Unique Designs and Gold Accents

    island with exposed storage and gold faucet

    Charlie Interior Design

    This island boasts some interesting features—most notable is the interesting mix of open and closed storage it entails. The open corners are a perfect place to display cookbooks and small decor, while the closed cabinets can keep bulkier items out of the way. The added sink gives the space additional purpose beyond a storage unit.

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  • 12 of 17

    Prep Sink and Bar Seating

    Kitchen Island With Seating

    The Washington Post / Contributor / Getty Images

    Kitchen islands don't necessarily need a full-size sink. Bar sinks or prep sinks often will suffice. Installing a goose-neck faucet helps to clear the way when washing up. This kitchen island is heavily geared toward the comfort of its users, with fabric-covered bar stools spaced a generous distance from each other.

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  • 13 of 17

    Pull Up a Chair (or Two)

    blue and white kitchen island

    Design: Emily Henderson/Photographer: Tessa Neustadt

    While stools are perfectly acceptable options for an island, you have to admire the boldness of these two cushioned swivel chairs paired with this white and blue island. The island does find its place cozied up against a wall, yet there is still plenty of space to wine and dine.

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  • 14 of 17

    A Marvelous Marble Masterpiece

    half kitchen island, half table

    Brophy Interiors

    Having a space that does it all can feel like an impossible task. However, the marble island in this kitchen by Brophy Interiors certainly has its work cut out for it. The overhang creates plenty of room for multiple people to dine, and the kitchen sink located on the other end is in the ideal spot for cleanup afterward.

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  • 15 of 17

    Seating All the Way Around

    marble island with chairs

    Design: Emily Henderson/Photographer: Sara Ligorria Tramp

    Why stick to seating on just one side of an island? In this kitchen designed by Emily Henderson, you don't have to. This marble-topped piece has plenty of room to seat four comfortably—and possibly even more.

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  • 16 of 17

    Leave Plenty of Elbow Room

    blue and white island with leather chaird

    Erin Williamson Design

    This gorgeous kitchen from Erin Williamson Design wins anyone over with its stunning backsplash and vibrant blue/white color scheme. The kitchen island has worked with three seats, providing plenty of elbow room for those who choose to dine there.

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  • 17 of 17

    Its More Than Sinks

    island with stovetop and seating

    Jenn Pablo Studio

    Kitchen islands can make an excellent home for seating and sinks, but those aren't the only possibilities. Take this version in a kitchen designed by Jenn Pablo Studios—rather than a sink, a gas stovetop is present instead. The three minimalist wooden stools are also a lovely addition.