Welcome to kitchens featuring two islands like the spectacular example above byStonehouse Bespoke Kitchens.
Actually, it’s a few kitchens of the ultra rich. One thing I’ve been surprised about publishing celebrity homes is their kitchens, while usually fabulously designed, aren’t massive like these.
The 2+ kitchen phenomenon goes like this. One kitchen island is awesome. I think most of us can agree. Therefore, 2 or more kitchens is even better. Why not 5 kitchens?
There’s just one problem with this reasoning and that’s the economic principle called the law of diminishing returns. Diminishing returns is the concept where no matter how good something is, at some point the benefits begin to diminish.
In the case of kitchens, I think diminishing returns takes hold after 1 kitchen island. Just my 2 cents’ worth.
But, one of our policies is to publish any kitchen layout because while I may not be a huge fan, somebody may like it and find it helpful. This website is all about inspiring, providing useful information and helping people. It’s not my vanity project.
Related: Kitchens with Built-in Tables | Long and Narrow Kitchens | Kitchens with Columns | Kitchens Designed for People Who Love Cooking | Custom Kitchen Ideas | Medium-Sized Kitchen | Kitchen Layout Ideas |Kitchens with Angled Kitchen Islands
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Source: Redfin. Incredible modern kitchen with 2 islands and a stunning view and cathedral ceiling. One island is for a workspace and includes a sink while the other is a dedicated breakfast bar where all seats face the incredible view of the ocean.
Source: Trulia
With two spacious islands accommodating seating, dining and storage, the beautiful kitchen has high grade ovens and stoves aligned on one side, making it a delight for the eager chef.
The right side is adorned with large windows allowing ample sunlight in. This beautiful kitchen is for the aesthetically inclined client who prefers functionality and taste.
The above example has a large l-shaped island with a long, rectangle island in the center. See the floor plan for this house here.
Designed by:Hughes Umbanhowar Architects
This casual kitchen shows off minimalism with two slim islands incorporating a stove and oven and an aesthetically pleasing bar, a dream for those who think less is more.
With ample of sunlight, this kitchen is fit for a small family and is conveniently spaced to accommodate dining tables or a buffet spread. A subtle kitchen for those who love space – and lots of it!
Designed by: Hughes Umbanhowar Architects
This ocean themed kitchen is perfect for your beach house! With islands overlooking the beach front as you cook or plate up your catch of the day, this well lit kitchen is just behind the front porch and the ocean. A thalassophile’s dream come true.
Designed by: la SHED Architecture
Warm and cozy, this kitchen fits well into small spaces. With an oven and stove aligned to the right, the center has two lovely wooden countertops paired with matching chairs.
Incorporating plumbing and lots of open shelves at the bottom to show off your china collection, the soft white kitchen is a great place to have an afternoon coffee with a friend.
Designed by: Luxe Homes & Design
Perfect for old souls, this traditional looking kitchen has warm wooden hues and lanternesque lights to compliment the two slim islands with lots of storage space.
Snuggly fitted into opposite corners are rustic stoves and a multipurpose oven and above is a well lit ceiling casting light on sofas in the corners. Too earthy, to cozy!
Designed by: Philip M Dingemanse Architecture + Design
For a luxurious cabin in the woods, this kitchen fits two islands with wide tops opposite each other, serving culinary activities and a sink to wash the pickings of the outside. The shining star is wide shelf to house all your spices and wines, and the dim lighting gives it a chill vibe at dusk.
Designed by: Andrew Howard Interior Design
This comfy kitchen is the perfect fit for a new home. With a subtle color scheme and marble top islands it’s a well equipped kitchen. It has two simple headlights, and a well lit window. Aligned on two walls are the oven, stove and sink – keeping the cooking to a corner, and dining to another!
Source: Trulia
For those who love comfort, this kitchen combines the comfort of a living room and functionality of the kitchen in one large space.
With marbled countertops which are exceptionally wide, the kitchen sits under a gorgeous ceiling of spotlights. Whether you’re dining, cooking or catching up on your news, this kitchen is an absolute delight to design.
Source: Trulia
Simple and functional, this kitchen boasts a large fridge fitted into the wall right adjacent to the countertops with a stove and exhaust, this kitchen has enough space to move around.
Wide islands with cabinets and drawers are perfect for easy access to cutlery and cooking appliances, and wide enough to set up bar stools around to dine.
For the Southern belle, this lovely kitchen with hues of eggshell and white will be an absolute delight to cook and bake in.
With islands catering to plumbing and serving as a bar-top, there’s enough natural light and space to set up a cozy dining table under the lovely chandelier.
This centrally located kitchen comes with large storing cabinets hinged onto the walls, conveniently above the stoves and oven.
Two wide island countertops serve as a dining space and have ample of space to enjoy meal prepping. The soft daffodil lights compliment the warm color scheme, and swathe the room in a warm glow.
Aesthetically pleasing, the large wide stop islands are perfect utilization of space for function and style. With numerous cabinets making storage easy, the kitchen is voluminous enough to accommodate a dining area, all under a well lit ceiling.
For those who love earthy hues, this compact kitchen is perfect for a small family. The side counter tops accommodate comfy chairs. The natural lighting and low indoor lighting go perfectly with the flooring.
A well lit kitchen with a large island to cater to dining space and meal prep, this kitchen comes with baking and refrigerating appliances fixed into the architecture.
Adjoining is the living room, making it a very central place to gather in.
This simple kitchen comes with tall cabinets hinged above the countertops for easy access, and a large curving island to cater to dining seating, and a small one to prop up a vase. The hanging lights add a lovely glow to the compact kitchen.
This stony kitchen boasts of large islands with wide marble tops underneath bright bowl lanterns. The wooden frames add aesthetic quality to the kitchen and relegated to a corner are the storage, stoves and plumbing mechanisms.
This spacious and well lit kitchen has two grand islands with different designs to cater to a great dining experience and serve meal prep purposes. The large cabinet and long wall of cooking equipment make it a great value for space and aesthetics.
This lovely woodwork kitchen has lovely islands with smooth black marble tops, serving as a dining and meal prep areas. It has ample of storage space and comes with a fitted oven, stove and fridge.
This roomy kitchen is centrally located with two counters with cabinets and drawers, ready for storage and ready for dining use. The woodwork and lamps create a lovely warm ambiance to this construction.
This chill kitchen has soothing white tones contrasted by the dark marble tops of the islands reflecting the elegant chandeliers overhead. With lots of sunlight and comfortable highchairs, it’s an elegant yet cozy place.
With appliances, refrigerators and ovens relegated to the corners, the kitchen makes way to star its large marble and wood islands. Under embellished bowl lamps, the egg shell island is a perfect place to dine on and cabinets on the side are perfect for storage.
This cheerful kitchen boasts themed marble with a well lit ceiling. It has a cascading island to serve as a bar and dining besides a more voluminous one for meal prep. Located centrally, this kitchen is the hearth of a home.
The monotone kitchen used wood, marble and geometry to boast of its islands and architecture. With smooth countertops making kitchen work easy to do and with lot of natural light and soft indoor lighting, this kitchen is perfect to dine in.
This large kitchen has multiple islands with smooth countertops. The walls are lined with cabinets for storage and the marble work compliments the soft woody color theme.
Soft lighting accentuates the architecture of this spacious kitchen, perfect for a big family.
The large monotone islands are the star of this well lit kitchen. The hanging lamps and wide window add perfect lighting to the kitchen. Appliances and cupboards are fixed into the walls, making the room look bigger.
This minimalist kitchen is a modern fixture with its textured islands, with space to dine or work on, and another to prep ingredients on.
The overhead lighting is subtle and soft, making it well lit. Storage is plenty with cupboard and appliances fitted into the walls.
This sunny kitchen overlooks the side of the house. Housing large islands of various sizes for multipurpose activities, and soft overhead lamps, the kitchen is elegant and functional.
A stove is fitted onto the largest island for those who enjoy live cooking like those in Korean restaurants!
For the Hogwarts lover, this grandiose kitchen has heavy wood islands under embellished overhead chandeliers.
The woodwork of the décor compliments the aura of the kitchen, and there is ample of space to store, cook and enjoy a meal!
This cheery kitchen allows for natural light and subtle light to make it a homey room. The large islands are wide enough to accommodate dining and voluminous meal prep.
The apparatus and appliances are aligned circularly towards the wall, and one of the islands and large cupboards make for great storage places for china.
This breezy kitchen is perfect for those who hate hassle. With appliances and storage drawers aligned next to each other against one side, the kitchen makes way for the dark topped islands with subtle cupboards and just enough space for a mini bar.
This bright kitchen has two islands with a wider top to dine and work on, and a slimmer one to prep ingredients on. The overhead lighting and open windows are a gorgeous touch to the architecture and the whole lot of wood looks inviting and earthy.
This geometrically architectured kitchen stars a large island with a sink and a smaller one under spread out overhead lamps.With lots of natural light and subtle appliance fixtures, this kitchen is one of the neatest designs.
This grand kitchen boasts of heavy wood work and glass tops for its islands under wrought iron lighting. Along one side of the wall are the kitchen appliances and tools, and in a small annex is a cozy dining area.
This elegant and spacious kitchen has two large islands, under modern lamps, with small shelf space on their sides.
Behind the islands is the stove and on their sides are the appliances and cabinets fixed into the walls, and in the middle is a lovely window adding the right amount of natural light.
If you’re into geometric shapes, these islands are just for you. With smooth marble cut into tasteful tops, the islands are spacious enough to create a faux dining area and make meal prepping a fine task.
Besides, the kitchen is well lit by overhead lighting and spotlights in window sills.
This grandiose kitchen is right out of an old novel. The expansive islands are a beautiful touch to this softly lit kitchen, with subtly fixed fixtures alongside the wall, and the floor is an assortment of lovely marble work.
This softly lit kitchen has shaped islands to utilize the space to its best. With smooth counter tops and heavy wooden base, the islands have cabinets to make storage easy, and alongside the walls are the appliances needed for cooking and various cabinets from the ground up.
This cheerful kitchen incorporates a cozy living room and hearth behind the large islands with marble and wooden tops.
Ceiling lighting adds soft light, and appliances and storage cupboards are aligned to the wall with dark wood, complimenting the floor.
This happy kitchen has large but compact islands with carved wood bottoms. Above are gorgeous hanging chandeliers and lights fitted into the ceiling, and alongside the kitchen wall are the appliances and storage drawers.
This homely kitchen has a large geometric island with a broad marble top and a smaller one with drawers and cabinets to accommodate storage.
Lit brightly by daffodil lamps overhead, the kitchen has a cool theme of stone and cream, giving it a homely feel.
This regal kitchen has heavy woodwork. With a large island promising a great dining experience and a smaller one with drawers fitted in, the kitchen is spacious.
Large cupboards are arranged for storage and the cooking appliances are relegated to the back wall. Soft lighting really brings out the room!
The warm kitchen is aglow with overhead spotlights and open windows. The kitchen comes with two large islands, prepped for a chef ready to work.
With storage space and plumbing fitted in, the islands provide a massive work place, and a sleek exhaust is there to keep your house free from the odors of food.
This warm and woody kitchen is for the lover of fine things. With one large island with a thick and expansive marble top and a large shelf fitted at the bottom to keep wine, the other island is also expansive enough to prep meals on and fitted with drawers to store all the necessary things.
Bright lighting makes it a cheerful room and all the necessary fixtures have been fixed into the walls for spaciousness and accessibility.
This cozy kitchen is right out of a book lover’s dream. With large wooden islands, one lined with comfortable sofas, the island has shelves to keep your favorite cookbooks in place, while the other island is fitted with glass cabinets to make storage easier.
Aligning the wall are the kitchen apparatus and more cupboards for storage, and the dim lighting complements the woodwork.
This work of red brings out the fire in your cuisine. With cream marble tops curving along the island bottoms and chic barstools, there is space to enjoy a glass of wine and prep a thanksgiving meal. The overhead lighting shines a spot light on the pristine marble work in the kitchen.
This chill kitchen is a work of modern and sleek. With metal fixtures and appliances, and wide marble tops for islands, this kitchen has the perfect lighting for daily dinner prep.
The islands come equipped with ovens, and one cascaded from a bar-top to a countertop.
This kitchen flawlessly flaunts this century’s favorite wood and marble work. With two large and differently shaped counter tops for the islands, this kitchen offers wide space to move around prepping meals and working on the computer.
From the ceiling beams hang geometric lamps, casting a bright glow to this well lit kitchen. All fixtures are fitted along the back and ample of storage is available.
How popular are kitchens with multiple islands?
Not very popular, as you can well imagine.
Here’s a chart illustrating how small of a percent of kitchens have multiple islands.
Here are the percentages:
- Kitchens with 2+ Islands: 3.98%
- Kitchens with 1 island: 75.44%
- Kitchens with no island: 10.33%
- Kitchens with a peninsula: 10.25%
If you want to find out what’s popular in kitchen design, check out our data-driven article setting out a ton of data and charts on the most popular kitchen features and colors here.
Layout for Multi-Island Kitchens
There isn’t a set universal layout for kitchens of this type. However, typically, there’s an outer island with an inner, smaller island. Or, there are 2 similar sized islands next to one another creating a long kitchen.
I guess you can think of it as the outer island being a “barrier” island while the inner is a harbor or channel island, to give you a geography metaphor.
What do I think about this type of kitchen layout?
I think it’s too much. I like spacious kitchens, but at some point it’s too large requiring too much moving around to get anything done. Moreover, islands, while awesome, can hinder movement and efficiency.
They cut off pathways within the kitchen, especially U-shaped kitchens. Throw in 2 islands and you end up doing figure eights to get around.
One exception to my thinking 2 islands is too much:
If you’re some wealthy family who hires caterers frequently for parties, 2 islands in a massive kitchen makes sense. Caterers need space and they can have people at different sections in the kitchen handling their individual work.
But seriously, how many people hire caterers that often? I sure don’t. I suspect even ultra wealthy people don’t do it all that often… it’s not a daily occurrence.
Accordingly, while we are happy to publish a gallery featuring kitchens with multiple islands, it’s not something I aspire to have in my kitchen.
