The kitchen island has been the focal point and gathering hub for every home we have ever lived in. It is also the operational workhorse for meal preparation and cooking. We put a lot of thought into the design of the one I just completed for the River House. Pictured above is the business end of the island. It features open shelving that will be used for frequently used spices, cooking oils, etc. and a convenience outlet. The goal was easy access and no line of sight from the entertaining areas ( a principle used for the shelving in the pantry as well). Twelve full-extension, deeper-than-normal, push-to-open drawers provide ample storage. The characteristic bamboo wood grain is matched from drawer to drawer creating a continuous pattern and the lack of hardware further contributes to the clean and calm appearance. Pictured below is the view from the great room which was designed to be more elegant. Not shown is the side opposite the induction cooktop which has space for three tucked-in bar stools where seated guests will enjoy views of the river. Hidden behind one of the columns is a second conveniece outlet with two built-in USB-C chargers.

After months of building and finishing all the cabinetry for the house, the island is the first to reach full completion and I could not be happier with the result.