Custom Kitchen Islands

Almost every kitchen island is custom (unless you're using a movable worktable that you can buy off the shelf), in that it is unique, and is made to fit your needs and location. Custom kitchen islands cover a range from the totally custom-made and custom-finished island to match your custom cabinets, to a much cheaper island made out of standard size countertops and cabinets assembled in unique ways.

Designing Your Own Custom Island

Create the foundation of your kitchen island using a arrangement of wall and/or base cabinets. Then customize it in some of these ways:

Details
* Add legs to the ends, or to support an eating overhang. Check classic tables for proportions and sizes: some island legs I've seen in photos are very oversized and look bulky to me.
* Dock a wheeled table in or under a larger fixed island for flexibility
* Use small gaps between your base cabinets for pull-out towel storage, cutting board or baking sheet storage, display niches, bottle storage, narrow pullout racks for spices, cookbook shelvesetc.
* Light your island with multiple decorative ceiling lights: industrial lighting, art glass shades, mini-chandeliers, whatever fits your style. Dimmable, of course!
* An unusual or specialized faucet makes a great island feature too
* Build in an interesting sink which would be impractical as your main sink: perhaps an odd shape like a trough or less-used material like copper
* Include appliance drawers: dishwasher, freezer, fridge, even a warming drawer for plates and finished dishes.

Materials
* Combine multiple counter-top materials: maybe a wood prep area with a slate slab for pastry
* Use a two-tone finish on the base: light and dark wood panels, distressed or antiqued paint finishes
* Change cabinet colors on the island: painted vs stained, antique-look vs modern, dark vs light
* Customize the sides and ends of the base: panel them with decorative materials like beadboard or tile, add panels or doors to match your cabinets, cover them with wallpaper or fabric (varnished for protection) or even use a translucent material and light it from the inside.

Shape
* Modify heights on different sections of your island, up to bar height or down to table height
* Make the island an unusual shape. Why should everything be rectangular? Try angles or curves: prototype the shape with cardboard and tape to see how it looks and how it works.