Do you ever feel like you spend the bulk of your time in the kitchen? Well, it isn’t surprising you feel that way. The average Brit spends around 253 minutes each week in the kitchen – that’s 439 days over an entire lifetime! So, let’s make all of that time cooking meals a pleasurable experience by ensuring our surroundings reflect our inner style, with split-level kitchen islands, panelled cabinetry and a rich colour scheme to match.
The beauty of the two-level kitchen island is that they’re not one-size-fits-all. You can scale them up to meet the grandeur of a large room with tall ceilings or reduce them down to suit the dimensions of a tiny room. But, whichever boxes they tick when it comes to proportions, these showstoppers are an exciting way to add functionality and flare to a space.
Functionality and flare: why we love two-level kitchen islands
Planning a kitchen island scheme can feel like a thorny issue, and especially if you are working with an awkward layout. As the central hub of your home, the kitchen demands a seamless workflow that encompasses everything from prep, storage, social and dining space, not to mention work if you're in the WFH camp.
If you’re considering taking the plunge with a multi-level kitchen island, we can reassure you that it’s a decision you won’t regret. Providing several different levels for all of the tasks just mentioned, it’s both a wonderful tool to zone the room and makes for an attention-grabbing centrepiece.
What exactly are split-level kitchen islands?
When exploring which kitchen island types and sizes are the right fit, it’s easy to overlook a split-level design, particularly as they’re a bold choice that commands so much aspiration.
A split-level kitchen island is essentially what it says on the tin: a kitchen island split into two distinct levels. The height of these two elevations is usually very similar – often counter and then bar height – and is incorporated into the design as a means of dividing the space into two separate zones.
A common example of this trend is a two-level kitchen island complete with an elevated seating area. Typically, this will incorporate an eye-catching, bar-height dining zone on the side of the island facing away from the kitchen and then a lower level facing the kitchen used as counter space.
There are no bounds for innovation here as these distinct levels can be used as creatively as the designer wants, offering the opportunity to create a unique profile that will elevate the room and can be styled by a whole number of barstool ideas and designs.
The two-level kitchen island vs one level
As homeowners have sought out more stylistic and creative influences for their homes, it’s only natural for the popularity of split-level kitchen islands to have increased. But sometimes it’s more tempting to stand by the classics, which leads us to the question: how does the two-level kitchen island compare to a one-level island?
Two-level kitchen islands
A two-tier kitchen island introduces further dimensions of visual interest into the room, offering additional functionality with double the space for decoration and storage.
Benefits
They are particularly favoured for their unique aesthetics. You might have seen a rise in quartz surfaces with matching stone features, such as dynamic full-height splashbacks and stone-clad sinks working towards an overall waterfall effect. Another option is to create a bold impact with a shift in material from one level to the other.
Besides being visually appealing, a multi-level island is also an efficient use of space. With its two levels, you can divide up the space by purpose without eating into the floorspace – all whilst concealing clutter such as utensils and spice pots out of sight behind the elevated surface.
Drawbacks
Of course, nothing is perfect, and this is true of the split-level design. If you’re working with a small or narrow kitchen a towering surface can be a liability, making the room look small and disrupting the workflow by ‘chopping up’ the room. A two-tiered kitchen island with little functional space will quickly feel cumbersome and inefficient, so take extra care to research your island of choice and measure up.
Single-level kitchen islands
As opposed to a multi-level island, a traditional one-level kitchen island offers a different type of functionality and a more pared-back look.
Benefits
Compared to a two-level kitchen island, this more traditional type offers smoother workflows and allows for cleaner lines throughout the design. Again, you can scale up or down the island to meet your spatial requirements, but if your main aim for the kitchen island is food preparation, one level will suffice.
Drawbacks
The crucial difference between a kitchen island with multiple tiers and a single-level one is their ability to zone the area. For families with little ones, a two-tiered kitchen island might come in useful as a seating space could be made at the kids’ height whilst the preparation is done higher up, out of the way. Obviously, opting for a single level removes a degree of versatility, so be careful to select the optimal height that will serve you well right into old age.
Get the cutting-edge look
Whichever way you sway in the split-level kitchen islands debate, I’m sure we can all agree that this provocative new trend is going nowhere fast. We’ll be seeing these ultra-modern, ultra-functional surfaces on social media feeds and in designers’ homes for a long time coming – and, who knows, yours might feature one day.
In the meantime, check out our other posts for more practical advice and bar stool design inspo.
