Why no well-dressed Kitchen is complete without an island

An island is a fabulous addition to any kitchen. Whether it enhances the aesthetics, creates a practical prep space, or provides a social hub for family and friends, this versatile piece of furniture always brings something special to the party. As a result, Ledbury Studio designs almost always feature an island. Each one is a bespoke creation, meticulously crafted by founder Charlie Smallbone and the team to meet a wide range of unique needs. Here are just a few examples of their exceptional work.

Ultra-stylish storage

The contemporary Wimbledon kitchen (pictured above) features a highly practical island at its core. Instead of a hob or breakfast bar, this island offers an impressive amount of storage, keeping the family kitchen free of clutter. The industrial-style design showcases aged, hand-finished solid zinc doors on the island, complemented by oak drawers and a specially commissioned paint effect on the surrounding tall cabinets. This blend of materials and finishes creates an eye-catching and functional centrepiece for the kitchen.

On a grand scale

For one Italian family in Ascot, a spacious kitchen for dining and entertaining was essential. At the heart of this kitchen is a magnificent island, which not only accommodates a second sink, ample prep space, and a hob, but also provides comfortable seating for up to five people. The island exudes glamour with chandeliers overhead and a Calacatta Quartz waterfall worktop elegantly wrapped around white-stained oak cabinets.

Stand-out style

The Wapping kitchen needed an island that would complement the unique style of the converted warehouse apartment (pictured below). With river views at the other end of the open-plan living space, the kitchen still holds its own thanks to the dramatic contrast created between aged copper doors, marble worktops and black stained ash furniture. The island here is functional as well as beautiful. It offers prep space, houses the hob, and provides a spot to perch for a drink. It also serves as a divider between the working kitchen and the living area beyond.

Finishes that draw focus

Ledbury Studio is renowned for showcasing the beauty of unconventional materials in the kitchen, especially metallics, and for their innovative use of finishes. The Camden kitchen (shown right) exemplifies this approach. The island features delicate reeded oak panels at either end, mirrored in the reeded Ambra quartz splashback, and book-matched oak drawers. The specially commissioned worktop is a true masterpiece, incorporating a selection of Italian marbles inlaid with an aged-brass edge trim.

Part of the furniture

A breakfast bar is a common feature of most kitchen islands, but some offer a variety of dining spaces, as seen in the St John's Wood kitchen (pictured above). The sizeable peninsula accommodates comfortable bar stools at one end and forms the back of the banquette seating at the other, which surrounds a family-sized dining table. This not only provides a comfortable solution for longer dinner parties, but also maximises the space available. To help add light to the basement kitchen, the furniture is oak with a pale pigmented wash, while the furniture and seating feature LED lighting.