Are work tables the new, easier way to add a kitchen island? Interior designers claim they offer a more lived-in elegance that makes it worth losing the storage

A burgundy and white kitchen with a wooden work table as a kitchen island.

I spend a lot of time looking at beautiful kitchen designs, and if there's one feature I'm seeing more and more of, it's traditional work tables in the place of built-in island designs.

Work tables have been having a revival, and as far as kitchen island ideas go, they are proving to be the new favorite way to create a functional and stylish center to the hardest working room in your home. While they might offer less storage, they nail a more relaxed, laid back look that so many kitchen trends are leaning towards this year.