These days, the kitchen island has become a feature many feel you must accommodate for at all costs, but does your kitchen really need one? In some instances, an island simply doesn't make sense in terms of available space, or in cases where there is already plenty of counterspace, they really just create more room for clutter to build up.
That's definitely not to say a kitchen island is not worth considering in your design, though. It's just worth questioning whether it's worth sacrificing space (or budget) for in order to squeeze it in. Plus, there are plenty of other ways to add counterspace without adding an island.
