A kitchen 'island' is a free-standing, usually central, block of worktop. Island kitchens revolve around this station and are usually spacious rooms where the island acts as a central point between the three points of the work triangle.

The shape of this island varies - it can be square, oblong or even curved. It may be decorated so that it stands out as a feature from rest of the units and scheme, or it may be finished to match the overall scheme. Well-finished edges are important; they should be smooth and rounded so that they do not catch on clothing or hurt passers-by.

The island itself is a very flexible piece of furniture. The simplest model may be a food preparation and storage block on wheels. The area beneath the worktop can be left empty, fitted for storage such as drawers and cupboards. With power points the island can be a work station for anything from food processing to coffee making.

Another advantage is that an island kitchen can be raised to provide an area that is comfortable for you to work at standing. Alternatively, some standard units can be raised on adjustable legs, and to add extra height a butcher's block or thick chopping board can be fixed into a recess or surround (to stop slipping) on the surface.