Kitchen Island Tables | Kitchen Designs - Choose Kitchen Layouts & Remodeling Materials | HGTV

While a kitchen island can certainly serve its purpose as an additional spot for storage or food preparation, some pieces are also intended to be a place for gathering friends and family. In fact, many kitchen island tables shirk their typical duties in favor of diner-style seating and a casual dining environment.

Some hybrid kitchen islands marry the concept of additional food preparation space with extra seating for dining. These models typically are designed with one side serving as a working space, while the other half is used as a table space.

However, a new wave of kitchen island tables has been popping up in kitchens, looking instead like tables with extended legs rather than places for taking care of food preparation. Some of these table-like islands include shelving or cabinets below, while others nix the storage space in order to provide more leg room.

These kitchen island tables allow for more seating room, creating a casual space for dining within one of the most popular rooms in many homes. An overhead chandelier and decorative centerpiece will add to the feeling that the table is meant for entertainment rather than the overflow of work that can sometimes occur in a kitchen area.

And don't let the table aspect of the island keep you from sometimes using it as a work space. Instead, protect the top with place mats and cutting boards before relying on it for extra room to chop vegetables or mix together a fresh salad.