The Kitchen Island: From Behind the Scenes to Center Stage

Food Prep and Gathering Space Blends Function and Fun

By Keith Hamm Thu Mar 20, 2025 | 01:28am

The backstory of today’s kitchen island has roots in the standalone scullery workstations of large estates in the 18th century. In the early 20th century, architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s open-plan homes blurred or eliminated physical barriers between kitchen, dining, and living spaces, with islands serving as important pieces of functional furniture for mingling and food prep. Their mainstream arrival surged in the 1960s as The French Chef hit cooking show featured host Julia Child serving up at-home recipes and radiant joy while stationed at her kitchen island.

Today, kitchen islands honor their ancestral roots as extra countertops for rough-chopping onions and dishing out a quick breakfast before the kids head to school. And in many households, they’ve become the heart of the home, gathering places for family and friends to simply snack, dine, drink or just hang out.

Here’s a handful of favorites from Giffin & Crane, and a bit about the bigger projects they were part of.

California Cottage: Working closely with Mosaic Architects & Interiors as this remodel evolved, the owners stayed true to their vision of clean, minimalist living spaces. After reinforcing the building with foundational underpinnings and shear walls, crews vaulted the kitchen ceiling, installed radiant flooring, and added square footage to the primary suite, with French doors to the garden. The home totals two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a powder room, plus a detached garage with an upstairs studio.

Spanish Contemporary Jewel Box: Originally built in 1982 and remodeled in 1998, this 3,000-square-foot residence revealed structural deficiencies when it was opened up during the installation of interior fire sprinklers. From there, the project took off, resulting in a comprehensive remodel and home-automation system across the entire original footprint and into reimagined outside living spaces. Highlights include a water walkway approach, concealed appliances, heated kitchen island countertop, new fireplace, and an outdoor sandstone kitchen overlooking a vanishing-edge swimming pool. The completed project brought modern clean lines to a Spanish-style family home. Architectural design by Britt Jewett and interiors by Jordan Design Crew.

21st-Century Redwood: Described by its owners as a mid-century sea ranch, this marvel of old-growth redwood remained durable and elegant for half a century. When it came time for a comprehensive remodel, designers and builders maintained its distinctive character while opening up interior spaces, inviting more natural light, and repurposing original single-grain planking for baseboard and cabinetry. The finish colors and textures blend harmoniously with the morning grays of summer fog and high blues of a warm afternoon.

Contemporary Transitional: Maintaining a cool contemporary look for the exterior, this home’s new owners developed a more transitional feel within by opening up living spaces with warmer colors and textures. The extensive two-story remodel produced better flow with a reinvented kitchen and master bedroom and an all-new interior staircase. Situated on three private acres, the home features three bedrooms, four-and-a-half bathrooms, and a large office. Ocean and mountain views prevail. Architecture by Tony Spann.

Giffin & Crane has been building custom homes in Santa Barbara since 1986.