Dark islands with bar seating

A dark island with bar stools makes a strong centerpiece for an open-plan room, and these two Nolte designs show two ways to do it. In the first, everything is black: matte fronts on the wall run and tall units, and an island clad in a black stone look with fine gold veining that continues up the backsplash. Warm LED under the wall units lights the worktop and makes the veining glow.

Three stools fit along the island with knee space under the overhang, and the stone floor in gray and charcoal keeps the room from feeling closed. Bronze-toned details on the tall units pick up the gold in the stone. A round marble-look dining table nearby repeats the island material once more.

The second design is softer. The island is clad in a dark, finely grooved wood look, with a dark worktop that runs flush to the end; behind it, sand-colored tall units hold the ovens and frame an open niche lined in dark wood. A single black dome pendant hangs over the island, and the floor is pale natural stone. Both kitchens keep the tall units behind the island, so the dark block in front reads as furniture and the storage wall stays in the background.

For a dark island in a Los Angeles home, light is everything: plan under-cabinet LED, a pendant or two over the seating and, if you like, a soft plinth line. Keep at least 36 in behind the stools if people walk past. Read about kitchen islands and LED lighting, see dark finishes on modern kitchens, and try the look in the 3D configurator.