A Kitchen Island That Does More Than Cook

A kitchen island has more to give than chopping space and worktop room. With a few small additions it becomes a games table, a hallway organiser and a quiet corner for tea, which suits homes where every room needs to earn its keep.

One island many roles around the home

A kitchen island is often the busiest surface in the house, yet its height and openness make it useful well beyond mealtimes. Pull up a couple of RÅSKOG bar stools and it becomes a spot for homework, board games or a puppet show staged behind a hung curtain. This matters in smaller flats and maisonettes where a separate playroom or games table simply is not on the cards, and one surface has to flex between cooking, chatting and entertaining children after school.

RÅSKOG trolley, grey-green, 35x45x77 cmRÅSKOG trolley, white, 28x38x61 cmRÅSKOG trolley, white, 35x45x77 cmRÅSKOG trolley, black, 35x45x77 cmRÅSKOG trolley, grey-green, 28x38x61 cmRÅSKOG trolley, pink, 28x38x61 cm

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A curtain adds charm and a little privacy

Draping fabric from the overhead frame turns a plain island into something with character, and gives children a ready-made stage for their own shows. It also softens the look of an island standing in an open-plan living space, hiding whatever sits beneath from view. Items that are useful but not especially nice to look at can be tucked away underneath, out of sight until needed, which keeps the room feeling calm even when storage is doing a lot of work.

SILVERLÖNN sheer curtains, 1 pair, white/with heading tape, 145x300 cmBENGTA block-out curtain, 1 piece, beige/with heading tape, 210x300 cmVILBORG room darkening curtains, 1 pair, beige/with heading tape, 145x300 cmSTENFRÖ sheer curtains, 1 pair, white/with heading tape, 145x300 cmROSENMANDEL block-out curtains, 1 pair, grey/with heading tape, 135x300 cmKORGMOTT block-out curtains, 1 pair, white/with heading tape, 145x300 cm

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Turning an island into a hallway hub

In open-plan homes without a proper hallway, an island such as VADHOLMA can step in as the arrival point everyone needs. Positioned as a soft room divider, it holds coats, bags and accessories while still offering a seat for pulling on shoes. Giving each member of the household their own basket or shelf space keeps mornings calmer, and means nothing important goes missing on the way out the door. It is a practical fix for townhouses and apartments short on entrance space.

VADHOLMA drawer unit, brown/stained ash, 40x37x40 cmVADHOLMA open storage, brown/stained ash, 20x37x40 cmVADHOLMA open storage, brown/stained ash, 20x37x60 cmVADHOLMA open storage, brown/stained ash, 20x37x80 cmVADHOLMA wine shelf, brown/stained ash, 40x37x40 cmVADHOLMA kitchen island with rack, black/oak, 126x79x193 cm

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Keeping the essentials within easy reach

A rack fixed to the island, such as the one on VADHOLMA, keeps keys, bags and an extra pair of glasses visible and within arm's reach for a quick exit. The same spot can just as easily slow things down, becoming a small retreat for a cup of tea or a few pages of a book. A string of LED lights and some hanging greenery add warmth, turning a working surface into somewhere worth lingering, even for a few minutes between tasks.

Lighting that sets a gentler mood

Warm lighting changes how a kitchen island feels once the cooking is done. A chain of LED lights strung along a rack or shelf softens the space in the evening, making it inviting rather than purely functional. Paired with a jug of tea things kept close at hand, the island becomes a place to pause rather than rush through, useful in Maltese homes where long evenings often call for somewhere relaxed to sit once the heat of the day has passed.

Maltashopper stocks VADHOLMA and RÅSKOG pieces to help your kitchen island work harder, with orders delivered to homes across Malta and Gozo.

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