Island Fever

Good morning........  I have island fever. Kitchen islands that is. As my kitchen is really starting to come together (so excited) and I will admit it is every bit the vision I had hoped it would be, I have allowed myself to start thinking about what will go where and of course how I will accessorize. I am not one that likes a lot of 'stuff' on my countertops but do like some strategically placed beautiful objects particularly on the island. I also want the beautiful marble that I have had to lose many nights sleep over, gain 10 pounds over and argue with hubby over work hard to get to really shine, its so beautiful! My island is quite large and will definitely need a few things to warm it up and give it a sense of scale and proportion to the room. I have been playing around with different ideas in my head, and have been thinking of adding a few tall/big items, ideally a pair (I am big into pairs and symmetry) and then some smaller lower items to balance it. In my thinking, I started getting a lot of online inspiration and thought this could make for an interesting post. So what do you put on your island? How do you like to decorate a kitchen island? All thoughts welcome! Do you have a favorite?

Clive Christian placed a few decorative objects including a pretty soup tureen

A great example of how pretty fruit and vegetables look along with the added height and punch of color from a tall flower arrangement, Downsview

Love this rustic island with a pretty bucket of flowers and the baskets lining the lower shelf

I think a big long bowl of fruit works well especially on a long island

Scattered bowls of colorful fruit and two interesting cube lights grace this large island, Deane

In a tone on tone kitchen, a bright pop of yellow and lime are a great accent, De Cesare Design

Love something tall next to  smaller objects, it adds perspective and interest

A big cutting board, a few strategically placed bowls are all you need in this stunner of a kitchen

Always like a container with lemons for a pop of color, seems to work in any kitchen, Palm Designs

A pretty silver wine cooler, pair of candlesticks, a stack of plates and a carving board all add differing degrees of heights 

A tall compote of fruit balances a beautiful arrangement on this island, Woodmode

An island this grand should have all kinds of goodies gracing it! Jonathan Wallen photo

Adding a very tall element is a dramatic way to jazz up an island...and what a beautiful island it is!

How about this? A huge long custom cutting board covering the entire face of the island? Home Inspiration

A tall clouche is a nice decorative touch in this European feeling kitchen, Beverly Ellsley

A pretty pail of wild flowers and a cutting board add some interest to this pretty island, Homebunch blog

Always like a pair of topiaries and a basket of fruit or flowers, Decorpad

Beautiful crystal and an elegant ormolu container of flowers always do the trick,Clive Christian

A pair of round glass jugs and  a simple dish of lemons, Palm Design

Thom Filicia placed a pair of hurricanes and a large driftwood bowl on this pretty island

Fresh flowers always work on any island, any color and any size De Cesare Design group

On a very long island, it looks great to have a few different accessories spread out as shown here

A great big bowl of fruit works beautifully on this rustic island, For the home

A pretty brass container flowers graces this amazing butchers block, Jonathan Wallen photo

One of my all time faves that has provided some inspiration for my own kitchen, this fabulous island by Arnold Palmer displays a grouping of pretty decorative objects

A trio of vases with flowers was used on this pretty island, Coastal Living

A pot rack hanging above makes it less necessary to have too much happening on the countertop

Though there is a lot going on in this gorgeous kitchen, I do think the tray with grapes and fruit on the island looks really pretty, Downsview

Classic clean white gets a few bowls with fruit, less is more, Simplified Bee

A pretty silver dish on an island is an elegant touch, Decorpad

Bowls of fruit and a low vase with flowers were used to add a little something

A beautiful potted plant or orchid always works, Clive Christian

Love blue and white in any kitchen and this pretty tiered piece with the grapes is perfect for an island, Downsview

A tall vase of florals and a bowl of fresh produce looks great and uncluttered on this pretty island, McCoppin Studios

A trio of pretty herb topiaries adds nice height to the island in this stunning kitchen, Nathan Egan

Love this island, with the inset marble, the parquet top is enough pretty without needing a single other thing! Stacy Branford Photography

Dana Wolter used some earthy looking accessories to give a little texture and color to this island

A pretty jug of fresh flowers on top an island is such a nice way to bring the outdoors in, Beverly Ellsley

I like seeing a few pieces of pottery or china on an island of different heights, Habersham

A tall arrangement of flowers next to a few shorter objects always looks good, Garth kitchens

I like the way the apple green really pops on this dark island, Mick de Guilio

A floral bouquet and rooster in porcelain are added here for some warmth, JEM wookworking

Amazing what a simple bowl of colorful fruit can do, Tip junkie

Sometimes one simple tray or container containing several objects is the way to go, Decorpad

I like adding greenery, this was done well with the topiaries and artichokes, Haus Design

A small shock of color like this cobalt blue cake plate is a way to liven things up!

Love the way yellow and green give such a vibrant pop to this dark base white marble topped island, beautiful!

Pretty crystal and silver objects grace this gorgeous island

So what are your island design and decorating secrets? Do you have a particular way you like to design a kitchen island? What works? Would love to know all your secrets and tricks of the trade! Wishing you have an enchanted day!

The crowning touch in the kitchen....range hoods!

I start this day with a prayer for Japan and the heroic people battling what is the unimaginable. I pray for the healing and restoration of not only the country but for what makes it great, Japan's remarkable people. If you want to know how you can help....I found this short, to the point list of ways...click here for the link (It is Time's newsfeed) There is no gesture too small in this crisis.......we all have to do our part.

Today is all about the crowning touch on today's range...the infamous range hood! Boy, have they gotten popular. Besides the fact that its main function is to absorb odors, smoke, combustion products and airborne grease through evacuation and filtration of air...it has a much more aesthetic function.....to beautify a kitchen! There is stone, wood, brick, limestone, metal and just about anything else you can imagine. It can add a lot of grandeur, height, drama and texture to a kitchen....and certainly is a great "anchor" or focal point as illustrated below. I have had a bunch of these in my inspiration album for some time, though some are newer too. What do you think? Do you like range hoods? Would you use one or do you have one now? Have a favorite? Would love to know....

Gorgeous French black and steel hood frame the beautiful black range, David Livingston photo

Beautiful limestone range hood, simply done to replicate a European model

A long time favorite, the huge limestone hood is the focal point in this Jack Arnold kitchen

A brick wall and hood are used in this European feeling kitchen, ranghoodssmall.com

A simple stone and stripped wood hood was used here in keeping with the rustic charming French inspired kitchen, Country Living

The range here is kept monochromatic along with the cabinetry

Stone hood adds drama and elegance to the peaked ceiling of this Malibu kitchen

Gorgeous stone hood with brass emblem on the front add old world elegance to this range

Francois and Company used this metal and stone hood for this rich and stunning kitchen

In this elegant kitchen with tall ceilings, Jim Howard went with an understated wood range hood all the way up...love the marble subways in conjunction with this old world look

Beautiful ornate limestone hood graces this rich European flavored kitchen, Design Galleria

Alllison Caccoma designed this gorgeous lattice detailed hood in this stunning white kitchen

Beautiful limestone hood graces this fabulous European range

Rinfret Designs chose this over sized limestone hood with a decorative border for this rustic elegant kitchen

This serious cooks kitchen didn't go with a traditional range but chose to continue with the subway tile application as part of the hood, Atticmag

Francois and Company's hood is gorgeous in this fabulous kitchen

This is a great looking aluminum and stainless hood..works beautifully in this kitchen

In this Christophe Peacock kitchen, the hood is kept purposeful simple and classic

Gorgeous stone hood is a great choice for this country feeling but sophisticated kitchen

Love this...black and brass hood match the fabulous range...timeless classic!

A stainless hood is in keeping with the white and stainless themed kitchen, Gardenweb

This one appears to be a painted aluminum hood....very pretty

Same kitchen...also like the crystal bell jar lamps above the island!

A utilitarian approach was used here in this fabulous country kitchen, lots of shelving/storage on this modified range hood, Country Living (love the oil painting...how unexpected)

Bunny  Williams designed this kitchen and the dramatic glazed dark wood hood

A simple domed white hood is all you need for this showstopper range!

An aluminum hood to match the commercial range

Rebecca Bradley designed this kitchen and chose a stone and painted wood hood for this fabulous Le Cornue range....kept it monochromatic

Simple white painted hood for a classic white kitchen

This is different, a hood within a hood.....looks like they used stone, wood and aluminum

A close up....thoughts?

A combination of light and dark woods was used for this kitchens hood

A large tray rests on this hood to give it a little more drama

Beautiful metal hood adds interest to other elements going on in this kitchen

Habersham's painted kitchen,  love the colors and the crest on front

Very pretty wood hearth/hood

Black hood looks dramatic and gorgeous in this white kitchen, Habersham

Over sized limestone range is the focal point in this fabulous kitchen, Design Galleria

Clive Christian kept the range/hearth the same color as the gorgeous buttery yellow kitchen

Peter Bolton chose limestone and limestone bricks to finish this rustic country kitchens range

So what do you think? Do you have one or would you like one? I am a big fan and the possibilities are truly endless. Hope you have an enchanting day!