Is 2025 the year to say goodbye to the kitchen island?

From embracing the relaxed elegance of traditional kitchens to rethinking the need for the kitchen triangle, 2025 is the year you’ll forget everything you thought you knew about kitchen design.

In terms of trends forecasting, I’ve noticed more and more designers taking a built-over-time approach to kitchens in a way that feels fresh, not fussy. Gone are the days of all-white cook spaces decked out in the latest stainless steel appliances.

These days, it’s much more common to come across colourful and characterful kitchens with a lot more furniture. In the design world, we call these collected kitchens “unfitted kitchens,” and they’re beloved for their use of freestanding furniture over costly built-ins. An interesting side effect in the rising popularity of these unfitted kitchens is the noticeable absence of the bulky built-in kitchen island.

So, is it time to declare that the kitchen island is officially dead? Maybe!

Below, we share exactly what an unfitted kitchen is, what the new “kitchen island” could be, and where you can find the best replacement.

Table of Contents

What is an ‘unfitted kitchen’?

rustic kitchen designs gallery wall — Brent Darby

An unfitted kitchen, also called a freestanding kitchen, is a kitchen without built-ins. Instead of walls of cabinetry, an unfitted kitchen features a gathering of furniture pieces such as a hutches piled up with dishes or a simple chippy cupboard in place of a walk-in pantry.

“The unfitted kitchen is more of a furnished room with appliances and kitchen items,” says Helen Parker, the creative director of British kitchen design firm deVOL.

The happily hodgepodge spirit of unfitted kitchens provides a relaxed, come-as-you-are vibe, a perfect contrast to the cold, mechanical nature some kitchens can have.

What is replacing the kitchen island?

yellow kitchen with wooden cooks table — Artichoke

With this rise in the popularity of unfitted kitchens, more designers are opting to also skip the large, and sometimes bulky, built-in centre island in lieu of something freestanding.

Antique work tables – especially those that were built to be worked at from a standing position, like the ones used by seamstresses, bakers, and farmhands – are the most popular replacement because of their height and size. Character-rich antique tables with interesting turned legs and noticeable imperfections are especially prized, and, unlike a farmhouse table, work tables will often have drawers and even a shelf to provide storage. Newly crafted work tables (and now “kitchen islands” made to look like these antique tables) are sometimes topped with quartz or marble, making prep and clean-up a breeze.

Even if you aren’t ready to embrace the whole unfitted kitchen look, you can easily pair a freestanding work island with standard perimeter cabinetry for a unique cottage or farmhouse look. If you’re on a budget or want to create an eat-in kitchen, also consider a vintage or antique dining table or farmhouse table, which are often less expensive than their work table counterparts.

1910 bungalow overlooking valentine lake in michigan designed by erica harrison

Where can I shop for a work table island?

If your heart is set on an authentic antique work table, start with your local antiques store or architectural salvage yard. (You’ll save a lot on delivery fees if you can shop locally.) If your local haunts come up empty, it’s time to look online and check out popular sites, just be sure to utilise search terms such as “farmhouse work table,” “drapers table,” or “bakers table.” Plus check out a few of our favourites below…