If HGTV is any indication, homeowners are even less satisfied with their kitchen islands than they are with quantum tunneling. In a sense, a kitchen island is the centerpiece of a room that is itself the centerpiece of a home, combining beauty with functionality. For many, custom islands are prohibitively expensive, but if you can live with a functional alternative (and your tastes allow for unconventional styles), an industrial-style island may be the way to go. The industrial look never goes out of style, pairs well with almost any eclectic or contemporary style, and is usually relatively affordable.
The price of a traditional kitchen island depends on where you buy, but a 4-foot island will cost between $3,000 and $5,000 on average. Add a range hood, oven, sink, and dishwasher, and you could be buying a new home. The exact size of your kitchen extension depends on your situation: If you’re craving a large island, you’ll need something larger than the average 6 feet by 3 feet, but for a small kitchen, an island close to the size of a kitchen cart (say, 42 inches by 24 inches) might be just right. As for height, islands are typically built to the same height as kitchen countertops.
While store-bought industrial-style islands may not have the glitz of the latest kitchen island innovations, commercial restaurant-style food prep tables like this budget-friendly Stainless Steel Countertop (72” x 30”, $375) can still make a great, functional kitchen island. However, these tables can be narrow and aren’t always the best choice for adding countertop space. Another common industrial-style island style is a factory-assembled table, like this Mobile Steel Assembly Table with Underframe (60” x 36”, $595). But be careful: If the island you’re considering isn’t designed for food prep, check to see if its work and storage surfaces meet food safety standards. If not, you may have to cover it, replace it, or just toss it out.
Some brands specialize in industrial-style homes, offering products that can double as kitchen islands or emergency countertops. These brands include Seville, which makes a stainless steel revolving work center (48 inches by 24 inches, $419.99), and Duramax, which makes a modern acacia-colored console table (72 inches by 24 inches, $803.39). Some companies take the industrial kitchen island beyond retro and more closely resemble a turn-of-the-century mine. You might recognize these products by their thick cast-iron (or almost cast-iron) surround and unique hardware, like the vintage tobacco-colored kitchen cart from Kabili (57 inches by 22 inches, $1,117.79) or the smaller, more whimsical kitchen cart from Decorn (48 inches by 20 inches, $1,949).
If you’ve ever purchased a new kitchen island, the process of creating a DIY industrial kitchen island may be surprisingly familiar to you. One option is to attach a cutting board to an old-fashioned galvanized butcher block frame and a vintage countertop. These cutting boards can be quite large and are often a popular way to use them as a dining table on a kitchen island. Galvanized steel is not food grade, but butcher blocks with galvanized frames often come with stainless steel countertops.
Once you decide to build your own island, anything is possible (or 35 inches, whichever comes first). At this height, you can use a standard countertop: quartz, granite, marble, butcher block, or whatever material you prefer. Of course, if you can find a stainless steel countertop (or find someone who will make one for a reasonable price), that’s always an option. These are all options because the heart of an industrial island is not the countertop, but the frame. Just as you can create industrial wonders in music with synthesizers and drum machines, you can create industrial wonders on your kitchen island with black cast iron gas pipes and giant wheels. Galvanized chain link posts can also convey this vibe, and while cast iron can, it doesn’t always do it.
Post time: Jun-05-2025