These kitchens belong to people who need a lot of workspace for the caterers to do their thing.

Ah, the problems of the rich and famous. My heart weeps for them....

Two islands are only necessary if you have more than two personal chefs working at the same time. And I'm guessing the kitchen that includes two islands is about the same size as my house.

It all depends on what the space dictates and what your needs are. If you have a kitchen that has smaller workspace on the perimeter of the room, but requires ample storage, a double island it's a terrible idea. I've seen the double island more in informal homes with very open floor plans:
These don't have a ton of storage space on the perimeter of the room, and these have the additional storage in the second island without adding a dining room and/or kitchen table.

The second one is interesting. I could see doing something like that in a San Francisco Victorian kitchen. But on the whole, these kitchens are gag-inducing. They are way too big. And I also suspect a kitchen like these would see less cooking than my relative hovel. But hey, these people need some cabinet and counter space for all their Williams Sonoma Gadgets, right?

Wow. That should read, "a double island ISN'T a terrible idea."

I don't hate the double island, but I have no need for two as I already have a dining room table. This would be great for an apartment though - it would help maintain separation for finicky roommates.

how could this possibly be a don't, if you have the space? It looks great.

We have one island, and I can tell you why we'd need another: The first island has a stove top and bar space, but the prep area is the size of a cutting board. The perimeter counter space has a sink, toaster oven, and coffee pot, leaving no room to prep more than one thing at a time, and allowing no room for my husband and I to effectively cook together. I didn't realize the inefficiency of my kitchen when I fell in love with the house -- I went from a 1700 sq ft condo t a 3800 sq ft rambler and I miss my old kitchen with a "peninsula" where two people could comfortably prep across from each other.

Those of you saying two islands are only for caterers or multiple personal chefs clearly are not cooks or don't cook with your S.O. :-)

Two islands are total necessity in order to balance double sinks, double ovens etc. Two cars in two car garage..
Also, works well so that if you have more than one wife, they can each have an island for themselves.

If I could afford it, my kitchen would be the largest room in the house. AND I would have a fancy outdoor kitchen as well! If you're fortunate enough to be able to afford it, I say go for it. I can see rolling out dough on one island while chopping up piles of fresh veggies on the other. Of course this is all just a fantasy, but a girl can dream right? ;-)

It appears that the second island is taking the place of the old 1970's breakfast nook in these examples. Except here, the "table" now has storage.

Hey, if you have the space then why not? Some of those kitchens are beautiful and as someone who loves to cook, but has poersonal space issues, I could see this being really handy when friends and family want to help out in the kitchen.

Even the French Chateau we stayed in this Easter didn't have 2 islands in their kitchen (or room for 2 islands in the kitchen).

This isn't even practical unless there are caterers or multiple chefs (i.e., running a cooking school).

My friend the kitchen designer is currently working on a project where the home has 18,000 square feet and a full-time chef, and even THEY aren't going to have 2 islands.

They look great! There are any number of reasons why you might want two ... some people (as is evident in many of the comments here) just can't think beyond their own needs/means/desires and understand that not everyone is the same ;)

Wet Chi just might be my new favorite person. As far as thinking beyond my own needs/means/desires goes, instead of spending my money on luxuries I desire, I'm happier sharing my means with people with more needs. I'm also happy with my small galley kitchen. It's efficient, and it's kinda fun running into each other.

I think it would look better to have a U shaped island in the center of a kitchen...you would still get the extra counter space and working space, and you could even use it as a bar for entertaining..haven't seen many home bars in this shape but it isn't uncommon in actual bars.

I like a second island for the idea of it taking the place of an eat-in dining area (breakfast nook, etc) in the kitchen, but it allows for more storage and a second workspace when needed.

However, I would personally like to see them done with more distinction between the two. I think an island usually commands the focus of the room and when there are 2, it becomes a little more visually confusing. Making one feel more like the "kitchen table" area and the other the prep area through materials would be nice.

I prefer NO islands in the kitchen (or anywhere else, except the sea).

Taking a slightly different angle, I have a kitchen that is reasonably spacious but that has a major problem -- it's all island. The previous owners installed a huge island (more like a continent) in the middle of the room and there is very little room for other things like walking, a table and chairs, etc. For this reason, I am wary of the idea of packing kitchens with islands and warm up more to the idea of incorporating flow/free space and a generously sized table.

Pretty sure all of those kitchens are bigger than my entire apartment.

I have to wonder, with so much focus on high end products and upper class homes, if AT is starting to drift away from the bulk of its readership?

I stayed with someone with an island once over a cooking-intensive holiday, and every time I bent over to look in the oven, or get something out of a lower cabinet, it seems like I bumped into the island. Why not just have two kitchens?

Don't. Unless you have an absurd amount of work going on in the kitchen on a daily basis, it seems to interrupt the flow of the space. I actually think it looks weird.

I'm not sure I'm up for this idea. Seems to conflict with the idea of the "Slow Home" for me. Not that everyone has to live that life, of course.

For me, it's a don't since I don't need to cook for that many people, nor do I have need for that much extra storage. If you are a professional caterer I could see a great deal of use for the two islands. Also, if you are part of a HUGE family and host big get togethers with lots of cooking involved.

Overall, I see it as a little overboard, for me.

Next year there can be a "Huge Cool Contest" at AT!

All of these pictures look like either cookery schools or the sets of cookery television shows

It's like a galley kitchen tucked inside another kitchen - the terducken of kitchens.

Wow, there's a lot of hostility and envy in some of these comments.

I can see a couple of times a year when a second island would help (i.e. times like Christmas when you want more counter space for baking and cooling cookies), but for the most part I think it'd just be a place for clutter to accumulate. I don't think they look out of place in large kitchens, but I don't think I'd want one.

i could see where this would work, but it's not a necessity. i'd call it a luxury item, personally. great, yes. beautiful, yes. necessary, no.

It really comes down to what you are trying to accomplish for having two islands. for me, not necessary. I'd prefer to have one big island and allow the remaining space with a cute breakfast table w/ chairs.

Don't much care for any of them. Our kitchen is pretty big but the last thing I wanted was an island. O like having wide open space to move about. Our dining table is actually a stainless commercial work table on casters, so should I need an "island" I can move it around as it suits me, but it lives up against a wall. Two islands? No.

If you're someone who loves working in the kitchen doing all sorts of amazing things, then I can see having as much workspace as possible. I have a friend who would die for these kitchens.

But I'm a one-pot-special person and it's more important for me to have others in the kitchen with me, so if I had this kind of space, I'd put a table and chairs or something in rather than a second island.

That said, we just put a first island in and it's AMAZING to have that kind of extra prep space (we also tore down two walls and opened everything up)

I like the U-shape idea, maybe even a triangle one. More than one marble-top islands is too much like tombs.

If you entertain a lot - two islands is great! Or if you have like 7 or more children....I know when I was entertaining on a regular basis, two islands would have been a HUGE bonus - everyone likes to congregate in the kitchen. And you can put everyone to work. Is is necessary? No. But if you have the means and the space - go for it!

Space is at a premium theses days; if I had the space, I wouldn't put a second island, I'd let my eyes feast on all that empty space and dream.

One island may be a good idea to promote good flow in a kitchen, but a second makes moving around far too complicated.

I liked the last photo: it's not a second island per se, more of a dining table. And circulation is great in that kitchen ! But as for the rest... no thanks, I'll rather use the space to put a lot of nothingness and enjoy it.

From the examples, most of these have the second island taking the place of either a breakfast nook or a table and chairs (ie, they are for seating and eating with extra storage tucked in under them). That's not a terrible idea, but I'd rather have a traditional eat in kitchen with a table and chairs for a more flexible space. Maybe an expanded (walk in type) pantry instead for the storage.

So says she of the galley kitchen and the tiny cupboard pantry, but you might as well dream big LOL.

I think this look is ridiculous. Unless you run a catering business from home, I think the extra space could find a better function.

Why do people want these big boxes in the middle of their kitchen? I don't get it and think it looks weird. One island I can kind of see... but why not just a kitchen table in lieu of a 2nd island, if you need more space? Also, it just seems rather unpopulist.

I feel compelled to comment for the first time since I'm pretty offended by so many of these comments. We have two islands in our house but we don't have a massive house (mid-century ranch) or a huge kitchen (rather it's open to the living room so it feels more spacey), a lot of money (just trust me) or a catering business! We were lucky enough to have the chance to renovate a foreclosed duplex which allowed us to design everything in our house, incl the floorplan. I decided on 2 islands from being inspired by pic 4 and fought for it. Every single person that questioned it has said I was right about going for the 2 islands after seeing it done.

Basically, instead of the typical L shape with one island, we moved one of the walls of cabinets away from the wall. This island has a nice large prep space and bfast bar seating. It also allowed for that wall to stay all windows and brin in tons of light we would have been blocking off. The other island houses the sink and dw. It looks substantially better than any other floor plan and is much more efficient than any other kitchen I've cooked in. It has also been really great for large parties.

So instead of automatically bashing an idea because all the Pics are of huge kitchens, think about how it could actually work and be modified for a normal space. It works, and looks, fantastic for us.

Granted, we don't have a tiny apt kitchen. That wouldn't work. But we have the typical ranch size kitchen and it works great.

I highly recommend it if you have an open floorplan and are looking into kitchen design!

Note - I meant that it looks substantially better than any other floorplan for OUR space - every space is different.

This could work really well for a Kosher kitchen, where everything must be kept separate.

don't

I am getting very sick of all the large home hate/envy here. I have lived in both a 2500 sq. ft farmhouse(which I can guarantee cost less than the majority of small urban spaces here) and a 1000 sq. foot cottage. The only thing I wish was bigger in the cottage was the kitchen.

I have done holidays at my house each year where I cook for up to 30 people. I would love to have a huge kitchen like this again and there's no reason why I should have to justify that. Instead of hating on a space because the owners may have more room/funds than you, appreciate it (or don't) based on the merits of the design.

I disagree with the last poster. It's not large home hate/envy, it's just getting pissed off at ridiculous design for people with too much space/unrealistic budgets. This is a website for "normal" people isn't it? If I had a massive kitchen like that I would have one island, a big kitchen table and a sofa/seating area. Who in the hell needs two huge prep islands unless you run a catering business.

These kitchens are huge, and still they look cramped.

I guess that's the thing, I fail to see the design element of two islands. I do think some of the images above are nice, but I don't find any of them are particularly artistic or unique looking. It's also very hard to diverge the idea of 2 islands from extra $. Anyway it'd be interesting to see some photos of the kitchens posters are talking about here.

I like the fifth kitchen in the top row. I think that works well. I guess if you have the space and it functions better then go for it. Not everyone wants a kitchen table. If I were to have a house with an island kitchen I would rather it just stay a slab. I don't like when there are tiny sinks or a cooktop. I have two large stainless steel sinks now and could never go to one large one and a tiny useless one. Doing dishes would be so annoying.

I couldn't see us using a double island in our house (in a rich alternate universe, of course...), but I think for a family with multiple cooks, or someone with a small food business, this would be great.

Beautiful kitchens!

I don't dislike them because they're big and expensive, I dislike them because they're mostly ugly. Granted, the style in most of these I find completely unappealing, but getting beyond that the islands make them look overfilled or cluttered. A single large island would seem to work better in most of these spaces and still leave room to move about freely.

I was thinking along the same lines as JulieLeanne. When you have a kosher kitchen, which necessitates two of most things, two islands would be really really helpful in storing everything separately and keeping confusion to a minimum.

it looks like a cooking school

How is this an article in apartment therapy? What apartment has the space for two islands? In my opinion, two islands should only occur in a cooking school.

I am going to resist making any comments about conspicuous consumption. I don't like any of these kitchens (and the one with the ladder seems almost dangerous in any household with young children), simply because I like "cozy" kitchens. These are very modern, I guess.

I dislike the look of two islands. And it seems excessive.

It's not really a post containing ideas that 'everyday people' could adapt to their living situation, which is usually what I see as being the philosophy of Apartment Therapy. This type of, "to, or not too" discussion is out of the realm of most peoples' budgets/living situations, and I think that is why I get the feeling that people are coming across as impatient with this post. Just MHO.

My house has an open combined kitchen and dining room. Something like this could definitely fit in my kitchen without being cramped. Essentially, replacing my dining table with an island. I could see that second island being a good place to have additional storage for whatever random stuff, not necessarily cookware. My kitchen is where I spend pretty much all my time when I am home so stuff tends to migrate into this room. I could definitely see it working in my kitchen, although I won't be adding one any time soon. I am by no stretch of the imagination rich; I have a 1940's cape cod. It's just a bit more storage. Since when does everyone hate having extra storage? Do you hate built in shelving too?

nah. it looks sterile. i agree with stationaryfriend, it looks like a school or set.

The fifth, seventh, and eighth photographs make sense to me, but the rest just seem like total overkill. An extra island for in-kitchen eating and doing homework seems like a nice idea but not as practical for double prep and storage. We don't have an island at all in our kitchen and I think that's ideal.. We have a counter with higher bar seating and it keeps people nearby when I'm cooking but not so close that they get in my WAY!

In the first picture it works, it looks like there's still a lot of space on the left. And the fifth also looks nice, I love the contrast between the granite and the wood. All the others look cramped, or cluttered, or like a cookery school.

I like the ones where it's as if they just put a gap in the middle of a big island, rather than building two. You gain a bit in storage and you can dash from one side to the other instead of around the island.

I'd rather have two semi-mobile "islands", where one is a table with drawers on wheels and the other is a sturdy cabinet-on-wheels. But I actually prefer the floor space.

A fold-down table for when you need space for prepping or people sitting while you cook - now that would work in my (mom's) kitchen.

I agree with @Honeybee.

This is an example of how irrelevant and silly Apartment Therapy is becoming lately.