Olivia Lidbury

Interior designer Sophie Rowell argues that conventional fitted kitchen islands can be imposing, antisocial and unnecessary, favouring a central dining table or lighter antique furniture instead. Sophie Paterson disagrees, defending fitted islands for their storage, precise integration, appliance capacity, circulation and resale value. Rising searches for movable islands and free-standing kitchens suggest growing interest in more flexible layouts, but the best choice depends on the room, household needs and preferred style.