Kitchen islands may or may not be a part of the design. When they fit, they are often one of the most important pieces, as they provide everything from:

• Dining Area
• Cooking Area
• Storage
• Visual Interest/Aesthetics

This is likely why kitchen islands remain one of the most requested features in any kitchen renovation.

Most kitchens still start with a straightforward rectangular island. But islands have changed considerably from where they were decades ago. Now, there are options. Some of these are more difficult or expensive than others, but for homeowners that are interested in something new, you have choices. For example, consider the following kitchen island trends. 

Curved Edges on an Otherwise Rectangular Island

Sharp, square corners are giving way to softer, rounded edges, even on islands that keep a traditional rectangular footprint. A waterfall edge that curves instead of running straight down, or a rounded corner where the island meets a walkway, softens the whole shape without changing the basic layout of the kitchen.

This trend works well in open-concept spaces specifically, since a curved edge reduces how much an island reads as a hard block sitting in the middle of the room.

Two-Tone and Mixed-Material Countertops

Instead of one continuous countertop material running across the entire island, some designs now split the surface into visually distinct sections, one material for the main prep area, a different material or finish for a raised bar section or an end cap. The result reads as more layered and custom than a single slab.

This works especially well when an island is doing double duty. For example, when there is prep space on one side, a casual seating area on the other. The material change helps mark that shift without needing a change in height or a physical divider.

Warm Wood Tones

After several years dominated by white and stone-heavy kitchens, warm wood is showing up on islands across New York City. Against white cabinetry or stone countertops elsewhere in the kitchen, a wood island becomes the room’s warmest, most tactile element.

A Mix of Open and Closed Storage

Islands built entirely around hidden, closed storage are giving way to a more mixed approach: open shelving for items meant to be seen, such as cookbooks, serving bowls, everyday dishware. This is then paired with closed cabinets for what should stay out of view. This creates a more layered, personalized look than an island where every surface hides behind a cabinet door.

Freestanding, Worktable-Style Islands

Some kitchens are moving away from the built-in, fully integrated island entirely, in favor of a freestanding worktable that functions the same way, prep space, storage, a place to gather, without looking permanently fixed into the room. This fits within a broader move toward unfitted kitchens, spaces that look collected over time rather than installed all at once.

Highly Organized, Purpose-Built Storage

Storage inside an island has gotten more creative. There are now deeper drawers, vertical dividers for trays and cutting boards, and dedicated bins for smaller items. These are replacing generic cabinet space, letting an island hold more without the counter or drawers becoming cluttered. 

This trend fits both compact kitchens that need every inch to count and larger kitchens that want a genuinely organized system rather than open cabinet space filled with whatever fits.

Integrated Tech Hubs

A growing number of kitchen islands now include a central point for controlling lighting, ventilation, and small appliances, keeping day-to-day tech out of sight until it’s needed rather than scattered across the counter. Done well, this stays in the background of the design rather than becoming the focal point of the island itself.

The Kitchen Islands that Fit Your Needs

These trends work best when they support how a kitchen gets used day to day, not just how it photographs. CRAFT by Anika works with homeowners across Staten Island, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and New Jersey to translate trends like these into a kitchen island that fits a specific space and how a family lives in it. Call 347-941-1234 or book a consultation online to talk through what would work for your kitchen.

The post 7 Kitchen Island Trends in 2026 appeared first on CRAFT By Anika.

We know now that this is a mistake. Offices that have a sense of aesthetics – those created by an interior designer – provide a connection to the workplace, a sense of value and class, and keep people feeling positive, productive, and loyal to the workplace.

Rodriguez + Gambino – a Staten Island based specialty consulting and design firm – recognized the importance of creating a high-end, modern, high-class office design, and hired CRAFT by Anika to create an office for the new age. They needed an office that reflected their brand, and CRAFT by Anika was chosen to deliver.

Let’s take a look at the renovations and designs that helped Rodriguez + Gambino brand itself as a the high class consulting firm its clients deserve.

The Reception Area

The reception area is the first place new clients – and employees – see when they enter an office. This makes it, in many ways, the most important room in the entire office.

We needed this room to have the clearest branding, with colors and materials meant to convey all that Rodriguez + Gambino have to offer while also serving the functional needs of a reception area. We did this by:

• Providing input on design and placement of a large acrylic logo at eye level. 
• Recessed storage, so paperwork could be hidden out of sight.
• An oyster quartzite reception desk with dark wood paneling for a bold first impression. 

We wanted to create a reception area that had a modern feel but had elements that would withstand the tests of time, and the combination of wooden design with a countertop that looks like high end marble offers just that for both Rodriguez + Gambino and for those that visit.

Conference Room

Most of the time, functionality is as much the focus as aesthetics. While still true of the conference room, these rooms necessitate what can best be described as “a vibe.” 

They need to have that air of professionalism. They need to have modern appeal. They need to portray a look of class that makes it useful for those that need to have critical meetings with clients and employees. 

Of course, we needed to have functionality as well, starting with a walnut veneer conference table that anchors the room equipped with accessible outlets. There is concealed cabinetry, recessed shelving for a television, and black ergonomic chairs for comfort. 

But we also needed to make sure that this room “spoke” to Rodriguez + Gambino. We have a mounted decorative logo sandwiched between two windows, dark wood-tone cabinet fronts, and let’s not forget the tree to provide a bit of life to the space. 

Executive Office 

When a business owner contacts us for interior design, they’re usually thinking about others – they are thinking about how their employees and customers will feel and interact with the space. 

Still, when an owner makes the choice for a re-design, a part of them is always going to be interested in how they’ll feel in the executive office. This is where they’ll make some of the most important decisions of the business, and the place they’re going to spend the most time. 

It’s also a place that has a natural gravitas to it anyway, and the design needs to reflect that along with individual touches designed for the only person at the workplace that will always be a part of it. 

This room has the most individual character of any room in the office, and we worked with the owner to add and place items that included:

• Live-edge Walnut Desk  

This desk is a custom piece that embodies our client’s love for reclaimed wood and steel while adding rich color to the room. 

It’s a bit hard to see in the photos, but the center epoxy also has a subtle glitter that can be seen in the natural grooves of the walnut wood. It gives it a bit of a river like quality, and instantly captures the attention of anyone entering the room.

It also ties into other elements, like the wooden details of the shelving, so that – despite this being a custom piece – everything can flow together naturally.

• Warm Leather Seating Area  

We wanted two separate types of communal seating near the entrance to fit multiple scenarios. Of particular note is the Vaughn 76″ Leather Sofa, which was available on Joybird but is now available only on the secondary market. 

We then added a dark metal coffee table and then placed two armchairs, the Mid-Century Leather Show Wood Chairs available at West Elm, on the opposite end to create numerous meeting scenarios or to simply relax and look out on the workplace. 

We also gave the executive office plenty of shelving for personal decorations, family photos, and even the occasional libation. By adding multiple TV mounts, this office not only serves the personal needs of the boss, but is also a room that can be utilized in many different ways.

Employee Workspace

Of course, while all these individual rooms are beautiful, a functional employee workspace is where much of the magic will happen. No one wants cubicles anymore. They want to be able to feel like they have their own space, while also offering plenty of opportunities to collaborate. 

We’ll talk about the individual decorative items in a moment, but first, look at the desk placement. You’ll notice that while the employees may appear close together, they actually have plenty of privacy, as they’re all facing different directions with natural barriers. If they want to talk to their coworker, they need only look over, but in the meantime they can feel like they’re working without distraction and without eyes on them.

As far as the choice in design is concerned, we utilized black ergonomic chairs to match the deep black desk spaces. There are TVs on either side of the room, plenty of floating shelving and storage, bulletin boards, art, and more. 

There was also space for a small kitchenette. We added a backsplash of Gems Grigio fluted tile, added numerous small appliances including both a microwave and toaster oven, and provided everything this shared space could need for meals, snacks, and drinks. 

Every NYC Business Deserves its Own Design

Interior design is not about putting in all the stuff we like. It’s about matching the personality of the business in ways that are both stylish *and* functional.

Working with Rodriguez + Gambino was a genuine pleasure, as we were able to get to know them personally in order to bring their vision and preferences to life from consultation to final walkthrough. We set out to provide a design that would match their professionalism and character, and we believe we were able to do just that.

If you’re interested in learning more about our interior design services in NYC, please reach out to Craft by Anika, today. We provide both commercial and residential design services, taking on projects both large and small.

The post Inside the Rodriguez + Gambino Office Renovation with CRAFT by Anika appeared first on CRAFT By Anika.