Cantilevered Island
Designing a more social kitchen experience
For a family that lives around the kitchen, we developed a floating island design that allowed more intimate interaction and a stunning presence in this modern home.
This gut rehab of a townhome along the 606 in Chicago demanded that the design address the change in level from the open kitchen and dining/living room area. After studying several solutions, we developed a beautiful walnut kitchen with a dramatic cantilevered island that overlooks the main living space.
For a traditional kitchen island layout, seating is usually put on one side of the island. This setup is practical for separating the cooking area from the social space, but it can create challenges for conversation, especially in larger groups. When people sit in a row, it's harder for everyone to engage equally in the discussion, and someone may feel left out.
Kitchen island with traditional seating
This kitchen island was designed with unobstructed group seating on one end to foster a more social and interactive space, ideal for family gatherings and entertaining friends. This layout encourages face-to-face interaction, transforming the kitchen from just a cooking area into a true gathering spot where everyone can connect and engage with one another. It embodies the idea that the kitchen is the heart of the home, where people come together to share meals, conversations, and memories.
Kitchen island with end seating.
Achieving this design required a significant amount of effort. The cantilevered portion of the countertop extends four feet from the section of the island that touches the floor. While this distance isn’t particularly extreme for a cantilever - a typical concrete balcony often extends about five feet - the challenge was fitting the necessary structure into a space where one could still comfortably sit with their legs underneath. Additionally, the weight of the cantilevered countertop created a pivot point, making it difficult to keep the island stable on its own.
We collaborated closely with our structural engineer, Goodfriend Magruder Structure, to ensure the support was both thin enough and precisely positioned. Ultimately, the steel reinforcement wasn’t limited to the top of the island but extended down through the base cabinets and connected to the floor to counterbalance the weight of the cantilevered countertop.
With the structural issues mostly resolved, we focused on refining the design to make it truly impressive. To achieve a flawless finish, we partnered with one of Chicago's premier millworkers and fabricators, Navillus Woodworks. Collaborating closely, we developed the detailing for the countertop, ensuring that the underside featured mitered walnut wood, which concealed the steel structural elements. The stone countertop appears to float above a wood reveal, providing both a subtle design detail and some fabrication tolerance.
If you'd like to learn more about this project, please visit the project page: bloomingdale
