Kitchen islands have long become a staple of modern luxury homes. They create a space for the household to congregate around, to have meals together, to cook facing each other rather than the wall, and if you have a row they also provide a good barrier to keep you apart. Whatever their use they have taken centre stage in our hearts and our homes.

If you’re looking to install one it can be hard to know where to start and how it will fit in your kitchen. To provide kitchen island inspiration we took a look some Londoner celebrities’ kitchens, to see how they fit these domestic focal points into their homes:

1. Kate Winslet’s timber finish:

This island is unique for a number of reasons, it uses timber for the work top, rather than the usual marble or granite and has been done in coordination with the cabinetry. There’s no stove top here but plenty of space to sit and eat with the sink as a centre point.

2. Russell Tovey’s use of space

A common situation in a London property: a loft apartment. Lofts raise questions about how to juggle space with elegance, and it’s nice to know Russell Tovey is no different. Tovey managed to show space is not a problem in fitting this modest kitchen island with an oak finish, a fun basketball design and mid-century bar stools.

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3. Elton John’s pops of colour

Straight out of the seventies, Elton John’s island, and indeed the rest of his kitchen, is focused on crisp white symmetry and occasional bursts of colour. Opting for a white gloss finish in place of wood, stone or stainless steel this white lightens up the ground floor kitchen and creates a sense of space.

4. Mollie King’s quartz peninsula

While more of a peninsula, Mollie’s quartz worktop helps divide up her kitchen and dining space, adding a breakfast area to make it multi-functional. She opted for a dove-grey shade to lighten up her kitchen space and chose a quartz counter in bright white.

5. Jamie Oliver’s exposed shaker doors

A blend of modern and traditional, Jamie Oliver’s island cabinets use exposed shaker doors creating a lovely natural effect against the modern white marble worktop. The grand island acts as the centrepiece of the kitchen, and this one includes a gas cooker meaning you could cook and keep an eye on the kids or chat with friends.