9 Luxury Kitchen Islands Designed By HGTV Star Christina Hall That Will Inspire Your Renovation

The kitchen is the heart of the home, and the island is the heart of the kitchen. It's the beloved area where everyone gathers for breakfast, does homework, or entertains guests. Such an essential element has to be designed for both style and function. HGTV star Christina Hall delivers on both fronts whenever she renovates a client's home. We have sorted through the home makeovers from "Christina on the Coast," "Christina in the Country," and "Flip or Flop" to find luxurious kitchen islands designed by Hall to inspire your next revamp.

Hall is known for her contemporary style. The modern aesthetic leans toward minimalistic with clean lines and restrained patterns. Neutral hues and earthy tones dominate her color palette. However, even if your preferred style differs from the HGTV star, you can still use Hall's design for inspiration. There's much to admire about how she pairs countertops, bases, hardware, and built-in features. Take what you love and leave what you don't. Then, you can tailor the looks for a kitchen island worthy of your home.

Marble is a classic look for a reason. It is beautiful and elegant without being too over the top. In Season 9, Episode 5 of "Flip or Flop," Christina Hall uses a white marble countertop with matching base cabinets for the kitchen island. The design is simple but far from plain. There's visual interest with the marble detailing, along with the hardware on the built-in cabinets and sink. This island would complement any kitchen style, from Contemporary Farmhouse to Coastal. Use it to nail the quiet luxury decor trend or for a neutral design that has intention.

If light and bright isn't your style, how about dark and moody? Christina Hall designed a luxurious kitchen island without a drop of white on Season 1, Episode 6 of "Christina in the Country." The marble countertop is black with gold accents while the base features black-stained cupboards. The island also has two table legs with gold feet, tying into the marble's veins and adding another layer of depth to the design. Most people stay away from dark countertops and cabinetry, but Hall proves they can work together for a space that still feels open and gorgeous.

What's really lavish is waterfall countertops. In Season 1, Episode 3 of "Christina in the Country," the marble design runs to the floor on either side of the island. It is a timeless style and has a modern feel even though it dates back to Art Deco designs from the 1930s. The cascading counters bring an even more high-end feel to the already luxurious stone. The white marble is clean and elegant, brightening the kitchen. Although waterfall countertops are often spotted in white marble with gray veining, you can create the seamless cascading effect with almost any material, in any color.

It is not just the countertop that gets all the design points, but the kitchen island's base can be dynamic too. Instead of standard wood cabinetry, try shiplap. The wood planks add visual interest and texture to the design. It is a subtle detail that can become a statement piece in the kitchen. You can wrap the entire island in shiplap or let it be an accent on one side. Using wide vs narrow planks and styling them horizontally versus vertically allows you to play with the design and pick something unique for your space.

Who says all the cabinets in the kitchen have to match? It definitely wasn't Christina Hall. On Season 2, Episode 2 of "Christina on the Coast," she designed a home with light wood tones on the kitchen island contrasting the room's dark cabinetry. Letting the cabinets contrast is a great way to make the island a focal point. While the wood tones differed, the HGTV star kept all the hardware gold to tie everything together and create a cohesive design despite the layers of contrast. So don't be afraid to embrace an entirely different look for your next kitchen island.

Another way to embrace contrast is to make your kitchen island a colorful statement. The HGTV star did just that on Season 4, Episode 1 of "Christina on the Coast." Earthy greens and blue are popular options as they are a pop of color that doesn't stray too far away from neutrals. However, you have the entire rainbow to choose from. Since the island is only one element in the kitchen, the color won't overwhelm the space. This style is especially preferred if your backsplash and wall design are simple.

Boxy rectangles aren't the only type of island out there. You can trade a traditional counter for a T-shaped one like the Season 4, Episode 12 design from "Christina on the Coast." It is an unconventional kitchen island shape that Christina Hall says is quite practical. A T-shaped island doubles the size of a traditional kitchen counter. The large workstation combines your prep space with a table, making a great place to entertain guests. It is the perfect design for creating an eat-in kitchen when there's not a separate area for a breakfast nook.

If you want to incorporate open shelving without having to sacrifice wall cabinets, look no further. You can have the best of both worlds by having open shelves in your kitchen island. The storage space is perfect for decorative dishware or stylish appliances. The open shelves may mean less space for bar stools, outlets, and closed cupboards, so it might not be the best option for compact kitchens. However, if the room has ample upper and lower cabinets, open shelves in the island are ideal for adding an expansive, airy storage feature.

Last but not least, consider a kitchen island with built-in appliances. Even with a compact two-seater island, Christina Hall added a beverage fridge to enhance the fixture. Stovetops and sinks are popular integrated features, but they're not the only ones. Dishwashers, microwaves, and wine coolers are also useful upgrades. These are an innovative way to spice up your kitchen island so it's not just decorative but functional too. Large islands can also house multiple integrated appliances. You'll have a luxurious element in the heart of the kitchen that transforms everything around it.