How To Create A Kitchen Island Vignette That Reflects Your Personal Taste

If you know the term "kitchen island vignette," you may be way ahead of the design game. However, if this is a new concept to you, or you're interested in learning the art of designing a vignette on your island, you've come to the right place. 

Creating a kitchen island vignette is based on building a focal point on your island that draws in the eye and features elements that elevate and fill without overwhelming. During an exclusive interview with expert Kyle Dutton, founder of Kyle Dutton Homes and a knowledgeable source on designing a truly elegant island vignette, House Digest got the scoop on what you need to ensure your layout is perfect every time. 

Dutton explained that building out your island's decor doesn't require a lot of "stuff." In fact, he noted that you should "avoid adding too many items, which creates unnecessary clutter. Use three items or less in soothing colors."

While there are plenty of ways to spice up your kitchen island, your decor can completely shift the finished layout without the need for renovations. Dutton's suggestion is a great jumping-off point for anyone who is figuring out how to style a vignette on their kitchen island and wants to show off key elements without overloading their surface. It can be easy to keep adding decor and kitchen tools that also offer a hand to stylizing your countertop, but in this case, less seems to be more. Keeping Dutton's rule of three in mind is a good way to narrow down which pieces you want to add to your vignette.

During House Digest's exclusive interview with expert Kyle Dutton, we presented the question of how to create a kitchen island vignette that allows your personal tastes to really come through. He shared that readers should try to "use a matching stone cutting board that is the same materials as your countertops." 

He went on to explain that if you're in the process of renovating or redoing your kitchen, "ask your fabricator to cut a custom cutting board from the leftover stone." This way, you will have a great base or anchor piece that already matches one of the biggest surfaces (or at least one of the most obvious) in your kitchen. He noted that "stone or light-colored wooden cutting boards are typical choices," so even if you don't have a way to get the exact stone of your island, these materials work well with a variety of themes and elements.

Dutton then went on to suggest incorporating bowls and flowers for varying dimensions, heights, and textures on your island. "Incorporate a wooden or ceramic bowl with fruits like oranges, mangos, or lemons to add a pop of color," he said. Dutton further advised adding height "with your favorite fresh-cut flowers to bring life to the vignette."  

Dutton also explained that "bowls of piled fruit are a personal favorite" because they are a simple way to change out seasonal hues and keep your vignette fresh. If your kitchen island already features bright colors, these will make the decor flow even more. As an added bonus, bowls and cutting boards or trays are great kitchen countertop ideas that avoid clutter and can work for your island, too!