Isabella Rossellini Proves That a Kitchen Island Isn’t Just About Looks, Demonstrating How Thoughtful Design Can Make Every Inch of a Space Matter

Few features make an impression as strong as a kitchen island. Often central to the space, they're used for everything from food prep to dining and socializing – but often, their storage abilities go overlooked. This is not the case in Isabella Rossellini's kitchen, however.

In her Long Island farmhouse (named Mama Farm), the Blue Velvet actress demonstrates how to turn 'dead' space (that might otherwise go unused) into storage – starting with her strategic kitchen island shelving. During the late summer or fall, when garden bounty is plentiful and entertaining often peaks, maximizing this hidden storage is especially useful.

Isabella Rossellini's under-kitchen island storage is made up of a series of open shelves – exhibiting wicker baskets, large mixing bowls, and cake tins. On the bottom half of the island, she has filled crates with glassware and utensils – ensuring they are within easy access but not cluttering the space.

This organization keeps essential tools handy for year-round baking or preparing holiday meals. It's a method that hasn't gone unnoticed by designers, including Tom Howley, who encourages us to rethink our island storage as Rossellini has done.

'Kitchen islands are ideal places to store the items you use the most – or items you don’t need that often. Depending on how you use your island, it can be designed to include cupboards and drawers that will make your life that bit easier,' Howley explains.

Shop the chic kitchen storage edit

Chic storage isn't limited to shelving. You can take inspiration from Isabella's kitchen with beautiful storage solutions, such as these rattan baskets from Wayfair, or these baskets, designed by Martha Stewart for QVC.

We love how Rossellini chose open shelving to make her island storage feel revealing and personal. However, you don't need to keep things quite so exposed to enjoy the same storage benefits.

'Choose closed cabinetry to conceal kitchen essentials you don’t want on the show or open shelving on which you can display your favorite pottery, cookery books, or pieces of art,' Howley suggests.

'Kitchen islands are great places to tuck away useful appliances such as a wine fridge, or you may have space to include integrated modular bins to keep your kitchen as streamlined and organized as possible.'

Sinead Trainor, the kitchen category manager at LochAnna, agrees. She emphasizes how islands of all sizes can be used for clever kitchen storage ideas – while simultaneously serving as a dining space that is an entertainer's dream.

'If you spend a lot of time socializing in the kitchen, one way to make sure there are elements that lend themselves towards that goal is installing a large kitchen island where people can gather around to cook, eat, and chat,' Trainor says.

'An island or breakfast bar can work as both a storage area and a place for dining. While from first glance an iconic design element has been created for the home, the cupboards that fit beneath the island are also a useful place to keep pots, pans, or food. Larger islands or breakfast bars also mean that a hob or sink can be fitted in as well, again utilizing every inch of surface space. The current trend is finishing the worktop ends to the floor as a wrap-over with seating on one side.'