Waterfall Kitchen Island Design Ideas for Jaw-Dropping Look
Waterfall kitchen island designs — a growing trend loved by many! Let us take you on a journey through a beautiful world of waterfall kitchen islands, inspire your own kitchen remodeling project, and empower you with information on everything you need to know on how to create a waterfall island from your dreams.
Whether you prefer quartz, marble, or granite, we’ll show you how a kitchen island waterfall edge can create a jaw-dropping look and be a single, serious game-changer in the appearance of your kitchen space regardless of the material used.
Waterfall kitchen island is a growing trend that slowly but surely starts to dominate American kitchens, creating an elegant touch that elevates modern kitchen design to the next level.
If you want to create a powerful point of interest, impress your family and friends, and acquire ease and simplicity of maintenance, opt for a waterfall kitchen island as a surefire way to achieve all of these things. A waterfall quartz island features colors, shades, and veins that flow over the edge like a real-life waterfall. It is an exquisite, contemporary, and dramatic way to showcase your gorgeous marble-looking countertop and transform your kitchen into a sanctuary of modern interior design.
Continue reading to get inspired by many waterfall kitchen island ideas. Some of those are our own — designs that we’ve created for our clients, where we have fabricated the stone, matched the slabs, and made possible those perfect flows of veins and colors. In the end, we installed these waterfall kitchen islands and completed those perfect kitchens. So get ready to implement the best of these ideas and inspirations into your own waterfall kitchen island design remodeling project.
Contents
- 1 Waterfall Kitchen Island Ideas
- 2 Showstopping Quartz Waterfall Kitchen Island Designs
- 3 Drop-Dead Gorgeous Marble Kitchen Waterfall Island Designs
- 4 Wow-Worthy Granite Waterfall Kitchen Island Designs
- 5 Modern Waterfall Island Kitchen Designs
- 6 Waterfall Kitchen Island Countertop Pros and Cons
- 7 Waterfall Kitchen Island Cost
- 8 FAQ about Waterfall Kitchen Islands
- 9 Get The Best Waterfall Kitchen Island for Your Home
Waterfall Kitchen Island Ideas
With the kitchen being the heart of any home, when remodeling this space, we tend to obsess and often overthink the many styles we can incorporate. However, remodeling a kitchen doesn’t have to be a complicated task but rather an enjoyable project for the whole family. Simplicity with a focal point is always a great idea because it guarantees an effective, powerful design statement and a head-turning look.
The waterfall kitchen island design is a single element that you can incorporate with this idea in mind. Its sleek edge will provide a unique look and introduce the explosion of sophistication your kitchen space needs.
Before you make sure to get help designing and installing a waterfall kitchen island in your kitchen, let’s make sure you understand what it is, and what it includes, and provide you with plenty of waterfall kitchen island design ideas so you can choose exactly what suits your taste and needs.
Nothing feels as modern, sleek, and sophisticated as a waterfall countertop in the kitchen. And when we say that, we mean in almost any kitchen. Waterfall islands are not usually seen in traditional kitchen designs, but both transitional and contemporary kitchens will incorporate them perfectly.
Unlike standard, classic countertops that have decorative edges and, as slabs, sit on top of base cabinets and islands, the waterfall countertop edge doesn’t stop where one slab stops. On the contrary, a waterfall edge flows over the sides, all the way to the floor, creating a seamless, perfectly composed flow of shades, colors, veins, and movement. appearance.
Waterfall kitchen island design ideas bring and include many different materials that can be luxurious like marble and more budget-friendly options like quartz or granite. The look and feel of the waterfall island will predominantly depend on the material you choose. We recommend going with quartz that can imitate natural stone options like marble or granite and can help you achieve a unique look on a budget.
Showstopping Quartz Waterfall Kitchen Island Designs
Gorgeous waterfall kitchen island quartz designs that you can find online and pin on Pinterest are probably what inspired you to look more into this unique kitchen trend and wonder if it may be the right option for your kitchen remodel as well.
An engineered stone such as quartz is a practical and highly functional solution for everyday activities in the kitchen — cooking, dining, and entertaining. While marble and granite waterfall countertops are porous and need to be maintained on a regular basis, quartz is highly resistant to water, staining, and heat, and requires only basic maintenance with warm water and mild soap.
Also, achieving that striking cascading waterfall look is so easy with many of the quartz options offered by reputable quartz manufacturers. We invite you to browse gorgeous marble looking quartz options that are perfect for creating a modern kitchen with a waterfall island. Silestone Quartz Countertops, Pental Quartz Countertops, Caesarstone Colors, as well as other quartz options offer many opportunities for creating the perfect waterfall live edge kitchen island.
Take a look at some of our favorite quartz waterfall kitchen island design ideas.
Caesarstone Waterfall Island Bench
If you’re seeking to create a minimal, sleek look, add a contemporary waterfall to your kitchen design. You can add a waterfall quartz slab to one side, both sides, and even at the front of your kitchen island for extra visual impact and a powerful focal point.
While adding a live waterfall edge to your kitchen island, think about all the ways you want to use your island. Do you need more storage? How about a breakfast bar right there, at the island? Do you need more legroom? All of these considerations will affect your design and the way your waterfall live edge kitchen island occupies the space.
Kitchen Island Waterfall One Side
One-side waterfall island is a particular design where the countertop stone flows only to one side of the island all the way to the floor. The kitchen island waterfall one side looks and fits great with small kitchens as it doesn’t require a whole lot of floor space. The countertop can start flowing from the wall towards the floor — literally like a waterfall flowing from a rock into the river.
While it presents a great solution for owners of small kitchens who desire a waterfall island in their kitchen, this one-side waterfall edge is great for large kitchens as well. It can include seating and help create a large dining space or it can help elevate a small kitchen. In case of a showstopping stone design, make sure to hang lighting above it and enhance the incredible look of your kitchen island waterfall one side.
Waterfall Kitchen Island with Seating
Both large and small kitchens can hugely benefit from an island and especially from a kitchen island waterfall edge because of the look and feel this particular design provides. However, if the square footage and kitchen design itself allows for a waterfall kitchen island with seating, it gets even better. The waterfall island edge, if designed properly, can leave plenty of space for seating underneath and make for a great breakfast station or even provide a whole dining experience if larger.
The design and texture of seating stools can match the kitchen island waterfall edge or provide an accent and pop of color. Either way, seating underneath a quartz waterfall kitchen island whether it’s on both or just one side can become the heart of your kitchen where your family and friends gather.
Silestone Iconic White Quartz Waterfall Kitchen Island
If you desire a truly minimalist and cohesive look in the kitchen, consider using similar, pure white tones for the countertop and waterfall surface, flooring, and splashback.
This kind of liberating feeling of space is very much popular amongst homeowners who need to make their kitchens bigger and more spacious, as well as in open-concept homes. The amount of brightness allowed by sleek white surfaces allows other textures and fittings such as cabinetry, sinks, and faucets to stand out and bring in a unique flare.
Silestone Iconic White quartz, used for both the waterfall kitchen island, the floor, and backsplash brings in the simplicity and elegance that allow a powerful wow factor.
Modern Kitchen with Marble-Looking Waterfall island
Arabescato polished marble-looking quartz by Pental Quartz is a stunning stone perfect for designing incredible waterfall kitchen islands. The stone combines the timeless beauty of natural Calacatta marble, the famous Italian stone with superior durability and strength.
Arabescato marble-looking quartz by pental Quartz is ideal if you’re looking to create a lively movement with your waterfall island. It will give your kitchen a subtle and luxurious look with its defined neutral gray veining and its gorgeous movement on a white base.
Neutral Kitchen Design with MSI Calacatta Classique Waterfall Island
MSI’s Calacatta Classique is a modern interpretation of classic Italian Calacatta marble. This contemporary quartz countertop and backsplash surface is perfect to match any kitchen interior and ennoble any decor. Classic or modern, Calacatta Classique is just enough bold yet sophisticated and subtle to cover large spaces and create a brilliant, fresh effect.
See how Calacatta Classique, when bookmatched, creates an amazing, large backsplash and perfectly matching marble-looking kitchen waterfall island. This modern quartz surface is used as a transitional feature in a contemporary kitchen to line up the edges from floor to ceiling.
Drop-Dead Gorgeous Marble Kitchen Waterfall Island Designs
Perhaps most dramatic of all are marble kitchen waterfall island designs. Marble slabs used for live waterfall edge drop vertically down the sides of the countertops without any interruption. Just a free, natural, unrestricted flow, just like how nature does it. This flow overcomes the edge of the island, even when the countertop meets the cabinets, and continues to tie the island to the floor. The fluid design of marble waterfall islands is more than appealing — it’s enchanting and belongs in a kitchen of any style, but especially in modern and transitional interiors.
Use marble to create various kinds of designs — open-frame waterfall island, full waterfall countertop, waterfall countertop that also acts as a bar and more. Just make sure to choose the right kind of marble for your particular design. The textured marble waterfall island will complement beautifully a mid-century décor, while an all-white kitchen will benefit significantly from a colorful marble waterfall countertop. For a classy approach, you can always contrast a subtle white marble waterfall countertop bar with black cabinetry.
For modern inspiration, take a look at some of our favorite jaw-dropping marble waterfall islands.
Bold White-on-Wood Marble Waterfall Island Design
A white marble-on-wood cabinets kitchen accented with white stools, big white walls, and open shelving gives this contemporary space a dash of subtle décor that looks fresh and clean.
Underneath the full marble waterfall countertop, modern wood cabinetry brings warmer tones to the room. This elegant marble slab extends fully over the island, creating ample counter space.
The marble waterfall kitchen island sets the stage for the clean, fresh, and bold elements that surround it. Deep wood cabinetry, modern light fixtures, and open shelving accents blend beautifully with a touch of modern, contemporary design that gives you a sense of freedom.
Make a Bold Marbled Statement in Your Kitchen
If you prefer a kitchen space that has a little bit more of an edge, why don’t you look into marble options with bold veining and an abundance of movement?
This kitchen features a striking gray-and-white marble waterfall island that extends from the main countertop. The rich marble texture and its incredibly rich flow are accented by dark wooden cabinets and tiled backsplash that imitates the brick. A combo of powerful-looking marble and tiled backsplash brings a wealth of movement and natural finishes into this kitchen that is an attention-grabbing powerhouse.
A dramatic look of the kitchen makes a statement and makes you want it for yourself.
Bold Calacatta Marble for a Singular Look
Calacatta Marble provides a unique minimalist marvel kitchen design that can become the true center of space. This marble waterfall island covered in bold movements of veining, powerfully contrasting dark veining and stark white base, is an interior design showstopper and, at the same time, the perfect dining table with seating.
The incredible synergy of this particular Calacatta marble kitchen design comes down to the strategic placement of the waterfall marble island, and luxurious lighting fixtures, which together stand out against the dark cabinetry. The island is a decadent focal point that elevates the space and creates a bridge with all other elements in the kitchen. To get the perfect seam like this one, professional stone cutting and fabricating craftmanship is required.
Wow-Worthy Granite Waterfall Kitchen Island Designs
Granite gives glamour to everyday kitchen spaces with its incredible colors, specks, shades, and movements. While some kitchen trends come and others go, granite as a trend simply sticks around — because people love it. Granite is widely used for kitchen countertops, and since waterfall island design has taken a center stage in modern kitchens, granite follows suit with its unmatched beauty.
There’s nothing quite like a granite waterfall kitchen island, especially because of its ability to transform any kitchen with wow-worthy live island edges, fluid movements, and powerful colors. There is a wide variety of granite stone options, and fabricators can cut the slabs the way you need them, just as they can bookmatch the slabs to achieve a unique, well-balanced effect.
Check out a few of our favorite granite waterfall island design ideas to get inspired for your next kitchen remodeling project.
Sleek and Showstopping as a Blizzard Granite
When you think of live edge granite waterfall countertop islands, most probably you’re imagining marble veining, a combination of pure white and bold gray. But try to imagine this type of island featuring a little bit different pattern.
A luxurious kitchen is not equal to a marble kitchen. In fact, granite stone can offer a lot, and we mean A LOT as well. A soft white background with dramatic gray veining is exactly what characterizes Blizzard Granite used in this gorgeous kitchen design.
This luxurious granite countertop gives you all — elegant contrast, rich texture, and superior movement. At the same time, its colors are subtle enough to give you freedom and an abundance of options to combine, mix and match, and design the kitchen to your own liking, needs, and personal style.
The creamy, warm, and neutral tones of Blizzard Granite will help you create a jaw-dropping waterfall kitchen island and enhance your cooking and entertaining space.
Fantastic Like Fantasy Brown Granite
Not all waterfall kitchen island designs are created equal, and just so not all of them don’t have to feature a gray and white combination. Just look at this lovely Fantasy Brown granite waterfall island!
With its warm browns and grays, this live edge waterfall island is so different than anything you’ve seen before. Apricot, pewter, and chestnut flow together in a unique pattern to blend with style into any kitchen decor. Fantasy Brown granite matches a variety of kitchen cabinet styles, colors, and finishes, fixtures, and kitchen hardware styles because of its bold but still neutral enough colors and patterns.
The distinctive pattern of Fantasy Brown granite flows uninterrupted from the countertop all the way down to the floor, creating a fabulous and pretty classy look.
Modern Waterfall Island Kitchen Designs
This particular trend has taken our kitchens by storm. Judging by the requests from our valued clients and customers, the waterfall countertop trend is everywhere. And thankfully, it’s versatile enough to be able to find its rightful place in both large and small kitchens, in modern and contemporary as well as in transitional kitchen decors.
Both homeowners and businesses are discovering new ways to include waterfall kitchen islands in their kitchens. We are excited to help them incorporate this trend into their kitchens and see how this gorgeous kitchen look develops further.
According to interior designers, everyone should feel free to incorporate modern waterfall island kitchen designs into their homes as this trend is not only for ultramodern homes anymore. It can work in transitional, coastal, and even traditional kitchens.
A great kitchen design with a waterfall edge is all about blending elements, using details that can mix and match, and staying open to eclectic combinations. Just look at the white waterfall island made of Calacatta quartz. There are so many fabulous design choices in this coastal white kitchen, for example, including the extra-long custom waterfall quartz island. This beautiful piece creates a community table where your loved ones gather, easily!
And we completely agree with interior designers when they say that a waterfall island can find its place in any kitchen. The truth is, besides enhancing the beauty, looks, and overall feel and ambiance of the space, it also enhances its functionality a lot. All of our customers are thrilled by their new modern waterfall island kitchen designs.
Waterfall Kitchen Island Countertop Pros and Cons
Are you considering a waterfall island for your next kitchen remodeling project? We’re happy to let you know that you’re on the right track if you’re set on creating a dramatic look and powerful focal point in your kitchen. A waterfall island is an especially great idea if the style of your new kitchen is modern or transitional. Waterfall islands may not be a good idea only if the style of your kitchen is distinctly traditional and classic. The live edge and the free, uninterrupted flow of patterns, movement, colors, and veining is characteristic of modern designs and embellishes kitchens with an ambition to go down this road.
If you’re still debating the decision, here are some pros and cons of waterfall islands that will make your life easier and help you bring a decision with ease.
Pros of Waterfall Islands
- It’s unique and beautiful! Perfect as a centerpiece of any modern kitchen interior, a waterfall kitchen island is always a great decision. You simply cannot go wrong with it! All you need to do is to choose the stone you prefer, and the right design (color, pattern, veining), and make sure with your fabricator that the flow is uninterrupted and sleek.
- It’s versatile! Whether your kitchen is transitional or modern, a waterfall island will adorn its final look. Even farm kitchens can benefit from a waterfall island design but one made of butcher block. The wood pattern can look pretty stunning as well!
- It’s durable! A waterfall kitchen island will protect base cabinets that are usually made from wood. When protected with a countertop made from quartz, granite, or marble, no utensils or chairs can scratch the surface of the cabinets. Maintenance of quartz is incredibly easy while maintaining marble and granite is a little bit more demanding.
- It’s easy to maintain! The surface of a waterfall kitchen island is sleek with no obstructions whatsoever, which makes it so very easy to clean. If you decide on taking quartz material for your waterfall edge, you can be sure that maintenance will be almost non-existent. Just make sure to wipe down the dust and go over the island with a soft cloth drained of warm, slightly soapy water.
Cons of Waterfall Islands
- They don’t work with traditional interiors. Waterfall islands are ill-suited for traditional, classic-style kitchens. If you insist on introducing a waterfall island to your kitchen design theme, you will need to transition to a more modern decor.
- They cost. Waterfall kitchen islands are more expensive than islands with stone covering only the top of the island. You will spend more on the stone of your choosing and you will need to find the perfect slab. Of course, there is also the fabrication that costs additionally. If needed, bookmatching is another service that piles on the basic price. However, there are stone fabricators that offer free fabrication if you purchase the slab from them. Like us, for example! 🙂
- Seating may be an issue. If you prefer to have seating stools next to your kitchen island, installing a waterfall island may bring you some design difficulties, especially if your kitchen is small. The waterfall edge limits the space where stools and seating could be placed, especially in a small kitchen. If your kitchen floor area is limited and rather small, there is a probability that only installing a countertop in your kitchen is a suitable solution.
- They require exceptional fabrication and installation capabilities. This means that you cannot hire just any stone fabricator to design, fabricate, and install your waterfall kitchen island. Make sure to find and hire a stone fabricator that is experienced and well-versed in this particular job. Your waterfall island won’t look as great as it could have if stone slabs were matched with care so the flow of veining and movement is interrupted.
Waterfall Kitchen Island Cost
The main reason waterfall islands cost more is that you simply need more stone surfaces to allow your countertop to fall all the way to the floor. Whether you choose quartz, marble, or granite, you will pay their usual prices per square footage. To avoid additional costs of fabrication and installation, look for a local fabricator with their own slab yard. They usually fabricate and install countertops for free if you’ve made a purchase with them.
If you choose granite or a marble slab, take into account that you will need to reseal them at least once a year in order to protect them and prolong their life. Sealing brings an additional cost to the initial payment. If you choose quartz, there is no sealing needed, so it’s cheaper in the long run.
To make sure you get the lowest price on quartz you desire for your waterfall kitchen island design, make sure to ask for a price that is quoted for installed quartz per square foot. The price should include fabrication, edge customization, delivery, removal of the old countertop, material, and installation. Often, the installation comes free of charge, as well as a sink cut-out in some cases.
The price of quartz material will depend on the quality. For example, we carry only premium quality quartz, but to make it affordable and available to everyone, we offer monthly specials. With this low price, installation, fabrication, estimate, and edge treating come free of charge.
In any case, be sure to track special deals with your local fabricator — for example, we provide great Calacatta Quartz Sale and Carrara Quartz Sale, stones that are absolutely perfect to be applied on a waterfall island.
We also offer various deals on granite countertops. With that, you get free fabrication, installation, edge treatment, and free stainless steel sink when you purchase your countertops from us. That is saving over $675! The cost of granite is so low because we cut out the middleman markup.
FAQ about Waterfall Kitchen Islands
What is a waterfall kitchen island?
A waterfall countertop is not your conventional countertop where a stone slab rests on top of a kitchen island or a base cabinet. The waterfall countertop introduces a novelty — vertically-extending sides that reach all the way to the floor. Depending on the design of the stone, this can create a dramatic look or an appearance cohesive with the rest of the room.
Is a waterfall kitchen island worth it?
Whether a waterfall kitchen island is worth it — the cost, the hassle while remodeling the kitchen, possibly changing the layout of your kitchen — is really up to you and what you want to achieve with this particular kitchen island design. A modern waterfall kitchen island will certainly be a statement and will easily dominate the rest of the kitchen. The quality of the stone is high, and installing a quartz waterfall kitchen island will add value to your home. So whether you decide to sell your home or you decide to stay, a waterfall kitchen island will certainly add value and attractiveness to your home. This is why we say, with certainty, that installing a waterfall kitchen island is worth it — both cost and hassle.
Are waterfall kitchen islands out of style?
No, waterfall kitchen islands are not out of style and it seems like they won’t be going out of style any time soon. In fact, they present a staple in any modern and high-end, sophisticated kitchen design or decor setting. These islands have been popular for a while now and they will surely continue to be popular for years to come. It is one of those kitchen design trends that are here to stay because of its beautiful look, exceptional functionality, and ease of maintenance.
How much is a waterfall kitchen island?
The cost of a waterfall kitchen island varies and depends on the place where you get the stone. We always recommend going with a local stone fabricator that will help you source the stone, and help you with custom island design, stone fabrication, slab matching, and waterfall edge island installation. Going with a local fabricator will keep the cost down and expedite the process of sourcing, designing, and installing the waterfall island. It is also important to emphasize that the stone material costs for waterfall island are not any different than for any conventional or standard stone countertop. We’ve covered the waterfall kitchen island cost in detail above in this post.
What is most important when designing a kitchen island waterfall edge?
The most important thing to consider when planning to design a waterfall island is that it needs to look like it’s made from one slab, that is from one continuous material. Keep in mind that your kitchen island should create a cascading waterfall effect which means that colors and veining need to be well harmonized. Mismatched colors or veining will create an interrupted design and destroy the immaculate waterfall effect you’ve been planning for your island.
What surface material is right for my island?
Now that we know what we need to create a unique, uninterrupted, flowing kitchen island design, we can choose the perfect material for its surface.
Although you can use stainless steel and wood to create an industrial-inspired or rustic-looking kitchen island, stone options are more trendy. Manufactured quartz, as well as natural marble and granite, are all highly desirable materials when creating a waterfall kitchen island from your dreams. The colors, multiple shades, specs, but mostly striking veining give waterfall islands that unique, powerful look we all crave in our kitchens.
If you choose marble and granite, consider the fact that their natural veining and coloring need to be bookmatched to create an uninterrupted flow from the top of an island to the floor. Your local fabricator that carries marble and granite should be able to provide you with the bookmatching service. The more powerful and more striking veining on the stone of your choosing, the more you will need this service.
However, if your heart is not set on natural stone, consider quartz. This man-made material is created to ease your life while providing the quality and look of the best natural stones. Quartz combines the natural beauty of marble or granite with exquisite durability and ease of maintenance. The pigments and resins quartz consists make it a versatile material ideal for waterfall islands. Quartz is actually made to easily and flawlessly match veining. If you decide to go with a simple look without veining, quartz is, again, the easiest choice, as it provides you with slabs perfect to create a cohesive, consistent, and solid look.
Here are some of the waterfall-style kitchen island ideas with quartz, marble, and granite that can inspire your kitchen remodeling project and help you create a showstopping kitchen island waterfall edge.
Get The Best Waterfall Kitchen Island for Your Home
A comprehensive and wide range of stylish and luxurious quartz, granite, marble, and quartzite slabs is waiting for you to choose from at our NJ showroom. A variety of slabs perfect for many different kitchen island designs, in residential and commercial properties are already in stock and available at affordable prices.
Get the best stone options and choose what you love, combining their beauty with durability, low maintenance, and lifetime warranty.
If you live anywhere in the state of New Jersey, stop by our showroom located at 1107 Rt 23 South, Wayne, NJ 07470. We will provide you with respectful and professional customer service and help you choose the best black quartz colors for your unique design. Our designers will show you all the slabs we have in stock and provide you with a free 3D design for your kitchen or bath remodel project. This way, you can actually see how the slabs you choose will look in your home or office.
Contact us today and get a waterfall kitchen island at an affordable price in New Jersey.