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Multiple your prep space and style.

Two of a kind; double or nothing; two peas in a pod... When a duo has that many dedicated idioms, you know you're onto something. If you're of the mindset that two is always better than one, then you'll really love the latest trend in kitchen design: double islands. While it may feel excessive (and certainly won't work in every space), this over-the-top setup is actually pretty practical, allowing you to dedicate one surface to meal prep (and all the mess that entails) and another to dining, homework, art projects, or work from home life (and all the mess that entails). Curious how to make the pair feel pretty and cohesive? Peep these inspiring spaces with two kitchen islands for double the fun.

When it came to the kitchen of this expansive Florida bachelor pad, designer Lauren Liess juxtapositioned light and dark materials—one coral stone, one pecky cypress wood—to differentiate the two islands. The rest of the space was kept intentionally symmetrical, with reclaimed beams and a quad of pendant lights overhead.

While designing the Nashville home of country music star Thomas Rhett and his wife, designer April Tomlin focused on creating a cooking space that could flex to accommodate the couple's penchant for entertaining. A pair of double islands—one traditional, one dining table-esque—offer up a spot to cook, share a bite, or just sip a morning cup of coffee.

One sure-fire way to make a grand kitchen feel even more regal? Add a pair of rich wood islands! In this Utah home designed by the team at Alice Lane, glam finishes (like high-gloss cabinetry and brass fixtures) meet their match with a duo of butcher block-covered islands stained a rich walnut.

The classics are classic for a reason—and they get even more impactful if you double the fun. In this Nashville kitchen designed by Sarah Rogers and April Tomlin, Caesarstone and white islands mirror each other, providing back-to-back spots for the home's four children to debrief after school or help with dinner prep.

The dual islands in this Kelly McGuill-designed Massachusetts aren't just easy on the eyes—they are supremely functional, too. The homeowner is a baker, so the island closest to the oven serves as a dough-kneading station, thanks to a cool-to-the-touch quartz top (to keep butter from melting) and a hidden shelf underneath that raises a stand mixer to counter height for easy prep work.

To keep an expansive Connecticut kitchen from feeling underutilized, designers Leia T. Ward and Lauren Vallario opted to install two complimentary—yet vastly different—islands in the space. The smaller of the pair focuses on function, with a sink and plenty of room for meal prep and groceries, while the more grand waterfall iteration boasts enough seating for eight (!!) hungry guests.

Though not technically double islands, this kitchen by Sara Hillery masters the same effect, thanks to the inclusion of both a true kitchen island and an expansive peninsula. Both spots feature sinks and stools, increasing the available work and entertainment space and making this home the place to host holiday gatherings.

Don't have room for two separate islands but still want to harness the versatile nature of the trend? Consider installing two different countertop materials on a single island! Here, designer Jocelyn Chiappone took a Jekyll and Hyde approach, covering half the island in a Calacatta Bluette marble and the other half in an end-grain butcher block in a masterful display of form and function.

While most iterations of double islands see the structures oriented vertically to one another, you can also abut them horizontally—an especially great option if your home has a long and lean footprint. In this Long Island kitchen, designer Danielle Fennoy grouped an island and island-height table together to create a flexible zone fit for chopping, working, and buffet-style entertaining.

While a large kitchen footprint is helpful if you're considering dueling islands, it's not a must. Case in point? This elegant and petite space from designer Jessica Bradley touts two nearly identical slim islands with a breezeway in between.