’90s Two-Tiered Kitchen Islands Have Nothing on This New Design Trend

The late ’90s were full of questionable design choices — inflatable furniture, white wicker Shabby Chic furniture, and rooster decor — to name a few. Some kitchen trends, in particular, ventured into more permanent territory, like two-tier kitchen islands. These multilevel pieces of furniture scream dated now and can be a real headache for homeowners to clean and work with today. But designers are bringing this concept back in a new format, proving that sometimes, a few thoughtful tweaks are all it takes to make a decorating dud sing.

So what exactly are two-tier kitchen islands and how have they evolved recently into something you might actually want in your kitchen again? Read on to be brought up to speed. 

When islands became a defining dream kitchen feature, architects and designers began playing with their format, adding things like built-in shelving for storage and decorative trims for flair. Then came the two-tier format. These double-decker kitchen islands were originally conceived of to help break up open floor plans and provide extra bar-height counter space. You could use the top-tier surface for casual dining or for overflow seating when you had guests over. The top-tier was also a decent spot for serving apps or a buffet-style meal.

The only issue, though, is that the top-tier counter space was often a very narrow, awkward size. And so these islands became prone to collecting clutter, which made kitchens start to look and feel crowded. So the design intent here didn’t go as planned, and two-tier kitchen islands became synonymous with disarray and looking dated — that is, until now.

Kitchen seating hasn’t changed much over the years, and the options are usually either a kitchen table or a small bartop, or both. Interior designer Darlene Molnar has reimagined kitchen dining, though — and the two-tier kitchen island style — with a solution that helps make the kitchen feel more intentional as the heart of the home: a two-tier kitchen island of sorts, where a lower dining table extends out from the higher island. 

As seen in one of Molnar’s kitchen designs pictured just above, this two-tier design is actually a nod to kitchens of the past, where long before the island existed, kitchen tables were used for everything from meal prep to homework to family dinners. “Over the years, the [kitchen] table rose, quite literally, to accommodate the cook at a standing height and offer more storage space,” Molnar explains. “The kitchen table evolved into an extension of the island rather than a freestanding piece.”  

Molnar’s tabletop surface is much more expansive than the second tiers of the ’90s. Instead of a sliver of countertop space for serving and eating, this style includes a typical island-size surface for cooking prep needs plus another substantial tabletop at seating height for gathering around. And it’s all located right in the center of the kitchen by design. 

This two-tiered island is a lot more functional than the original bartop design, since you actually have the space to gather together, and fill the center of the table with family-style servings, similar to a traditional kitchen table.

“In large kitchens, a two-tier island can often accommodate more people than a breakfast nook and can visually anchor the hub of the home,” Molnar says of this design choice. She adds that this reworked kitchen island is also a great choice for busy families, since “a dining space in the kitchen gives you a place where you can still eat a meal across from each other” in an informal but intimate way. 

While this island style works best as a more permanent built-in feature, the concept can be renter-friendly, too. “If you have the floor space, you can re-create this in a rental with a dining table,” Molnar explains. “I would look for a Parsons style dining table that would sit flush to the island,” she adds. 

This configuration would allow you to create a faux two-tiered look that’s visually pleasing and serves a similar purpose as Molnar’s modern spin on the style. And there you have it: What’s old is new again — and improved! — when it comes to kitchen island design.