In these kitchens, the island is the central focus and organizing principle. Sometimes one side of the island is for working and the other side is for casual dining.
Useful information: References: Sunset Ideas for Great Kitchens (Sunset Publishing); The Smart Approach To Kitchen Design, by Susan Maney Lovett and Glee Barre. If your kitchen's wide enough, a sturdy work table will suffice. Or browse restaurant supply stores for prep tables and utility carts, for example: http://www.missionrs.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?page=MRSC/CTGY/Worktables
