A s a kitchen editor, I'm always on the pulse of what's hot and what's not. And recently, the traditional kitchen table has been making waves, offering a more sociable way to create an island.

Antique or vintage kitchen islands can be a singularly great find while hitting up secondhand venues, allowing you to get a truly old world feel in your vintage-inspired or rustic kitchen.

Antique Kitchen Islands. Jeff Herr Photography. If you’re lucky enough to find an antique kitchen island at the thrift store, then Case recommends picking it up ASAP. ... Wood Dining Tables.

Old meets new in Carley Summers’s statement-making kitchen, which includes Calcutta Monet marble, an antique walnut French Draper table as an island, and an added window wall to bring in more light.

For many, that’s a classic kitchen table. Said design-firm principal Mélanie Cherrier of Blanc Marine Intérieurs in Montreal, “A giant island can remove all the soul from the kitchen.” ...