OP here. Adding kitchen island pendants with a diffuser or opal shade. The ones with exposed bulbs underneath are unpleasant to work near, yet very common.

Anonymous wrote:
Pet peeve in kitchens is sitting at an island and kicking a wall/cupboard.

So you think we should try to leave some of the island open? Ours is longish and narrow, so I was thinking one end would have more storage and the other end could fit three seating (two on long plane, 1 on end)

You need a good vent even with induction - ours makes so much steam when boiling water that it is damaging nearby paint. I think it's because it doesn't produce as much heat in the general area (compared to gas). Still much prefer it to gas.

Pet peeve in kitchens is sitting at an island and kicking a wall/cupboard.