We like this alternative to the usual kitchen island: the custom Mise en Place work table from Dublin-born, Cape Town-based chef Liam Tomlin, founder of the Chef's Warehouse & Cookery School.
Tomlin's work table (based on the French culinary principle of mise en place, or "everything in its place") is made from solid ash with a cast-iron frame and includes cutting boards, removable cheese boards, glass holders, a wine rack, knife holders, and an extendable hot pot stand, as well as storage drawers and shelves for additional kitchen equipment; it can also be customized to include a power supply and a sink.
N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on September 6, 2010.