A central kitchen island can become a focal point that promotes family interaction, an expert has said.Kathryn ODonovan of Landmark Kitchen Design Group in the US told philly.com that the seating arrangement around the island is an important consideration.Keep conversation flowing. Try not to have all the seating in an island facing the same direction as it does not promote easy family or friendly communication, she said.In addition, William Bygone, the owner of Bygone Construction Company, told the news provider that kitchen islands are a good way of breaking up the space in open-plan designs that link the kitchen to the living or dining areas.Meanwhile, interior designer Dottie Golan advised homeowners to reserve their islands for food preparation tasks by keeping them free of additional appliances such as cookers.Open-plan designs have also allowed some homeowners to install central islands with their own kitchen sinks and storage units, the Calgary Herald recently reported.