1981 – Kitchen Islands and Pantries
Another feature that proved that American kitchens were more industrial in the 1980s was the redesign of the kitchen island, which was a whole lot bigger than in the 1970s and included things like trash compartments, stoves and sinks.
Kitchens also included large pantries, which disappeared in the 1950s in lieu of built-in cabinets. But as the size of kitchens shrank, the need for storage space became a high priority.