It doesn't get more classic, easy or affordable than this! Check out Crate and Barrel's new "French Kitchen Island". This piece is a very reasonable solution to either upgrade a "Builder Basic"* island or have a brand new island! I'm a sucker for open storage and anything Carrara Marble. I also adore the towel bars on each side.
Crate & Barrel "French Kitchen Island" $999
And, if you don't have room for an island (or the one you have is great already), consider the table. Would look great in a breakfast room or a Kitchen/Dining combo area (just don't use both of them together- it'll look too "matchy-matchy").
Create & Barrel "French Kitchen Table" $1,299
* "Builder Basic" is what I refer to as the standard finishes a builder may put into a home with no other design input from the client, designer or architect. Typically it follows convention and usually saves the builder money. In this case, its an island created using the same cabinetry as the cabinets lining the walls in the kitchen, typically very narrow and not in proportion to the space available for an island.
when i was an au pair the french famil had a little table kind of like this in the kitchen......and its pretty small but actually 4 people would eat dinner at it