Kitchen Islands from Furniture

There are a variety of things you can do to update your kitchen on a budget. You’ll get double the value out of your expenses if the updates are functional AND aesthetic. One of the best ways to do that is to add an island to your kitchen. For real flair and personality, consider using an existing piece of furniture for your new island.

An island adds storage, work surfaces and a fresh look to your kitchen without adding a huge balance to your credit card. Islands can be any size. One of the smallest I’ve seen was only 24 by 30 inches, but its scale was perfect for the small kitchen it graced. Topped with a 3 inch butcher’s block, it created a practical work area for vegetable preparation and became a central place for hors d'oeuvres at casual gatherings.

For a one-of-a-kind island, look around at antique stores, flea markets, or even your own garage.  Almost any cabinet, hutch, table or chunky chest of drawers can be turned into an island. Look at the storage possibilities of the piece. Open shelves give another place to add color and personality. Deep drawers can store pots and pans. Shallow drawers can store linens and extra utensils. Often times, drawers can be easily made into shelves with or without doors.

The most important things to keep in mind are scale and soundness. The island shouldn’t be so large that it hinders movement around the working areas. It should nicely fit the area, and create a cozy feeling without being cramped.

Make sure the piece is sound, but don’t dismiss a piece you really love if a few easy fixes will make it sturdy enough for an island. For a rolling island, attach high quality casters to the legs or base. Have a cabinet installer help you with these modifications.

Have your installer measure the piece for a counter top. Any of the typical counter top materials can be ordered cut and finished to fit the island and attached on site. Don’t worry about matching the island counter top to your existing c-tops.  Do you have granite counter tops? A butcher block top would come in handy for chopping vegetables. If you have laminate counter tops, you might want to have a marble topped island for rolling out pie crusts and kneading bread. Do you have a modern kitchen? Think about stainless steel or enameled tops for your island.

While you’re waiting for the counter top to arrive, refinish the island to your liking. Here’s where you can get your hands dirty and have a little fun. The options for paint or stain finishes are limitless. Again, don’t worry about matching your existing cabinets, on the contrary, an island can be the perfect way to personalize your kitchen by adding a complementary cabinet style or finish to your existing cabinets. Do you have dark wood cabinets? Consider a painted island with an antiqued finish. Do you have white cabinets? Think about adding a splash of color at your island. Be bold, be subtle, be eclectic, be artsy, but be yourself when designing your new kitchen island.