Eric and I are slowly redoing our kitchen.
#1 - new island
If you know me, that doesn't mean going out and buying an island.
I'm too thrifty for that, and my husband doesn't think I love him enough to just buy one.
This is our kitchen, untidy and all.
Those barstools were bought at Homegoods at a great price. I got them a year before the island was finished. It's hard for me to pass up a good deal. I also like to collect what I need over time and only get it when it is the best price.
Here is another view of the island with its pointless raised bar top.
Its only purpose was to hold things so they could get dusty.
I began tinkering around with the idea of making one out of a dresser. I googled it
and happened upon the Addison Meadows Lane blog.
I liked what she did with a dresser, and I decided to copy her.
I got this dresser for $200 for my birthday.
It was a big heavy piece that screamed "ISLAND!"
Millie "helped."
She sanded. Notice how little she was, that should tell you how long this took us.
Everything takes us a long time because my hubby works a lot.
Wood shims on the back make it interesting and jazzes up the backing.
Finished back stained (Jacobian)
Eric had painted it for me while I was horse back riding with Emogene and Hattie.
It then sat in my house, close to the living room.
I totally went ahead and filled up all the drawers.
Eric suspects it was just to aggravate him, because we had to go across the room to
get a lot of things.
Here is proof that I helped make the top.
Eric made two separate pieces and he then combined them.
This took a while because things happened that put it on hold.
Here was his labor of love, love for me but hate for the countertop.
He sanded A LOT. Used a router on the edges. I helped stain it and polyurethane it.
Funny thing, when Eric was telling me all the tools he was going to need to finish the top, my inexpensive island was getting to be expensive. Then, suddenly someone in our neighborhood was cleaning out their garage and listed a router and belt sander for sale. I think we paid $20 total for them. Score!!!! We probably spent around $500, that included the barstools (ridiculous how much they cost even on sale). I looked up getting my top made. It was about $900. I think we saved a lot of money.
I picked out some fancy braces/corbels. They were only $5 each. Not bad!
Here is the finished island, complete with electrical because my hubby is amazing.
Look at the view now! It opened up my kitchen so much and added four more places to sit.
Eric said that was for more children.
You may notice the old island, minus the weird bar, on the far wall.
It is sitting there waiting for a spot in the garage. My new pantry is going to cover that whole space.
It is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!
Next on the list.
-build a pantry
-paint the cabinets
-paint the walls
-install granite
-backsplash
-new sink, stove, microwave, and fridge
It's just a few things left.
What do you think of our new island?
