Put some castors on it

I would consider getting some legs from Ikea, or a home improvment store. Removing the original legs, and putting the new ones on, rather than trying to blend the old ones with something.

you could cut the legs off flush with the bottom and then attach new legs the right length.....of course, this is assuming you mean to paint/refinish the new island

Extend the top by making the current top open shelving underneath a new wood/stone counter top. Extending the legs or bottom would ruin the look of the piece.

cut the legs off and build a platform wood base basically a wood box under it and stain to match

...or a glass top would be even better. You could arrange pretty cookbooks underneath it to keep you inspired in the kitchen.

Locking 6" high casters would be my first choice (http://www.amazon.com/Casters-Total-Lock-Swivel-Plate-Mount/dp/B002MMSIXK). But second choice is @TWilliams suggestion - a raised top with the actual top as open storage. I suppose it depends on the look and functionality you want.

Either way, great find for use in a kitchen. I'd love something like that.

I would suggest you 2 solutions:

1 - Adding a shelf mounted onto four legs, atop the dresser.

2 - cutting the actual legs and replacing them by a higher set, matching the same style.

An elevated glass top. For the later, because you really don't want to drill anything into the wood dresser's top, I'd buy 4 glass blocks (the big-box home improvement stores have them) for the corners of the dresser, top them with a small beadline of silicone and put either a piece of glass atop it or look for an inexpensive piece of butcher block or a wood that is a close match to the dresser (Ikea would be my first stop for that).

Definitely locking castors! You can drill into the existing legs to connect them and then, not only do you have the height you desire, but also portability for things like cleaning or ease of rearranging when you have a bunch of people over, and it's in the way, etc.

depending on how you use your kitchen, I'd get a stainless wrapped on mdf top. Perhaps, you could you take the existing top off, fasten it to the underside of the existing legs, for a low shelf. then add casters. i'm partial to these

http://www.mcmaster.com/#cast-iron-casters/=dh3pw1

I dunno, the I like the books! lol

I also like the idea of creating another raised surface, glass or otherwise. You'll have more storage! If you use butcher block it will be functional too.

get 1 or 2 garden timbers from home depot. since this is going to be an island, i'm thinking you need a "chunkier" look for the legs. cut desired height for each corner and plane sides to fit corners. attach to chest - stain same color. could even use these feet in the middle for sturdiness. cheap and would look great.

Don't mess with the legs. They are not screwed on, but rather continuations of the wood that makes up the whole piece. Taking them off and trying to add new ones will make the piece unstable and invite collapse, as will trying to add to the current legs. (Taking the legs off and building a platform was suggested above would be stable, but that would ruin the while style of the thing.)

So, go with adding shelf above. Like the idea of doing it with glass. Using chrome or stainless steel supports for glass would look best.

But really, this piece of furniture has its own style as is, and it is not meant to be 6" higher. The best advice I can give you is to use this elsewhere, and find something that will look right at counter height for your counter. This doesn't look right raised as you have it. I realize you can't see that, though you will when your design sense has had more time to mature.

Some of them are saying that attaching casters to the legs directly??? I don't know how stable will be... You probably can find a similar and taller design of legs so cutting off the current one and install the taller one. http://www.osbornewood.com/34-and-one-half-inches.cfm?gclid=CJWkwoSWtqoCFYHb4Aodhw6j7A Or ask a vintage furniture shop for a recommendation. They might have some even better solutions.

I love the idea of a tempered glass top. That will give you more storage and a really unique island.

The people behind After Dinner Design just did this. They added a counter top and casters. Maybe you can ask them as well?
http://afterdinnerdesign.blogspot.com/

The photo isn't brilliantly clear, but I think removing the legs (um, well, sawing them off) and then replacing them with the right height of hairpin legs from www.hairpinlegs.com would be a lovely solution. They would suit.

I totally agree with twilliams' suggestions. The legs simply shouldn't be messed with, so adding a top shelf/countertop would be the best solution. I'd add a little extra length to all four sides for a slight overhang. You could match your existing countertops, pick a butcher block or other coordinating material, or go with a heavy tempered glass.

And it gives you even more storage with the additional narrow shelf underneath!

I'm with Textiles. This piece has the right geometry and proportions as it is, and the legs aren't simple little screw-on pieces - they're part of the furniture. I say find another bureau that's 6" taller, and go with that. Even casters won't look great on this - though I'm a big casters fan.

I like the glass top idea the best. I also think it would be the most professional looking. You can get 6" stainless standoffs that either glue or bolt through the top and elevate it 6" from the dresser. Then you have a space between the glass and the dresser to put cook books, conversation pieces, storage, etc... It would also preserve the dresser without making it look like you "added on" to it.

It is such a neat piece you don't want to ruin it by chopping off the legs. I second everyone who has said "add a top".

I think adding the additional cabinet, especially with a glass top, will create such a conversation piece.

I think cutting the legs would ruin this piece. Thus, I agree with the castor vote. And then, if that isn't high enough, I would add another piece or marble or butcher block directly on top. I'm not crazy about the open shelf at the top. Makes me think of 90s bathroom vanities.

'nother vote for adding a top.

You could also go with stainless steel or marble, not just kitchen-grade glass.

I agree with textiles, but if you're set on using this as an island, I think casters are the best option. They'd attach directly to the existing legs and not completely ruin the design of the dresser in the way that adding some sort of "shelf" on top would. You can buy cup-style casters that don't screw into the leg but rather the leg sits inside of it - that might lend more stability if you're really worried about it. I wouldn't be.

You definitely need to protect the top somehow - and NOT with glass, which will crack easily. You could wrap the top with stainless or aluminum, or better yet make a removable mosaic tiled top (that way you can just take it off and use the dresser elswhere later on) with thin board cut to size.

Have fun!

I would remove the top and then build the sides and back up to create an open shelf you can access from the front of the piece...you could have a cabinet maker do this to make it look fairly seamless and match the stain exactly. Then just add the old top back on, or do another countertop surface.

I had a similar situation and got a piece of wood, cut it to the same size as the footprint of the piece (plus a little bit) and then put casters on the bottom of that. basically put the entire piece on a skateboard type of thing. locking casters of course though!

I don't think I'd cut off the legs. Maybe if you're using it as an island, you could put some wine racks (like these: http://www.crateandbarrel.com/dining-and-entertaining/bar-accessories/set-of-2-shesham-wall-mount-stacking-wine-racks/s676775) on top, then have a piece of marble or countertop cut to put on top? I recently had a marble remnant cut to put on top of a similar dresser, and will be using that as a pastry station. (I'm not tall, so I don't mind that it isn't counter height.)

I'm obsessed with wheels. I would definitely add castors. Then you can move it around as need be. Definitely a plus in a small space.

Finally, a few correct spellings of 'casters.'
Castor oil, once consumed, is never forgotten. But casters roll on forever.

I would go along with T Williams, but go a step further. I would like to see you integrate the dresser into a larger piece. Perhaps a square island with the back of the dresser being the underside of a countertop and stools to sit at, supported simply by a leg at each of the corners.

To do so, I would cut off the original legs of the dresser and replace them with ones in the same style as the legs to support the countertop corners. I wouldn't paint the dresser, just preserve the current staining and then go with a style for the 6 legs (Ikea being a great resource as has been mentioned) that may enable you to integrate the dresser into the style of the rest of the kitchen.

Doing so would further expand your prep area and give a nice place for quick meals or to work at. From the look of the surrounding area in your pictures, I think you may have enough space. It might also help you (if you're looking for it) to delineate the kitchen space from the dining space.

Add a 1/2" butcher block top and 4" casters, two with locks.

I'm sure others have shared that idea, but just in case!

Consider it the other way around -- make a sturdy platform at the location where you plan to have the new counter, and finish it to match your floor or your other counters. Stand the dresser on it. Maybe make it a couple of inches wider at the base for stability -- or just have indents where the legs will go, to prevent accidental shifting.
You could probably fit a drawer into this as well.

why worry about the height? Different heights, different finishes and surfaces make for a warm, nicely laid kitchen.

I was going to suggest cutting the legs off and setting the dresser onto some slate slabs, marble slabs, tile slabs.. would be a pain to move though.

Casters would look totally weird, like an afterthought (because they are!).

As unfortunate as it is, I say use it elsewhere or modify the top. It's a great piece on it's own and I'd hate to see it ruined by a failed modification job (not that you aren't capable - I was just thinking of my own abilities!).

Something I dont think has been suggested yet..

I would try and find an industrial (damaged/worn) heavy duty wire shelf that is the same width and length, that sits 6 inches off the ground on it's own legs. Then just rest this dresser on it. Store pots and pans between the gap and then it will tie into your AWESOME furniture/style in the office.

Something of a mix of the base/shelves on this bad boy: http://www.salvoweb.com/images/userimgs/35440/46717_1.jpg with your unit resting on top.

Add an extra inch or two inch by adding a wider top (attaching it to the existing one, don't need to remove it) Think, stone, butcher's block, stainless steel.

The rest could be added by casters (as someone already mentioned).

Why not just use it as a dresser and get another piece that's 36"-42" high for use in the kitchen?

It's not like they're not out there...

yet another vote for adding locking casters

ooooh, I love the top shelf idea! I would do a giant butcher's block.

maybe this type of little shelf would work: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40051196

Have you thought about using bed risers? They're cheap, easy and fairly stable way to do this, albeit not the prettiest. I used bed raisers on a make-shift kitchen island for a year and never had any stability issues and did no damage to the floors or the dresser. Hope that helps!

How about bed-risers? something like this http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=Bed+Risers&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=6854434001448544778&sa=X&ei=3QA7Ttm8CqbZiALel_zYCw&ved=0CFcQ8gIwAw
Then you could do a gold, silver or copper leafing process on the risers to make them look pretty :)

Flip the entire thing UPSIDE DOWN, including the drawers (you may have to re-align the drawer guides), put casters on what is now the bottom, and place either a tempered glass piece on top (of what were the legs) or a butcher block. That way you have an open shelf to store cutting boards, linens, mixing bowls, ...whatever.

I'm with team casters.

If you want casters, fine, but if the legs work for you aesthetically, I'd go with four cool 5" or 6" legs on TOP and either a piece of glass or wood, or whatever trips your trigger. Quite a number of people have hacks using this over at http://www.ikeahackers.net/

Like this: http://www.ikeahackers.net/2011/07/reception-counter-for-office.html

Bed risers seem the simplest way to go--they're meant to do exactly what you want, you don't risk doing damage to the piece by fooling around with the legs, and it's not permanent (important if you move to a place with an island and you want to take the dresser back to being a dresser).

Definitely add a new solid-state top above this, using legs to provide a gap between the new top and the existing top. In addition to the many benefits listed in other comments, this'll help to protect the dresser from spills and scuffs.

Call Bill at CastorCity.com. I emailed him a pic of a similar need last year and he helped me get set up. There are stability issues that need to be addressed and it makes a difference what side and type wood the legs are as well as what type of floor they are going on and the weight of the desk is also a factor.

No castors. No bed risers. Hire a carpenter to make you a base that you can sit the dresser on. Voila', intact dresser.

I'd love to have a counter top exactly this height in my kitchen. I'm only 5'1" and this would be perfect for kneading bread and myriad other activities. Just sayin'.

glass is not a practical surface for a kitchen piece that you plan on actually using. I do think that you should raise the top of it, and I love the idea of putting something like marble on the top to contrast the color of the wood, and instead of bracing it up with four corners, I would maybe suggest some other design on the ends or something...

Very easy and functional for a kitchen island - wheels - you can purchase them at a restaurant supply and they also lock, I did this to a table once and it worked perfectly! You will need to drill holes in the legs for the wheel prongs to fit in but that is about it.

BIL Castors and Wheels manufactures and supplies castors, casters and pneumatic wheels. Great deals on casters, big savings on pneumatic wheels. Huge selection of Castors for all applications