Before & After: DIY Custom Kitchen Island

published Nov 8, 2012
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Post Image
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

When Liz and her husband completed their kitchen renovation, they still couldn’t agree on whether or not to add an island. Liza was a fan of the idea, but her husband was concerned about overwhelming their space. After months of debate, and recent entertaining experiences, Liz decided to take the bull by the horns.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Once Liz started searching for an island with the proper measurements for her kitchen, she realized that such a specific size might require a custom solution. After deciding that her only option was likely a DIY solution, she and her visiting mom picked up a sofa table when shopping to serve as the base of her new island. The piece she found was the right width and length, but was a few inches shorter than she needed for a functional work space.

Liz came up with two creative ways to customize her table to best meet her needs: she added taller wooden legs and a thick butcher block countertop to add the necessary inches. The final result is a great compact solution that adds useful workspace without negatively impacting the look of the kitchen as a whole. As for Liz’s husband, he is a big fan of the new arrangement, as is her young daughter who now has a whole new space to stash some toys!

(Images: Liz/Designing Domesticity)