Kitchen islands can be a great addition to any kitchen, as they offer extra workspace, storage, and seating. In this video, Amanda walks us through a step by step manual on how you can craft your own kitchen island.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- (7) 2″ x 4″ x 8′
- (7) 1″ x 12″ x 6′
- Paint
- Polyurethane
- Stain
- Wood Filler
Start with the legs of the table. Amanda chose to use pine wood, but you can use a hardwood if you want it to be very heavy and the wood to be harder. However, if you like rustic and don’t mind this piece, getting some character over time, then pine is a great option. For the first cuts, make four boards at 35 and a quarter inch tall. This will give us a 36 inch tall island once finished, which is the average counter height.
One thing about untreated pine four by fours is they usually are going to be cracked, so fill all the cracks with wood filler before doing anything else with the legs. While that’s driving, make six cuts at 15 inches, five cuts at five feet, and three cuts at 18 and three quarter inches.
To add pocket holes, drill two pocket holes on each end, and then three to six holes going towards the top of all the boards. Next, sand all the boards. Use a 120 grit sand paper to remove splinters or sharp edges. On the legs, make sure to round the corners.
Next it’s time to build out the frame. The bottom shelf apron should be three inches from the bottom of the table. The middle shelf apron should be 19 inches from the bottom of the legs.
Once the frame is put together, you can make decorative pieces out of your scrap wood. Simply cut four pieces at five inches long. Next you can draw a design and use a bands saw or jigsaw to cut them out. Once you cut them out, drill pocket holes and attach them to each outside edge of the long side of the table.
Now it’s time to paint. Amanda chose a gray chalk paint for the first layer of the frame. While the frames dry, work on cutting the shelves and the countertop. The middle and bottom should be 67 inches long and 22 inches wide. Use glue and pocket holes to hold them together. Once they are together, cut out a three and a half inch by three and a half inch section of each corner, allowing them to wrap around the legs.
The main countertop should be 71 inches long by 33 and three quarter inches wide. Use the same pocket hole screws and glue. Once it’s put together, grab some type of circular object to make easy marks and round your corners with the jigsaw.
Once you have all three cut, it’s time to sand and stain them. While waiting for that to dry, do a rough paint with a white chalk paint over the gray paint on the frame. This will create a distressed look.
Once it’s all dry, you can hit the white with a sander and reveal more gray to create the look of your liking. Once everything is dry, start attaching the pieces. Use one and a quarter inch screws and attach everything down. You may have to remove the middle braces to get your shelves in, depending if your build varies.
Your last thing to do is poly the shelves and the countertop and you’ve got yourself a brand new handmade kitchen island.
