How to turn a desk into a kitchen island for extra storage.
Do you know how make a kitchen island out of a desk? It may seem a little difficult, but it's really not so bad.
Vintage Desk
Let’s revisit yesterday’s post about building a kitchen island from a desk.
I took the desk from jamie’s room.
Kitchen Island Made from a Desk
I added a little of this and that.
Used some fabulous Gorilla Wood Glue to glue some luan on top of the ugly OSB.
Add Wheels
Put it all on some casters.
Embellish Kitchen Island with New Trim
I added a little trim here and there.
Time for Paint
I painted it with primer.
Painted the drawers with primer.
Gray Kitchen Island
Voila!
The color is gray (Glidden Heather Gray mixed with a little Glidden oops gray) even though it doesn’t look like it in this picture.
The back.
After getting it inside, I see that I may need to trim out the inside of this area with some bead board to give it a more finished look. It’s amazing what you don’t see until you take a few pictures.
Look at those wonderful drawers! I will be able to organize throw all my stuff in there. Perhaps I can keep all my paint brushes, Gorilla Glue, etc stashed away, but in easy reach!
And during the holidays we will have a great place to serve up our feasts!
So, there you have it. My DIY Kitchen Island-Bar-Craft Station.
You can see how I made the top in my post DIY Kitchen Island (top)
gail
Updates
Edited to add (June 10, 2012)
After 18 months of not liking the color, I painted my island black.
I have also added some DIY barn doors and painted my blue counter tops with a faux granite paint.
I’m loving the new color of my island. You can see more of the counter tops in this picture. I also installed board and batten for my back splash.
The kitchen island has yet another update. I painted it glazed red, added a new top and a window for the knee hole door!
If you are looking for other repurposed desk ideas, see these projects:
Turn an old desk into a dressing table or small chest.
Use an old desk as a potting bench
Turn an old desk into a tall lingerie chest
Related Content: See More Desk Projects Here
Hi, there! Iām Gail, the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. Iām obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believe that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful againāmyself included! I hope youāll enjoy the journey and pick up a few tools along the wayā¦ literally!
dee dee
Dang! i just got rid of one almost identical to what you started with! Great idea! love it!
Deanna
Ur a genius! Love it. Can I ask, what fid u use for the legs/feet on the desk/island?
gail@myrepurposedlife.net
thanks!
check out how I started the island here: https://www.myrepurposedlife.com/2010/11/diy-kitchen-island.html
EDGAR
WOW GIRL, YOU DID IT AGAIN, LOVE YOUR WORK, THAT IS AWESOME, LOVE IT, MARAVILLOSO (SPANISH FOR WONDERFUL) IS AMAZING, WELL YOU ARE AMAZING
Nanciscruffydog
This is a GREAT idea!!! Wow! LOVE it!!!!!
Susan @ homeroad.net
I LOVE this! It came out so beautifully! I would store my trash can in that big space inside too! Love it!
Susan
Shawna
I'm in LOVE!
Mandy Coffey
i'm really diggin' on this creativity!!! I'll be featuring it on my blog 12/11 smallfineprint.blogspot.com
Laurie at Turner Farm
Congrats on making the TOP 10 at The DIY Club. You do amazing work girl, love it.
The DIY Show Off
You're amazing, Gail. Yet another masterpiece! I love it - the top is my favorite but using the desk was genius! š
Roeshel
Amanda Ergenbright
That is wonderful!! I especially love the top. Nice job. š
Infarrantly Creative
Thinking outside the desk! I love it. I love the barn board top. I am digging two tones lately.
Uhleah
That is awesome! What a great idea and fabulous result!
gena
Wow - what a great idea ! I have my son's old desk in the guest room.... hmmmmmmmmm a craft cart for my craft room......... You got me thinking !
thanks for sharing ! I'm your newest follower !!!!
gena
http://www.thehouseonlavenderhill.blogspot.com
Cristie
What a great job you did on your kitchen island. I love it!
Amy Meyer
That is an amazing transformation! Great job and thanks sharing!
Michelle @Shellsshabbyshack
How clever is that?! I love the top and the beadboard gives it personality. Function meets fabulous!
Laurie at Turner Farm
Gail, you ROCK! This is fantabulous! Great work again!
Suzan
I can't stand it! That is amazing!!
Kim @ Second Time Furniture
Wow! I never would have thought of that! I love the beadboard!
Becca
LOVE THIS!!! Thanks for linking! I'll be featuring this Tutorial on Nov. 11th on BCD!
Becca
Tricia
Gail, it's so fantastic! I especially love the top, and for $2, how could I not?!
Love it!
xo*t
TruWhim
Once again you hit it out of the park. Really creative.
cockermom
I love that top! I did this for my kitchen cabinets a few years ago and I still love it! I have a 14' counter and it was gonna cost a fortune for a new one, I saw this on HGTV and decided to give it a go, got it all done for under $100! I never thought to make a rolling bar to match for it tho....now my brain is working again....lol
Leah
That is awesome!! I want an island for my kitchen so bad but I never would have thought to use a desk. You truly are inspiring.
I Play Outside The Box
Now I won't get any sleep tonight!!! I know better than to come here at this hour....you get my head to spinnin'!
Megandvd@Beauty in the Attempt
My goodness...you are most definitely the QUEEN of repurposing...I am just thrilled to be in your court -- or am I just beyond the drawbridge? LOVE THIS!!!! The top is BRILLIANT. I am always amazed how you can see so much in the possibility.
Cheers~
e
Diann
Another awesome and inspiring transformation Gail!!
Homemade Quilts by Granny
Wow that's amazing. I want one to go in my new kitchen. I have been looking on craigslist to find one....(talking to myself) wouldn't it be marvelous if I could make my own like Gail can....I'm thinking just maybe I can....I can at least try. Gail you're a very talented lady. š
God Bless Trish
Anita @ GoingALittleCoastal
Bravo!! Love that you used a desk. Leave it to you to think outside the box. Love the top too. Leave us hanging on how you did it. That's okay, I'll wait.
The Rusty Teapot
This Kitchen Island is BETTER than the ones Iv'e seen in the store. Just beautiful, thanks for showing us the completed piece.
The Rusty Teapot
This Kitchen Island is BETTER than the ones Iv'e seen in the store. Just beautiful, thanks for showing us the completed piece.
DiddleDaddleDesigns
Looks great. Just shows what you can do with a little imagination. Thanks for sharing.
Jill
Gail! This is so beautiful! I love the way to top looks! I think it'll only improve with time and as it gets "love dings" in it! The beadboard is the perfect touch. Reading blogs like yours makes me never want to pay full price for furniture ever again!
Maryann @ Domestically-Speaking
Love it Gail... the top is so pretty too!
Suzanne@Meridian Road
That is cool! I love the planks on the top~who knew a desk would make such a great addition to a kitchen?
Chrissie
You never cease to amaze me! What a great transformation, your island is wonderful!!!
Jeanne Nelson
What an wonderful new piece! I can imagine this will be a peace you and your family will enjoy for many years.
Terri
Wow, you craftsmanship never ceases to amaze me. A great job on this one!!
Kathy
Gail, you knocked that one out of the park!! What an amazing transformation. I like that it is on rollers so it can be moved where ever you need it. Wish my brain worked as creatively as yours.
A Pretty Pastime
OMG Gail you are SO clever! Your kitchen island is amazing! Very nice!
Cassie @ Primitive & Proper
gail it looks fantastic! the rustic top is my favorite new addition. just beautiful! and you get to look at it every day, and sigh to yourself and think, "yup, i made that!".
Cassie @ Primitive & Proper
gail it looks fantastic! the rustic top is my favorite new addition. just beautiful! and you get to look at it every day, and sigh to yourself and think, "yup, i made that!".
Denise
Another great completed project. This kitchen is going to be great!
Shannon
Last night, I showed Dustin the Facebook picture of this and had him guess what you started with. I can't remember what he guessed (I've slept since then:)) but he never even considered that there was a desk in there somewhere! š
Great job on this. I can spot things that would look better with a paint job on them... but, after 'watching' you work, I'm trying to look a little deeper and repurpose even more. Thanks for all the inspiration! š
Rose @ Confessions of a Curbshopaholic
Bravo! The desk is no more. Now it's the perfect little island/craft station.
Great job on this one, you deserve a break today after all that work!
Reenie
You continue to amaze me....looks great š
One Life Many Journeys
Amazing! Do you brush roll or spray your paint? What kind of sprayer if that is what you use? THANKS!
Something Nice and Pretty
So lovely...makes you feel like anyone can do it, love the color paint and the top, I'll check back to see how you did it! Great job!
Rondell
MostlySunny
Oh my--it turned out sooooo lovely!!!!!!! you are most creative and talented! great job!
kathie
Fabulous!!! I love it! What did you use to make the top? I really like the look of it, and knowing you, I'm sure it didn't cost a fortune š You did an amazing job with it, and it is going to be so functional for you!
Coleen's Corner
Beautiful!
Anji Johnston
You are totally amazing!
My Cottage Charm
Gail, you rocked it out! š I LOVE the top you did, much better than butcher block! I'm passing along your blog post to a new reader of mine. She said I inspired her to build an island from a study desk, so I though yours would make her very happy! š
Have a great one my friend...try and take it easy for a day or so! š
Love ya
Missy
ziggy2407
Love it and wish you were a real-life friend - definitely need some of your inspiration and talent.
Great work, well done
Proper Prim
Gail you totally aced this one... looks spectacular... I am trying to find new works... I could say fabulous, fantastic, awesome, magnificant but I would only be repeating myself because all your projects are all of the above.
Great job... now I really can't wait to see what is next.
Vicki ā„
I love it!! I have been following your progress with this one and was keen to see it done. You are just the cleverest repurposer there is š