Let’s revisit yesterday’s post about building a kitchen island from a desk.
I took the desk from jamie’s room.
I added a little of this and that.
Used some fabulous Gorilla Wood Glue to glue some luan on top of the ugly OSB.
Put it all on some casters.
I added a little trim here and there.
I painted it with primer.
Painted the drawers with primer.
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
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.
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
dee dee says
January 26, 2015 at 10:22 amDang! i just got rid of one almost identical to what you started with! Great idea! love it!
Deanna says
May 15, 2014 at 9:33 pmUr a genius! Love it. Can I ask, what fid u use for the legs/feet on the desk/island?
gail@myrepurposedlife.net says
May 15, 2014 at 9:46 pmthanks!
check out how I started the island here: https://www.myrepurposedlife.com/2010/11/diy-kitchen-island.html
EDGAR says
September 3, 2013 at 10:51 pmWOW GIRL, YOU DID IT AGAIN, LOVE YOUR WORK, THAT IS AWESOME, LOVE IT, MARAVILLOSO (SPANISH FOR WONDERFUL) IS AMAZING, WELL YOU ARE AMAZING
Nanciscruffydog says
October 16, 2011 at 5:41 pmThis is a GREAT idea!!! Wow! LOVE it!!!!!
Susan @ homeroad.net says
July 14, 2011 at 10:53 amI LOVE this! It came out so beautifully! I would store my trash can in that big space inside too! Love it!
Susan
Shawna says
January 22, 2011 at 6:32 pmI’m in LOVE!
Mandy Coffey says
December 1, 2010 at 4:46 pmi’m really diggin’ on this creativity!!! I’ll be featuring it on my blog 12/11 smallfineprint.blogspot.com
Laurie at Turner Farm says
November 22, 2010 at 3:14 pmCongrats on making the TOP 10 at The DIY Club. You do amazing work girl, love it.
The DIY Show Off says
November 21, 2010 at 1:25 amYou’re amazing, Gail. Yet another masterpiece! I love it – the top is my favorite but using the desk was genius! 😉
Roeshel
Amanda Ergenbright says
November 14, 2010 at 9:10 pmThat is wonderful!! I especially love the top. Nice job. 🙂
Infarrantly Creative says
November 14, 2010 at 3:44 amThinking outside the desk! I love it. I love the barn board top. I am digging two tones lately.
Uhleah says
November 10, 2010 at 4:42 pmThat is awesome! What a great idea and fabulous result!
gena says
November 9, 2010 at 4:43 amWow – 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 says
November 8, 2010 at 7:27 pmWhat a great job you did on your kitchen island. I love it!
Amy Meyer says
November 8, 2010 at 12:49 pmThat is an amazing transformation! Great job and thanks sharing!
Michelle @Shellsshabbyshack says
November 8, 2010 at 12:35 amHow clever is that?! I love the top and the beadboard gives it personality. Function meets fabulous!
Laurie at Turner Farm says
November 5, 2010 at 7:43 pmGail, you ROCK! This is fantabulous! Great work again!
Suzan says
November 5, 2010 at 9:41 amI can’t stand it! That is amazing!!
Kim @ Second Time Furniture says
November 5, 2010 at 3:40 amWow! I never would have thought of that! I love the beadboard!
Becca says
November 4, 2010 at 11:21 pmLOVE THIS!!! Thanks for linking! I’ll be featuring this Tutorial on Nov. 11th on BCD!
Becca
Tricia says
November 4, 2010 at 8:21 pmGail, it’s so fantastic! I especially love the top, and for $2, how could I not?!
Love it!
xo*t
TruWhim says
November 4, 2010 at 4:32 pmOnce again you hit it out of the park. Really creative.
cockermom says
November 4, 2010 at 2:18 pmI 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 says
November 4, 2010 at 2:28 amThat 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 says
November 4, 2010 at 1:53 amNow 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 says
November 4, 2010 at 12:57 amMy 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 says
November 4, 2010 at 12:24 amAnother awesome and inspiring transformation Gail!!
Homemade Quilts by Granny says
November 3, 2010 at 11:04 pmWow 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. 🙂
God Bless Trish
Anita @ GoingALittleCoastal says
November 3, 2010 at 9:17 pmBravo!! 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 says
November 3, 2010 at 8:56 pmThis 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 says
November 3, 2010 at 8:56 pmThis Kitchen Island is BETTER than the ones Iv’e seen in the store. Just beautiful, thanks for showing us the completed piece.
DiddleDaddleDesigns says
November 3, 2010 at 8:01 pmLooks great. Just shows what you can do with a little imagination. Thanks for sharing.
Jill says
November 3, 2010 at 4:58 pmGail! 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 says
November 3, 2010 at 4:28 pmLove it Gail… the top is so pretty too!
Suzanne@Meridian Road says
November 3, 2010 at 2:22 pmThat is cool! I love the planks on the top~who knew a desk would make such a great addition to a kitchen?
Chrissie says
November 3, 2010 at 1:39 pmYou never cease to amaze me! What a great transformation, your island is wonderful!!!
Jeanne Nelson says
November 3, 2010 at 1:24 pmWhat an wonderful new piece! I can imagine this will be a peace you and your family will enjoy for many years.
Terri says
November 3, 2010 at 1:14 pmWow, you craftsmanship never ceases to amaze me. A great job on this one!!
Kathy says
November 3, 2010 at 12:48 pmGail, 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 says
November 3, 2010 at 12:42 pmOMG Gail you are SO clever! Your kitchen island is amazing! Very nice!
Cassie @ Primitive & Proper says
November 3, 2010 at 12:34 pmgail 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 says
November 3, 2010 at 12:34 pmgail 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 says
November 3, 2010 at 12:18 pmAnother great completed project. This kitchen is going to be great!
Shannon says
November 3, 2010 at 12:17 pmLast 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! 🙂
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! 🙂
Rose @ Confessions of a Curbshopaholic says
November 3, 2010 at 12:16 pmBravo! 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 says
November 3, 2010 at 12:07 pmYou continue to amaze me….looks great 🙂
One Life Many Journeys says
November 3, 2010 at 11:41 amAmazing! Do you brush roll or spray your paint? What kind of sprayer if that is what you use? THANKS!
Something Nice and Pretty says
November 3, 2010 at 11:33 amSo 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 says
November 3, 2010 at 11:26 amOh my–it turned out sooooo lovely!!!!!!! you are most creative and talented! great job!
kathie says
November 3, 2010 at 11:08 amFabulous!!! 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 🙂 You did an amazing job with it, and it is going to be so functional for you!
Coleen's Corner says
November 3, 2010 at 10:59 amBeautiful!
Anji Johnston says
November 3, 2010 at 10:51 amYou are totally amazing!
My Cottage Charm says
November 3, 2010 at 10:47 amGail, you rocked it out! 🙂 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! 🙂
Have a great one my friend…try and take it easy for a day or so! 🙂
Love ya
Missy
ziggy2407 says
November 3, 2010 at 10:46 amLove it and wish you were a real-life friend – definitely need some of your inspiration and talent.
Great work, well done
Proper Prim says
November 3, 2010 at 9:53 amGail 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 ♥ says
November 3, 2010 at 7:46 amI 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 🙂