All small kitchens could do with some more cupboard space and another work surface. A kitchen island gives you both of these and makes a stylish accent piece to fill the unused space. Whats best is that you can make your own kitchen island from up-cycled elements without spending much money. Here is a general guide on what to look for, how to bring them together and some ideas and inspiration to get your creative juices running.
Once you’ve built your island, become a master of your kitchen with these kitchen tips and tricks and while you’re at it, free up some space by organising under your kitchen sink.
Making Your Kitchen Island
A kitchen island is basically three things, a base, a work surface and some accessories.
Start With The Base
First you need to find a base. If you are looking for an open island which has hanging space for utensils and some shelving, then an old desk is ideal. If you are all about storage space then look for an old kitchen cabinet set or a set of drawers. The only limit is that the height should be an inch or two lower than your kitchen counters, this is usually around 75-85cm (30-34″). If you desk or set of drawers is much lower than this, you could put castor wheels underneath it to raise it a bit and allow it to be mobile.
Now Your Need A Counter Top
After you have found your base, you need a counter top. Ideally this should match your kitchen counter, however, you could make a wood surface for chopping or use a concrete or stone top for a more industrial or rustic feel. Importantly, the top shouldn’t be too heavy for your base.
The top is usually attached to the base with silicon caulk as it is easy to apply and stops movement, squeaking and vibration between the base and the surface.
Personalise Your Island With Some Options
Lastly, you can add your options. Options include wheels to make your island mobile for convenience and for cleaning, shelves give your island more storage space, hooks and racks allow space for towels and utensils to be hung up or create a pot rack and save some drawer space.
Now that you know the basics, here are some inspirational ideas for your next DIY project:
Have you made your own kitchen island from scratch or recycled components? Send us some pictures or leave a comment so that we can include them.