A kitchen island is a nice addition to your home in terms of usefulness and looks. Islands can range from a simple table to an elaborate island that is custom made with a marble top. They can now be customized to fit almost any size of kitchen. The three main reasons to add an island to your kitchen are more room, more functionality and more efficiency.
More Space – Kitchen islands take advantage of space that may not have been available before. Many islands now have additional cabinet and drawer space underneath the platform. Newer island models even come equipped with warming drawers, eliminating the need to use your oven to keep waiting food warm. Islands are also one of the easiest ways to add needed work space for prep work when cooking. They are available in many sizes big and small.
More Functionality – In many homes, kitchen islands become the center of activity and serve a lot of purposes. Some people use them as home office spaces and project areas. Kitchen islands have much better space to spread out materials than most kitchen counters afford. In recent years, kitchen islands have been developed to be either free-standing or built-in.
Built-in kitchen islands need more preparing, because there is the requirement by electrical codes to install electrical outlets in it. This project involves running electrical lines up through the floor and therefore comes with the extra expense of an electrical contractor. Home cooks who choose this option often also have the need for an additional sink to be installed in the island.
More Efficiency - If you enjoy a great deal of cooking from scratch, you probably chop meat and vegetables frequently. One of the most popular types of kitchen islands is the one that eliminates the extra expense of a cutting board: the wooden butcher-block kitchen island and they come in a variety of high-quality woods, including maple, birch, cherry and oak.
If you are dedicated to the idea of a butcher-block kitchen island, one important thing to keep in mind is the thickness of the butcher block; it will eventually become pitted from continuous knife use on its surface. You select one at least 3 inches thick. This thickness will allow you to periodically sand down and refinish the surface to eliminate knife pits where bacteria can remain. A newer option from some manufacturers is a detachable butcher block top that can be removed from a built-in island for cleaning.
Adding a kitchen island to your kitchen is a stylish way of creating more storage and counter space. Below I will show you how to do this task yourself:
Tools and material
- Lumber for counter top
- Lumber for legs
- Lumber for frame
- Lumber for lower shelf
- Circular saw
- Drill
- Jigsaw
- Orbital sander
- Clamps
- Screws
- Glue
- Filler
- Tape measure
- Level
Be Sure to Make a Plan – Pryor to building a kitchen island table you must be certain that having it in your kitchen will leave room for other cabinets and appliances properly function. Spacing your kitchen island table 36 inches away from anything else is a good distance and anything less than 30 inches is too close. Also, remember the kitchen island table should be at least 24 inches wide. Measure out the size of the island and plan it on graph paper first. You will need to know the length and width of your island before moving on to building it.
Kitchen Top – Start by cutting the 5-¾ x 1-¾ inch lumber to length for the top. If your kitchen island table is 60 inches long and 35-½ inches wide, you would cut 6 planks to 60 inches long. When you are finished cutting them, sand the long 1-¾ inch edges of each plank. Attach the planks together using screws, making sure all edges and both top and bottom are flush.
Framing – Cut 4 legs to 34 ¼-inches high. Also cut 4 2-¾ x ¾ inch planks to length (if your top is 60 x 35 -½ inches and your legs are 3 x 3 inches make this cut 50 inches long). You will then cut 4 2 ¾ x ¾ inch planks to length (using the above example these will be 25-½ inches). Finally, cut 1 2- ¾ x ¾ inch plank to length (using the same example this will be 30 inches).Sand all surfaces making sure to sand with the grain of the wood.Turn the legs upside down and attach 2 longer and 2 shorter 2-¾ x ¾ inch planks flush with the top. Using the above example you will now have a 56 x 31-½ inch box with the legs at the corners. Be sure to use a level to get things square.
Brace the Frame – Attach the 30 inch long 2-¾ inch x ¾ inch plank across the center of the frame (3/4 inches side up and down) using pocket screws. This will serve as a brace so make sure it is flush with the top.
Attach the other 2 longer and 2 shorter planks to the legs with the top the planks 9-¼ inches from the bottom of the legs. Make sure everything is level and square.
Add a Shelf – Cut the 5-¾ inch x ¾ inch planks to length for the shelf. Use the jigsaw to cut in around the legs. Make sure the shelf is cut to the dimensions of the island frame. Sand the shelf planks. Attach using pocket screws.
Attach Top – Next you need to set the top face down on the floor. Use cardboard or a sheet to prevent scratching the surface. Set the frame upside down on the top making sure it is centered and square. The top will be 2 inches longer and wider than the frame on each side. Attach using pocket screws. If you haven’t painted or stained the table, now is the time to do so.
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