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Prescott View Home Reno: DIY Kitchen Island

I’m finally sharing my DIY kitchen island with you today! It’s been done for a few months but I wanted it to be perfect (which it’s not) before I shared it. LOL! If you’ve been wanting to learn how to build a Kitchen Island but not sure how or think it will be too hard, it’s not! I promise ANYONE can build this. Anyone.

diy kitchen island

How to build a Kitchen Island

diy kitchen renovation

DIY Kitchen Island Instructions

First I taped off a general area of where I wanted it and got rough estimates and headed to the Home Depot.

kitchen island out of stock cabinets

I got these three cabinet boxes and arranged them in the aisle. It was literally the perfect size! I wanted a lot of drawers and these three were so perfect, in stock and inexpensive!

kitchen island cabinets

I got home and put them in place. Somehow I carried them each from my car on my own and felt like superwoman. I put 2×4″ screwed into the wooden subfloor and once it was level, I screwed the cabinet bases into the 2×4. Next, I used shims to make the boxes square.

make your own kitchen island

building a kitchen island

After everything was square and solid, I used 1/2″ MDF around the perimeter of the boxes to close them in.

custom kitchen island

Then I started the trim work. I used baseboard moulding that I had on hand and ripped 1/4″ MDF board into 4″ strips and nailed them on to cover the seams. I love it because it matches the wainscoting I did in the dining room which you can see from the island.

custom kitchen island DIY

diy shaker cabinet

My other kitchen cabinets had beadboard inlays on the cabinet doors so I added the beadboard into the two cupboard doors.

add beadboard to cabinets

Next, I caulked and filled all the gaps and nail holes.

kitchen island ideas

I painted the whole thing white and it was done!!! ….until I changed my mind. I ended up painting the whole island navy and I’m OBSESSED with how it turned out. I used the 1/2″ melamine board as a countertop until our countertops got installed and it worked fine.

Painting Kitchen Cabinets

After they were installed I was even more in love with it! I love it so much and it cost less than $500 and was very, very easy DIY kitchen island!

Kitchen Island Tutorial

If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to make a kitchen island, give it a try! It is an easy DIY project. Don’t forget to check out the rest of the progress on my home renovation! We are moving right along and I am loving every inch so far!

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49 Comments

  1. Looks amazing!!! Your post is so timely—I’m actually making a kitchen island from a sink base stock cabinet–also from Home Depot. Love your design!! I’m using 1x4s as my trim and actually trimmed down thin sheets of plywood for the sides and am doing something funky w/ a herringbone wood pattern where the stools will go. I had no idea I could paint hardboard like you did! Now I know 🙂 Nice work!

  2. The result is not comparable to what was before!! Terrific! A successful combination of blue and white colors looks amazing. I want my new kitchen island)) Thanks for the nice article!

  3. Hello! I am wondering what countertop you installed? And what supports did you use? I am planning on installing almost the same island and am a little worried about having enough support. I was thinking of using plywood then the MDF board. Just wanted to know your thoughts. Thanks

  4. How did you have the countertop installed? How is it supported on the barstool side? If you had it professionally installed – how much did it cost? I’m looking to build this this coming spring.

    1. Hi Nicole!

      We had Quartz countertops professionally installed. That was the only part of the kitchen we hired out. The installers used steel supports to support the weight of the quartz on the bar side. We paid $3000 for all of the countertops but there are certainly more affordable options. I chose New Carrara quartz by Della Terra. Hope that helps!

  5. Hey! This may be a totally silly question. I am new to any DIY home renovations. After you brought the cabinets into the home did you drill the cambers straight infinite floor so they would be secure ? I didn’t understand step two. It might be because I’m still too new to this hah 🙂

  6. Could this work as a freestanding island? I need something I don’t have to screw to the subfloor due to existing flooring.

  7. Do you have to screw into the floor for added support? We have new solid oak floors and I want to avoid that if possible. Thanks

  8. What is the color blue You used on your Island? I got two dressers from a manufacturer that went bankrupt. They do not have drawers and I want to put them back to back to make a large island using your idea.

  9. You mentioned that your husband painted the outlet cover but not how the changeover from the first island to the second island occurred. I have plans to do this (because I too want drawers) but I have 3 outlets. Can you address this?

  10. Did you use that trim around all 4 sides or only around the bar length and the short sides? I can’t tell from the picture! This is amazing I can’t wait to build this…

  11. I’m obsessed with this island and the kitchen in general! Any idea where I can find those pendant lights above the island or how I can go about searching for them??

  12. kind of not sure how you did the base. you mention using 2×4’s. any pictures or further explanation on that part please?

  13. How much space did you leave between your kitchen cabinets and the island. Also what did the measurements of the island come out to? Your layout is similar to mine.

  14. Space is definitely the biggest consideration. An island should enhance a space, not make it more crowded. If it’s in the way, it’s more of a nuisance than anything.

  15. Space is definitely the biggest consideration. An island should enhance a space, not make it more crowded. If it’s in the way, it’s more of a nuisance than anything.

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  17. Wow, i had no idea it was a temporary stay. There have been a lot of makeovers and fixing up in this house. I only hope the new owners would appreciate the effort you had put in.

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