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.
How to build a Kitchen Island
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.
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!
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.
After everything was square and solid, I used 1/2″ MDF around the perimeter of the boxes to close them in.
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.
My other kitchen cabinets had beadboard inlays on the cabinet doors so I added the beadboard into the two cupboard doors.
Next, I caulked and filled all the gaps and nail holes.
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.
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!
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!
If you like easy building projects, check out:
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- Painter’s Tape
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- Shims
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- Electric Screw Driver
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- Pellegrino
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- Wood Bowl
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- Gold Pull
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- Marble/Wood Cutting
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- Blue Kitchen Aid
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- Mallory’s House BEFORE Tour
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- Garage Makeover Progress
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- Garage Makeover Reveal
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- Boys’ Space Room Makeover
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- Guest Bathroom Demo and Progress
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- Guest Bathroom Reveal
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- Peek at the Bonus Room and HOW TO: Paint a dresser inside the house
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- Bonus Room Makeover
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- Dining Room Makeover and DIY Brush Stroke Wall
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- Living Room Reno and Makeover
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- How to add legs to Ikea couches
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- DIY Fireplace Remodel
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- DIY Pantry Build and Makeover
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- Kitchen Reno: Part 1
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- Kitchen Reno: Part 2
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- Kitchen Reno: Part 3
55 Comments
Shannon
March 7, 2017 at 2:09 pmLooks 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!
Alisha Ryan
March 9, 2017 at 7:45 amHow beautiful!! Great job. What is the name of that blue color? So gorgeous!
Mallory & Savannah
November 16, 2018 at 6:37 pmHey! It’s GLidden Royal Navy
Mary @ 120 Spring Street
March 10, 2017 at 2:29 pmYes I am in love with that navy island! Can’t believe how talented you are to build it yourself, great job. It’s beautiful in your white kitchen, just an awesome pop of color.
Mary
Shonee from Hawthorne and Main
March 28, 2017 at 7:46 pmYou guys killed it on this! I love how you took a stock cabinet and made it look so custom! Nice work.
-Shonee
Nicolas
April 12, 2017 at 12:45 amThe 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!
Mallory & Savannah
March 22, 2018 at 9:05 pmThanks so much!
petrified wood company
April 17, 2017 at 6:19 pmwow nice kitchen, Nice
Mallory & Savannah
March 22, 2018 at 9:05 pmThank you!
Kiersten
October 16, 2017 at 3:41 pmHello! 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
Mallory & Savannah
November 16, 2018 at 5:50 pmHi! It’s quartz! The countertop installers used steel supports. I did not install them.
Nicole
February 19, 2018 at 10:50 amHow 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.
Mallory & Savannah
February 19, 2018 at 1:51 pmHi 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!
Jen Hottovy
March 4, 2018 at 11:53 amI love the navy! What brand & color paint did you use for this. ANd those gold lights ?
Joyce Luttrell
April 1, 2018 at 11:08 amI need the tutorial for making the island. It’s exactly what I’ve been looking for!!!!!!!
Vera B
May 20, 2018 at 5:25 amHey! 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 🙂
Sadie
May 21, 2018 at 10:50 pmCould this work as a freestanding island? I need something I don’t have to screw to the subfloor due to existing flooring.
Leah Ahlgrim
June 12, 2018 at 7:29 amDo 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
Kim Willhide
June 20, 2018 at 4:59 amWhat 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.
Mallory & Savannah
November 16, 2018 at 5:24 pmHi Kim! It’s Glidden Royal Navy 🙂
Ang
July 1, 2018 at 9:18 pmI really like your floors, what are they and where did you get them from?
Dan
July 24, 2018 at 5:14 pmLove the shade of navy! Do you remember the specific paint color/brand you used?
Mallory & Savannah
November 16, 2018 at 5:17 pmHi! It’s Behr Ultra colormatched to Glidden Royal Navy 🙂
Kristen
August 7, 2018 at 5:49 pmWhat is the name & brand of the blue you used? LOVE IT!!!
Mallory & Savannah
November 16, 2018 at 5:15 pmHi! It’s Glidden Royal Navy 🙂
Lane
September 3, 2018 at 6:34 pmYou 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?
Kristin
September 6, 2018 at 4:03 amDid 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…
Mallory & Savannah
November 16, 2018 at 5:07 pmThe bar side and the short sides. The other long side is doors/drawers. 🙂
Krystal Martin
September 10, 2018 at 11:00 amThis is the exact island I need for my kitchen! Can you tell me the measurements of the cabinets and countertop?
Alexa
October 12, 2018 at 1:32 pmHow did you finish off the toe kicks in the front?
Mallory & Savannah
November 5, 2018 at 12:36 pmWe used MDF trim to finish the toekick! 🙂
Megan
October 20, 2018 at 1:03 pmWhat size cabinets did you go with? What are the dimensions of the counter top? I love it!
Dragonfly
October 21, 2018 at 9:40 amI’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??
Mallory & Savannah
October 21, 2018 at 3:10 pmHi! I got them from Wayfair. 🙂 Thank you!
Heather
November 3, 2018 at 9:30 pmWhat color blue is the island? I love it. Thanks.
Mallory & Savannah
November 5, 2018 at 12:27 pmHi It’s Glidden Royal Navy. 🙂
David A Young
November 15, 2018 at 7:42 amkind of not sure how you did the base. you mention using 2×4’s. any pictures or further explanation on that part please?
Joann
November 25, 2018 at 1:28 pmHow 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.
Mallory & Savannah
November 25, 2018 at 9:47 pmI don’t live there anymore so I don’t have the length. We did 40″ between the cabinets so its wider than minimum requirement.
Sharon
January 6, 2019 at 8:34 amHi! Where did you get the stools from? Thanks!
Ricky Graff
February 7, 2019 at 9:09 pmSpace 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.
Perfect Watches
February 27, 2019 at 7:01 amAnd where you can buy such chandeliers?
Roxanne
March 17, 2019 at 2:02 ami only found the comments on this post. Where’s the instructions and pictures?
biao.is
March 18, 2019 at 8:01 pmSpace 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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Michele Martinez
March 21, 2019 at 9:01 amHi! I’m curious about how long it took you to complete this island. Thank you.
WATCHESMALL
April 14, 2019 at 6:46 pmWow, 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.
Brenda
September 27, 2019 at 2:36 pmHow did you attach the 1/2″ MDF on the cabinet? Did you use glue? Nails?
Debbie
January 25, 2020 at 7:24 pmWhat was the price of the cabinets you purchased? Looks great after your transformation. I’d love to do this, looks great.
Thomas
February 6, 2020 at 7:24 amDid the base molding go all around the island, or just the sides and the back? Great Work
Elizabeth.Abby
March 11, 2020 at 9:26 amIf we do or don’t do it, someone will laugh
Khrystuna
April 5, 2020 at 4:07 amWow! If not queues in Lowe’s due to covid….
ML
May 28, 2020 at 5:09 amCan’t I look at your page without signing uP?
E.D. Tryon
June 11, 2020 at 12:32 pmReally like wrapping and dressing up stock cabinets! A couple of thoughts for enhancing:
– Upgrade stock slides to soft closing drawer slides
– Use a base shoe to prevent the chairs scraping the paint
Thanks!