I live in a tiny house. Well, not a “real” tiny house like you see on television. I could never live in one of those. Could you? I think it would seem like camping. Camping for eternity. No thanks. They are cute though!
I guess I should say my house is on the small side. And that means the kitchen is small, too. There’s not a lot of counter space or storage space. But there is some room for a small table and chairs. In fact, I used to have a counter height table and stools in there until I moved them to the family room. For a while I thought about building a banquette but that never happened. It just didn’t feel right somehow.
And then it hit me.
I needed an island.
A cheap, DIY island that I could build. And it would have to have wheels.
I’m a DIY blogger. I can make a kitchen island. For almost nothing. Right? From a desk, right?
I bought this desk for next to nothing this past summer. Look: wheels!
The desk was structurally sound. It just needed a little TLC.
Okay, A LOT of TLC.
One of the first things I did was build a base. Counter heights are generally 36″ so I measured my desk and built the base high enough so that the completed island would be around 36″ high. No problem.
So there’s my island – I mean desk sitting on a platform : (
This is when I started doubting myself and this whole “I-can-make-an-island-out-of-a-desk” idea. But I kept telling myself that maybe it would come together and be wonderful. And if not, so what. I’d learn something. This bench build story by My Repurposed Life is a perfect example of this.
Since this project is part of the The Fab Furniture Flippin’ Contest and this month’s them is: “Spray It Pretty”, I was excited to try out my brand spankin’ new HomeRight Finish Max Fine Finish Sprayer! This bad boy has been sitting in my basement just waiting for me break it out. But I have to admit: I was a little hesitant. I’ve never used a paint sprayer before.
AND, I got to set up my cool HomeRightSpray Shelter. That IS way cool. I think my neighbors were a little jealous when they saw me setting it up in the parking lot ; ) But they can get one, too! Besides, they should be thanking me for not getting paint on the grass, parking spaces, OR their cars ; )
My aforementioned worries were for naught. The sprayer couldn’t have been any easier to use. The instructions were clearly written and easy to follow. And the clean-up was a breeze. Very nice product HomeRight!
I used the sprayer to apply two coats of thinned out primer and then two coats of chalk paint. Using the sprayer made easy work of painting those curved legs and
carved details on the front.
At first I wasn’t sure what to do about the hardware, but in the end decided to leave it as it was. I love how it pops against the Antique White paint color, don’t you?
I didn’t waste any time filling the drawers with baking supplies, tea bags, pot holders,
and my new flatware! Looks like I need to go shopping for a flatware divider tray.
I was going to look for three baskets to fit on the lower shelf, but it’s a great place to store my over-sized cookie sheets for now.
I added a shelf to the knee hole area and I’m using it to store frequently used small appliances.
I’m going to add two corbels and a piece of beadboard to the back and look for two small stools to tuck under the counter overhang – a perfect place for my two grandbabies to sit and help Nana bake!
Oh my, I almost forgot to mention the top! At first I thought I’d look for a piece of butcher block but wasn’t able to find an inexpensive remnant piece. Then a friend (thanks Maureen!) told me about an article she saw about creating faux soapstone using chalkboard paint and furniture wax. So that’s what I did.
I cut down a large, leftover piece of that white-coated MDF and rolled on a few coats of chalkboard paint. In the morning, I brushed on and buffed a coat of light furniture wax. I love how it turned out!
So now my little kitchen has an island! Thanks to a great deal at a thrift store and the fine folks at HomeRight, this pretty, little, functional island only set me back about $40.
Be sure to check out the featured hosts for this month’s Fab Flippin Furniture Contest HERE and HERE. And please check out our sponsor, HomeRight. Along with the Finish Max Sprayer, they have many other amazing products that help make painting furniture so much easier!
If you like this idea, please pin it! Thank you!
Linking up to these fun parties:
Something To Talk About / GRAND Social / Inspire Me Monday / Project Inspired / You’re Going to Love It Tuesday / The Scoop / Show & Share / From Dream to Reality / Remodelaholics Anonymous Link Party / Wow Us Wednesdays / Hit Me With Your Best Shot / Moonlight & Mason Jars / Project Parade / Creative Spark / This is How We Roll / Shabbilicious Friday / The Creative Circle / Feathered Nest Friday / Creativity Unleashed / Weekend Retreat / Friday Finds / Link Party Palooza / Party Junk / Share it One More Time / Skip The Housework / Best DIY Project & Recipe Party / Best of the Weekend /
Gorgeous! You really outdid yourself. The counter top looks awesome, but the entire thing is very impressive! Well done!!
OH my goodness, Jeanie, that is amazing! I love the desk you chose, all of those curvy details are perfect on a functional piece. Love it!
This looks so nice and so functional. Are you going to put the wheels back on? I did not see them in the final pic. I think it would be so handy. Anyway, wheels or not…it looks fabulous. I would have loved to have seen your neighbors’ faces. LOL!
Great upcycle and paint job! I love what you did to it!
Lovely old desk with gorgeous hardware! Awesome idea to add the base to to not only raise it up, but also add more storage space. Technically not an island, but a gorgeous addition to a kitchen!
I have a desk almost identical to this. I wanted to create a kitchen island but I had no idea how to get to the right height. I absolutely LOVE what you have done! What a beautiful transformation. Now I am so excited to think I may be able to do this too.
Beautiful! I wish there was room for something like that in my kitchen!
I am always impressed when I see people makeover old furniture. This is fantastic and so functional as well as beautiful! Great job!
I love this idea! I’m in the process of painting a dresser and armoire for our kitchen… I just may have to add this to our plans as well! The desk I’m sitting at right now would be perfect! 🙂
I love this! What a great idea of what to do with an old dresser.
Wow! Your kitchen island is so pretty! I think it looks great! You did a fantastic job!
This turned out so great! You’re right, once the whole piece was painted it looked more legit. haha
What a brilliant idea! It turned out beautiful. Thank you for sharing this in the GRAND Social! So wonderful of you to join us.
What a gorgeous kitchen island you created., Jeanie. And you made it look so easy! Thanks for sharing at the #ThisIsHowWeRoll Link Party on Organized 31.
Beautiful job Jeanie! I love your new island made from a desk. That desk was awesome – perfect for the job.
I was wondering what you did for the top. Thanks for sharing the details.
pinning!
gail
What a transformation!!!! Love the color you chose. It turned out so well!
WOW that is some transformation, love, love it. The desk was great candidate for island rehab and it looks fabulous, I want one. We have a portable island bu it’s pretty small, but it is on wheels.
Been wanting to paint it for long time, so before weather gets wintery better get it done. Want to get one of those paint sprayers. Seeing how your island turned out sure convinced me. Putting that thick shelf on bottom of desk really gave island better look, good call.
Happy weekend
What a creative idea!!! It turned out great!
What a fabulous idea, it turned out great and I love it!! It’s got me thinking now!
My daughter and I was laughing so hard when we saw this because we are about to start working on the exact same dresser right down to the drawer pulls! It’s been in my family forever and is in needs a new life. Thanks for showing us the possibilities.
Great job! I am inspired to do my old desk that looks very similar!
That is truly an amazing transformation Jeanie. The desk had such great features that you have only improved on. I’m delighted to be featuring it at Shabbilicious Friday tomorrow. Hugs ~ Kerryanne
This is so darn cute! Love how you repurposed this piece into something spectaucular!
I love this repurpose!! So much so that I’m going to feature it over at You’re Gonna Love it! Thanks for linking up! It is beautiful!
Jeanie, this project is amazing and of course, I’m pinning it! I had no idea that you could wax chalkboard paint to get a soapstone finish! I’m so impressed!
Wow this is seriously amazing. You are an incredible repurposer. I think my dad has one of these desks in his house, Do you think he’ll let me steal it?
I love the design and build, your island is incredible! I love the color that you chose. I wanted to share the Drop Leaf Kitchen Island that I built, which can be great for people with smaller kitchens: http://bacheloronabudget.com/diy-drop-leaf-kitchen-island-cart/
Looking forward to trying out some other projects on your site!
I have a desk but it’s different from it. I am interested in making a kitchen island. But if I use a different desk, is it possible?
Love it, think I’ll do the same with a desk a have sitting in my garage. It almost looks like you could cut down a coffee table to use as a base?
Yes! That’s a great idea!
How creative, and it’s pretty and also useful, the bottom shelf is perfect for those hard to store pans ,mine are always in the oven
Wow! What a great idea. Simple yet really good looking. Re purposing stuff is a really nice move on old stuff to make them new again.
Great transformation, what a wonderful idea. This is so cool, you’ve just made an excellent piece of stuff from an old one. Wow! So nice, it motivates me to turn our old cabinet into a new one.
I placed it in a old frame I painted awhile back and hung it in the kitchen.
I like being able to see the sides of the corks, some bring back fabulous memories.
It has a happy home on our pantry door next to the Cabbages and Roses apron I had made last year around this time.
This is so cool, you’ve just made an excellent piece of stuff from an old one. Wow! So nice, it motivates me to turn our old cabinet into a new one.qr code
Good grief I love this. I see this is an older post, but WOW! Genius. Timeless design actually.
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I placed it in a old frame I painted awhile back and hung it in the kitchen.
I like being able to see the sides of the corks, some bring back fabulous memories.
It has a happy home on our pantry door next to the Cabbages and Roses apron I had made last year around this time.Worst Dog
Love these wooden stars…….I hope mine turn out as good as yours…Thanks so much for sharing on Inspire Me Monday link party. I hope to see you again this Monday….Have a great day! satta matka
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