At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

My kitchen island transformation…Part One

also known as “She’s got legs, she knows how to use them!…” or aka Step 3, 252 in my kitchen remodel…

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Ahhhh…my dear friends.  You have so generously and graciously put up with me and my almost but not quite reveals of my never ending, will it ever be over kitchen remodel.  When I started this ginormous project in April I truly never realized how long it would take.  See there’s this thing called “life” and it keeps getting in the way.  I am also almost doing this completely on my own, (I love my husband. He does not love DIY projects. We agree to disagree on this issue.)  which is a huge undertaking but also very rewarding and I am almost there.  I see the finish line (or the crown molding on the cabinets since that’s the last project left) and it is looking lovely my friends, just lovely.
I didn’t want your interest to wane too much as you are waiting with baited breath for the final reveal (you are still waiting with me right?? Winking smile) So I thought I’d give you a peek at my new (old) island! I can honestly say it’s my favorite part yet! The before and after is almost shocking…

{mouse over for before and after transformation}
Kitchen island before and after
I do need to interject here and say the “Before” isn’t really our before. This was a photograph taken when we first looked at the home..but the island itself had not changed in the six years we’ve lived here, and she was due for a makeover! Isn’t she a beauty now?

island-9
As you can see we wrapped the original island in beadboard and new baseboard trim.

island-7

I painted the cabinet doors and added hardware where none ever existed.

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Of course the most dramatic change is the addition of the island legs, the removal of the old counter and the  beautiful Ikea butcher block counter we replace it with stained in walnut!

island-2
Seriously I could just lay on this counter, I love it so much! Removing the old island counter and extending the new counter out longer instead of wide like it use to be, gained us almost two feet of space between the island and the refrigerator! It feels like we doubled our kitchen width!

The white and walnut together are just so soothing to me and makes me smile every time I look my new beauty.

island-1

Did I mention how much I love her!? And, I love you all so much that later this week I’ll give you the complete step by step tutorial on how I gave our island her makeover…including having to convince the tool rental guy at Home Depot that I was renting the compound miter saw for myself and not my husband. Yep, ladies 95% of this project was completed by just little ole’ me..and I am so proud of myself!

So be sure to join me later this week when I’ll show you, how you can do this

{mouse over}
to your own outdated kitchen island!

For past tutorials on my kitchen projects you can visit my posts on: building a window seat addition, replacing our planning desk, building a decorative shelf, how to make frugal cabinet feet, how to replace a recessed light with a pendant, repurposing our old chandelier, how to add an Ikea farmhouse sink in an existing cabinet, and making your own DIY cornice boards.

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For the full HOW TO on the island please visit my: Island Modification Tutorial

Thanks for joining me at my new “island retreat” at the picket fence!

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Comments

  15. Wow, what a beautiful transformation. I love it all, I like how you have decorated the top of the island, adorable, so warm and welcoming! XO Liz

    Reply

  19. Heather I LOVE IT!! You did an awesome job at transforming your island, I can see why you luvvvvv it so much! We did something similar to our island a few months ago and it’s still my favorite thing in my kitchen! Great job girl!! Martina

    Reply

  29. You’re not kidding when you say the before and after are amazing. It doesn’t even remotely resemble what it uses to look like. Move over and I will lay on that gorgeous countertop with you. Lol. Stunning. Can’t wait to see the tutorial. I love that you did 95 percent of the transformation.

    Reply

  33. You go girl!! Awesome job Heather!! I love doing “man’s” work. It always makes me feel good to know I did all myself. Your island is gorgeous and the picture looks like one out of a magazine! That cat however, eek. It looks like it was about to choke up a hairball. hahaha I can not wait for the full kitchen reveal. You should be soo proud! = )

    ~ Catie

    Reply

  35. Beautiful job Heather! I love the dark top with the painted bottom too- aren’t miter saw’s fun to use?! Makes the job so much easier!! 🙂

    Reply

  39. Heather, What coding are you using for your mouse roll-over? I’m looking at a couple different versions and need an easy one! Let me know, okie dokie? 🙂 Sue

    Reply

  41. Heather this is gorgeous!!! You and hubby did an amazing job and that top, ooohhhhh…pure beauty!!!
    Your kitchen has transformed into a beautiful should-be-in-a-magazine gathering place!
    love!!
    xoxoox

    Reply

  43. Heather-Phenomenal job! Pheomenal!!!! You outdid yourself on this one. That is one thing I always tell people…long and narrow to give yourself more room between appliances and countertop. I am so glad that you finally got this part done. The top looks wonderful stained dark! Love it-xo Diana

    Reply

  44. Oh my gosh….what an incredible transformation, Heather!! Truly magazine worthy! I’d be laying on it all day long, too! lol! I’m looking forward to see your DIY tutorial! 🙂

    xoxo laurie

    Reply

  46. It’s just gorgeous!! I would want to lay on that too, great job & the Ikea top looks superb with the stain, I have never seen that before! Clever Girl

    Reply

  50. I would not know what to do with a compound miter saw but you obviously do! Well done girlfriend…my kitchen island is very similar to yours. Beadboard and a dark wood top. I love mine and I LOVE yours! What a sense of accomplishment. Can’t wait to find out how you actually did it!

    Reply

  51. Your kitchen is beautiful! Life does get in the way…but so worth it to have a kitchen like yours!!!
    Lovely!
    Blessings,
    Cindy

    Reply

  52. That really is an amazing transformation. Um, is that cat hacking up a hairball? lol…that is one crazy looking cat…ok, sorry, got off track here. Back to your island. Wow that is so incredible…love the bright white and the little silverware caddy…and just everything! so BEAUTIFUL! great job!!!

    Reply

  53. What a beautiful island! What I can see of the rest of your kitchen has me drooling too. I’m going to go explore your other posts–I have a kitchen reno coming up and love to see what other people did and what they learned. Thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply

  57. No way is this the same island….just gorgeous. Oh, you should be so proud of yourself because I am just so proud of you. I can do some small wood working but nothing remotely close to this. And that sink hiding in the back….I really want that!
    Marianne 🙂

    Reply

  59. Oh the beauty of that island, it’s almost too much! Wow! What a transformation! 🙂 I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are awesome girl!

    Reply

  60. O to the M to the G !! Heather, this is utterly fabulous !! What an amazing transformation … love eveyr aspect of it, from the farm legs and the beadboard to the fabulous IKEA top. Even more is the fact that you did this mostly yourself … I’m truly inspired … truly !! Thanks for sharing, xo

    Reply

  61. So glad that awful cat wasn’t yours!LOL… Crazy about your new island, it came out gorgeous, so glad I came by, I just love kitchens, we did ours 1yr. and 8mths. ago and I adore it! Yours is an amzing transformation, it looks old world! You’re so talented, my goodness. Thanks for sharing. Hugs,
    FABBY

    Reply

  65. WOW! What an inspiration and amazing transformation! I love it! Great job, Heather! I love your entire kitchen. The dark butcher block top is gorgeous! love the little caddy too! 😉

    LOL at the cat!

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  66. You have every right to be proud of yourself! You did an amazing job. I love the the new butcher block, the beadboard and the added length with the legs. Way to go!

    Reply

  67. The remodeling projects you have posted are very impressive…especially since you’ve done much of the work yourself. The results look amazing! We are currently in the process of a major kitchen renovation and after reading all your tutorials, I just may end up repainting my existing oak cabinets instead of investing in new ones. Thanks so much for sharing the details of all your hard work!

    Reply

  69. This is SO gorgeous! I wish I had seen this months ago when I was looking for ways to expand my kitchen island, you should be SO proud of yourself! Good job.

    Reply

  70. This is just beautiful!! Love the white and walnut top. I’m getting ready to do my little kitchen and this is exactly what I had in mind for mine so it is great to see it in your photos. Thanks for the great photos and information. I’m ispired!

    Reply

  71. First of all…great blog! I’m following! Second of all…I wish I had a sister. Third of all…great budget kitchen re-do. I have that same big slab of butcher block from IKEA out in the garage. My husband bought it for no reason like 6 years ago. I’m totally gonna stain it and give it new life now! : D

    -Linsey

    Reply

  73. Your island does have great legs and I’ll bet she is as happy as you are! Probably doing her own happy dance! Great job!

    Thanks for linking to Potpourri Friday. I appreciate you participation!

    Reply

  75. Heather, You should be so proud of yourself. The new island is fabulous and I am really impressed that you did this all yourself. Love the beadboard and the Ikea top looks wonderful. Thanks for sharing your transformed island at the Open House party.
    Hugs,
    Sherry

    Reply

  77. Absolutely gorgeous Heather and awesome YOU did it!!!! All that work paid off you get to see this beautiful island every day, so well done!!!

    {michelle}

    Reply

  80. Absolutely beautiful – you should be proud! My husband built me a nearly identical island in our kitchen, except for the butcher block top. Ours is stained wood, instead of painted.

    Congratulations on a job well done!

    Angie @ Knick of Time

    Reply

  90. Hi Heather! Wow what a transformation! Your island is beautiful I love the rustic wood. I’m your newest follower:) Can’t wait to check out what else you’ve been up to. Found you through Roomspiration link party at the DIY Showoff. Carrie

    Reply

  91. This is beautiful. I have white appliances, and pickled (pink) oak cabinets. I would love to paint them like yours – what color paint did you use?

    Reply

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    Reply

  94. Hi! We are getting ready to do the same sort of thing. I’m curious how did you handle that lip that stuck out on your old island with the bead board? That was expressed as a concern by my carpenter because he said the bead board sticks out past the lip which is a 1/4 inch and the bead board is 3/8th inch. Do you remember how you handled that?

    Reply

  95. I think you did a beautiful job of transforming but my question is …is it a good work space? I need space for rolling dough, wrapping dolmas, mixing cake batter, etc., etc. What is the best surface for working with messy ingredients? Like you I have a husband who doesn’t see the need for renovation and won’t help me (funny he partakes of ALL the tasty results though), but I’ve had cancer twice and an appendictomy. I’m hip deep in renovating my studio, I don’t have time to make mistakes. Ladies, what’s a good surface to cook on? Also, I’d like to extend the top so I can put some barstools for seating (I don’t have a separate dining room & would like an informal space to eat). Would a slab of marble or granite be unstable extending beyond the actual island?

    Reply

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