Today’s kitchens are all about a gathering place for family and friends. We no longer want small enclosed kitchens, we are looking for open concept spaces to gather. Therefore, we are also seeing a trend in having a unique kitchen island.
The kitchen island is the main attraction in the kitchen with prepping meals, serving dinners, and discussing the unique kitchen island.
The Before
I purchased this antique 3 drawer dresser for $50. It was meant for refinishing and selling at the shop.
Construction was underway and I began to make the design plans for our Airbnb. With this in mind, I wanted a unique island instead of the traditional cabinet style island. Mr. DD said he thought the 3 drawer dresser was a perfect size.
We carried it into the Airbnb to see how it would look and make sure there was enough room around the island. The dresser is a perfect fit, with the proper amount of room.
The Transformation
The bottom 2 drawers and support brackets needed to be removed along with the top of the dresser. I sanded and repaired any rough spots on the inside casing of the dresser, where the drawers
The top for the kitchen island is from an old 1940’s desk that was given to us. The desktop is a perfect size to give the correct overhang for an island. The desk is a story in and of itself. I stripped, sanded, and restained the old desktop. After you see this transformation, scroll back up here to read, The Repurposed Desk Serving Tray Makeover, and how many times the pieces of this old desk helped transform other items. It truly was the desk that keeps on giving.
This post contains affiliate links. Click here to see my full disclosure policy.
Refinishing the Kitchn Island
After removing the original dresser top, we cut it to fit the inside bottom, to serve as a lower shelf for the open space. The dresser top had a veneer surface with many ring marks and other blemishes. Unfortunately, I could not remove all the marks with a light sanding or without further damaging the veneer. I used a product called “Retique It.” It allows you to paint on a layer of wood, and you stain the layer of wood with any color stain.
Retique It is a water-based product, and works best with a water-based stain and sealer. This was the first time using this product, and I would use it again. However, I would not use it on a heavily used tabletop or island top.
I applied a wood applique using wood glue on the center of the top drawer to give the drawer more detail. I painted the island base with a Wagner sprayer and used General Finishes Milk Paint in Basil, Brown Glaze, and sealed with High-Performance in flat.
The corbels on the island are from a free antique accent table that was falling apart. I forgot to take a picture and the accent table was this similar style in the picture. I had to remove layers and layers of paint to be able to have a smooth paint finish to match the island base.
Kitchen Island Final Result
A $50 dresser, salvaged pieces parts, and some paint went a long way in adding some much-needed design elements to our Airbnb guest suite.
Join the DD Community!
Join the Designed Decor Community and receive weekly free tips on DIY home projects, painted furniture, decorating, and much more.
Amy says
Your website seems nice however I am completely unable to see any photos. All the ads pop up in your photos so they are completely un-viewable. ☹️
Designed Decor says
Hi Amy, so sorry about the user experience. The ads should disappear as you continue reading the post.