Kitchen Island Update

Well my friends, it's finally time to bring change to this honey oak kitchen that has served us so well.

I loved it the way it was for ten years, but it's time to say goodbye to all that red oak.

Let's start this kitchen makeover right here in the center, by transforming that kitchen island!

This cabinet is what the builder gave us as a kitchen island and I know that you agree with me on how pathetic this is.

They couldn't find a better place for that outlet. 🙄

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THE PLAN:

• Add a 2-shelf bookcase on one end of the island.
• Add board & batten to make it more stylish.
• Install the microwave on the other end.
• Paint it.
• Give it a new countertop.

1. ADD A TWO-SHELF BOOKCASE TO YOUR KITCHEN ISLAND

This's a small kitchen island, a 42" x 24" builder's grade base cabinet. I needed more storage and that's the main reason for making it bigger.

At first, I tried to find or better yet, buy a shelf/bookcase that I could fit in here at the end of the island. 

NOPE. I couldn't find it. 

After wasting a good amount of time, I decided to build it myself. 

I hadn’t built anything like that before. So, of course, I was scared. 

I needed this bookcase to be very sturdy, but I didn't have many tools to work with. So, in my search, I found out about this little jig that creates strong wooden joints:  The Kreg Jig.

| Kreg Jig |

Buying the Kreg Jig was the best decision I ever made! 

I also got a sheet of plywood cut to my dimensions at the home center and, with a few other supplies I had at home, I built a little shelf. 

It was awesome!! 

This Kreg Jig made me feel like I was a carpenter! It was soooo easy to use, and the results... Outstanding.  Even though, I just made something so simple as this:

The next step was to move the electrical outlet. It was re-installed inside of the island (for microwave use), but one more outlet was added on the left side of the newly built bookcase for kitchen use.  

The corner pieces and shoe molding from the Island were also removed.  

Pieces of ¼” plywood were placed all around the main cabinet, except on the side of the doors. 

The bookshelf was attached to the island making sure the openings for the electrical were already done.

2. GIVE STYLE TO YOUR KITCHEN ISLAND WITH A BOARD & BATTEN TREATMENT

No more plain Jane! 

I wanted to give my kitchen island a custom look and it was easily done with board and batten.

The board and batten are those extra pieces of 1/2" plywood added on the front of the island and on the left side of the bookcase.

Those extra pieces of plywood created "recessed panels" that later on were finished with trim around.

These are the dimensions I used for the board and batten:

A chunky baseboard was also installed all around the island. - Oh, I had to live with only half the counter for a few months. :D

I also built and installed a face frame to finish up the bookcase. This was also done using the Kreg Jig. I love that the screws are hidden. 

Check how nice my kitchen island was already looking!

3. INSTALL A MICROWAVE INSIDE YOUR KITCHEN ISLAND

At first, I thought I had to sacrifice a drawer to incorporate the microwave inside of the kitchen island, but after taking some measurements I decided to switch the placement of the drawers. 

The drawer was sent from the top to the bottom of the cabinet, below the microwave. 

Having a clear space on that top part of the island, I measured the microwave and transferred that dimension onto the side of the island. Then, I proceeded to cut it out. 

Once the space was opened, a shelf was created to support the microwave.  A 1/4" plywood division was also placed in the middle of the entire island cabinet. 

The microwave we used was the GE: JES 1384SF because its dimensions were a perfect fit for this island. I also love the pull handle.

I had the microwave and the space where it was supposed to go. Now I needed a microwave trim kit to integrate them both nicely to the kitchen island.

I search high and low for microwave trim kits and my only option was this company:  Micro-Trim Inc., 

Love working with them.

You need to have the measurements of where you intend to place the microwave, the model number, and some pictures. 

The two tracks you see in the picture below, are part of the kit.

All this kitchen island stayed quite the same for a very long time. 

I had to go work on other areas of the kitchen before painting and installing the countertop.

After everything was set and done, this is how this kitchen island looked at the end of this initial makeover:

After closing holes and gaps and giving it a good amount of sanding, it was painted BM-Tudor Brown satin finish.

Here you can better see the microwave area with the drawer switch from top to bottom of the cabinet.

However, after living with the brown kitchen island for almost five years, I was ready to give it a new look. 

Check the kitchen island's newest makeover right HERE

That new color is awesome!

It brightened up the entire space. 

But hey, let's continue with this kitchen makeover!

Next project to be tackled: The Refrigerator Enclosure.

You can also click on the next links for:

Building a Range Hood
how to paint the cabinets.
How to install a marble backsplash.
Add moldings to your kitchen cabinets 
Closing the space above the kitchen cabinets
Tips about installing recessed lights
Final kitchen reveal
Kitchen cost breakdown
1 ½ Year Later How the Kitchen is Holding up
Build-in Plate Rack
Pull Out Shelves in Pantry
LG Appliances Review and Complain