Easy builder grade island upgrades
September 07, 2010
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Welcome to what I like to call
THE LONGEST PROJECT IN THE HISTORY OF MAN.
It started two and a half years ago when I took our builder basic kitchen island:
And added some molding and paint:
The sides of the island were made from that crapastic laminate stuff that you need to paint with primer. Which I did not. :)
So last May I removed all the molding and replaced it with beadboard and new chunky baseboards:
The little secret that wasn’t such a secret cause I showed you was that I never painted the cabinet side of the island:
I was soooo sceered! I don’t know why, I just didn’t want to touch them! I love our pretty cabinets, and it gave me hives to think of painting this side.
So they stayed like that. For another year and four months. :) More on that in a bit.
When I started my kitchen redo with the help of American Express and their lovely points (whoohoo!) I mentioned I was considering either painting the island a light cream color or a pretty apple green to go with the new lighter tones of the room. I primed the island to see how I liked the lighter, cream idea and it didn’t look right. So I decided to go with the apple green -- it sounded like such a fun idea!!
(Enter foreboding music here.)
I painted that island apple green, and it was a total and complete disaster. It was one of those where you say you just need time to “get used to it” when you really just need time to stop hyperventilating at all the time you just flushed down the toilet. ;)
It was SO bright! OH. my. goodness., it was screaming apple green. The way the light hit it made it completely obnoxious. So I mixed some black into the green to darken it a bit, and painted…again.
It was better! It was growing on me! And then the evening light hit…and it was a disaster all over again. I played the whole, I’ll get use to it (pleeease?) game some more and realized by about 8 p.m. that it wasn’t going to fly. And I looked at the cabinet side of our island and realized something really important – there was NO way on God’s (apple) green earth that I was going to be able to paint our lovely cabinets that color.
I wish I could express to you how wrong the green island looked in our kitchen. (I took pictures with my phone but I’ve since updated to a new one and they didn’t transfer!) If we lived in a beach house – adorable. In a funky, colorful house, perfect. In our traditional house full of warm colors – just wrong. ;) I’m sure it was the tone of that color I picked out that made it look so goofy, but I wasn’t going to try any more. I was done.
So…guess what? I painted. Again. Oh yeah, and again – two coats back to black. It was not a good day around here. ;)
I wanted to (finally) get this island project wrapped up, so last week I got my booty moving on the butcher block top I bought months ago at Ikea. It had been leaning in the garage, unopened, for all that time. (I told you I was highly unmotivated this summer!)
I did some checking around and found a woodworking company that would be able to cut it down to the right size for me. I had a chance to look around their shop a bit, and when I saw the beautiful routered edges they could add to it, my mind started racing. :)
The owner said they could cut it down and router the edge I picked out for $100 – YES PLEASE! I was SO excited when I picked it up last week because the (Numerar Ikea counter for $195) was turned into this:
Be still my thrifty little heart.
I was so excited, I installed it that day. I just unscrewed the screws underneath the previous countertop and pulled it off:
When the new top was laid on top, I just screwed them back in, with a couple extra for good measure.
My original plan was to sand down the block and stain it a very deep stain, then poly over the top of it. YUM. But when I saw it in our kitchen, I realized the potential for a really warm, natural looking butcher block instead.
Ikea treats their wood, but you need to do more when you get them installed. I started by sanding it down very lightly, then I did three coats of boiled linseed oil:
You just wipe it on with a white cloth and watch the magic happen. ;) We are not going to use the butcher block as a cutting surface, but linseed oil is perfect if you are planning to do so. It is food safe once it dries.
Because I didn’t want to freak out every time someone put a glass on the island, I also protected it with two coats of tung oil:
From what my Dad told me, the Chinese have used tung oil for about 600 years (give or take a few) on their boat hulls – and if it works for them, it works for me. :)
It gave it an absolutely gorgeous amber finish:
It is just beautiful. And no worries about the everyday stuff that happens in a kitchen!:
If there’s ever any damage to the top, it will be easy to sand it down lightly and reapply the oil. I will probably do a few more coats of the tung oil for an extra strong finish.
To finish off the beadboard, I installed some very thin molding around the top:
The top edges of the beadboad weren’t uneven, but it always looked a little unfinished to me.
I found a fabric I loved at Calico Corners for the chairs:
I upholstered right over the old fabric. I love the slightly contemporary look of the fabric combined with the more traditional island.
And I was (almost) done! THEN, I finally painted the cabinets on the other side of the island. And all was right with the world. Two years and four months later. Good grief.
I present to you our completed, never touching it ever again for as long as I live, island:
I did a photo shoot with it from all angles, Austin Powers style…yeah, baby…YEAH!:
I want to curl up and take a nap on it, I love it so very much. Really. Night night:
Because I’m a sucker for before and after shots, here’s the before, a couple of years ago:
And today:
The I’m shaking in my boots to paint the cabinets before:
And the why didn’t I do this two years ago after:
Total breakdown for the transformation was as follows (over the past two years):
- About $50 for the beadboard, I think? Another $20 or so for the baseboards and skinny trim around the top.
- $10 for black paint. Lasted all eleventy billion times I painted it.
- $18 for two corbels from Home Depot.
- Chairs were from Garden Ridge, buy one get one half off – about $100.
- Less than $10 in fabric to cover the chairs.
- $195 for butcher block (I had to get a larger size) from Ikea – looks like it’s even less now!
- $100 to have the block cut and routered.
- About $20 for oils, foam brushes, etc. (I had some, had to buy some.)
Oh yeah, did I mention I got a quote of $1,300 for a very similar butcher block countertop from the company Home Depot uses? I saved one thousand buckaroos and it looks pretty darn good! I am SO happy with it, and it was so (grumble) worth (grumble) all the work!
P.S. I’ll show you how I painted the cabinets soon – and what I did that you should NOT. :)
Oh, your island turned out so gorgeous! I love the edge on your wooden top! Never seen that before! Love the black. You did so good! :)
ReplyDeleteBe a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
Sarah, I am in awe. Your island is just beautiful. You did such a great job. Now you've got me considering painting my island!
ReplyDelete~Allison @ House of Hepworths
WOW - Sarah it is amazing!! You did a wonderful job!! I feel the same way about painting my kitchen cabinets, but I am going to do it!!
ReplyDeleteLove the modern fabric you chose for the barstools too. Love the whole thing!
xoxo
Jen
AWESOME! Take a bow...
ReplyDeleteXOXO
Love how it turned out! Absolutely beautimous! :)
ReplyDeleteYou give me ooohhhh sooo much hope. What a fabulous island. One day I hope to be able to look at something so basic and turn it into something amazing. By the way, I read your No More Mondays post the other day and felt SO INSPIRED! That is now what my fiance and I say when we're feeling overwhelmed by our 9-5s. It's like our motto lol!
ReplyDeleteThanks lady!
manymomentsofme.blogspot.com
Ok, do you truly promise to never, ever touch it again? Because we all might be a tad upset because it is gorgeous JUST like it is!!
ReplyDeleteOh I do love your island. It is just wonderful. I havn't ever seen the butcher block routed on the edge, but it is stunning. You did so good even if it did take a while. Love it. Hugs, Marty
ReplyDeleteI love it!! Great job!
ReplyDeleteGORGEOUS!!!!! IM SOO FREAKING JEALOUS!!!!!! if you ever get sick of workin on ur own house i will fully hand over the keys to my house :D
ReplyDeleteI am so glad to know I am not alone. I have been debating on painting my dining table and chairs and my hutch. I had envisioned all kinds of fun stuff too but my house has colors like yours and I didn't think it would work. I just posted about some changing up in the dining area that is open to the kitchen and left the dining set alone. I do want to paint my built in hutch and I have been leaning towards black and even have the paint. Your island has helped convince me on that paint job. I am glad you now love your island. I love it too.
ReplyDeleteLooks fantastic! Great job! I know you are so happy to finally have that project complete.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely A.MAZING. It is gorgeous. I thought that routering the edge was such a great idea and it really adds so much to it. You did an incredible job!
ReplyDeleteI love the butcher block (I never thought I'd say THAT lol)
ReplyDeleteBut I had never thought of butcher block being attractive....until now! Beautiful, just beautiful.
Oh, yes...you nailed it! It's really nice and I think that routering the edge was genius!
ReplyDeleteIt looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteI wish we could have seen pics of the apple green. I can't even imagine what you were thinking; apple green may be trendy, but it does not belong in your kitchen! I love the black. It's so you!
OK, I'm going to communicate in your language:
ReplyDeleteGORG.
LUUUUURVE.
SQEEEEEEAL.
Translation: Gorg. Love. Squeal. Bravo girlfriend!!!!
xo
Kate
WOW! Very beautiful! The wood is absolutely stunning, and the edges look so great!!! I am in love!
ReplyDeleteIt looks great!!!
ReplyDeleteWoot, woot! Awesome job girlie!
ReplyDeleteAw, this is seriously amazing!!!
ReplyDeleteGuess what!?
ReplyDeleteI painted ALL my cabinets in my kitchen black. I LOVE them it's so different.
Our island we made out of an antique dresser and so I feel your pain. It took about 3-4 months to get it just right. What a mess.. but it's beautiful now!
It's like magic...a year and four months of pure magic. Lisa~
ReplyDeleteFABULOUS. I can't say how much I want space for an island now.
ReplyDeleteOnto my next question...that cloche. It is killing me I love it SO MUCH. If you E-VER want to sell it I will buy it. Put my name down as dibs. I will pay big money. Honestly. My covetousness is going to get me sent to a dark place. So there...calling dibs. No sending that cloche to Goodwill or something. OK?
OMGosh!!! It's so awesome! all of it, all the work, detail, upholstery - Wow, wow, wow! I'm inspired - says me while listening to the Veronicas :D
ReplyDeleteI'm not exaggerating when I say that island is a work of art! :)
ReplyDeleteLooks absolutely amazing!!! I love the butcher block!!!! You should totally pat yourself on the back and go by yourself something purty! ;)
ReplyDeleteI love it in black. You did such a great job and it really was worth all your hard work. Simply stunning!
ReplyDeleteThis turned out beautiful!
ReplyDeleteLOVE IT! When I am finally done with my island, it will look very similar. I am using an old dresser and the top to a table(so the edges are already routed similar to yours). I can't wait to start on it, one of these years. LOL.
ReplyDeleteGreat job - some things are worth the wait. I enjoyed reading about all your trials to get to this point.
ReplyDeleteThe island looks great. I can relate. I painted mine a bright green and worked for days on a distressed finish. Ended up changing it completely to black. :) Classic beautiful black. Love the wood and I think the finished edge makes all the difference. It doesn't look like a cheap butcher block from Ikea. It looks rockin'!
ReplyDeleteIt looks great!! I've had those painting, "I will like it, soon", and repainting days as well. Several times. :) You are not alone.
ReplyDeleteLove this project.
ReplyDeleteLove it! So Pretty!
ReplyDeleteEverything you do is so doggone gorgeous and elegant. If I had a sister I would want her to be you. You'd have to be my big sister, though, because I couldn't have a punky little sister showing me up like this all the time. Also? You would definitely be mom's favorite.
ReplyDeleteThat looks awesome. Love the butcher block with the finished edging just like my granite. Great job!!
ReplyDeletelove the "new" look of your island, especially the butcher block top, great job!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! I love how you paid attention to the details of a great edge on the butcher top and the trim around the bottom of your island too! I know how you feel about painting the island a color and realizing you "can't" live with it. I've been there before too! LOL! I love the black!
ReplyDeleteLove the "new" kitchen! And that island is great!!! It gives me hope for ours... yeah it resembles your old one far too closely!!!
ReplyDeleteQuick question on the tung oil... Are you using tung oil or tung oil finish? We have one of the butcher block tables from Ikea and I really need to finish it. So far we've just been using a mineral oil. I know that the Formby's Tung oil finish has additives to it, not just tung oil (hardeners, etc...) If you used the Formby's finish, did you apply it in the house? Were the fumes bad? (I have a horrible sensitivity to fumes... makes me ill, violently!!)
I think I foresee another trip to Ikea... Thanks!!! (I really do LOVE your kitchen!)
It was worth the wait! Looks really good. :0)
ReplyDeleteThat first picture of the counter edge cut was a little scary with the edge looking a little different. But the oil is just wonderful isn't it? Just blends it all together and gives it such a nice sheen. Love it! I think the fabric on the chairs is just the right amount of apple green too. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteLooks great! I love the dark island in contrast to the other cabinets. We have white cabinets and recently painted our island dark chocolate brown. Love it!!
ReplyDeleteSo gorgeous! Way to follow through and get the look you really wanted for your home. You have such vision!!! Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteYep, totally worth all the work. The cabinets are perfect.
ReplyDeleteJust beautiful...black is always in style. Like you, when I step out of the box, I know right away whether it will work for me and I might as well get busy making adjustments.lol....Enjoy your blog so much!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous with a capital G!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWow, I'm going through the same thing with my kitchen island. I had to laugh when I saw your post. I just painted my kitchen island white it took me foreva to get over my fear of painting over my beautiful cabinets but I love it. I ordered a chocolate bamboo countertop and it took 3 months for it to be delivered and now I'm waiting for a contractor to return my calls to install the countertop. I've been talking about this project for years and I'm so close to finishing it. You're island looks awesome!
ReplyDeleteLooks soo great!! I love the butcher block with the routed edge! And the cabinets look great painted. We painted all of our kitchen cabinets and I know what a big pain in the butt that is. Great job!
ReplyDeleteNow THAT is perfect, Sarah!! Love the new look. :)
ReplyDeleteYour before pics look exactly like my island now. I'm sending this post to my dad who could easily work this magic for me. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteApplause, applause. It looks wonderful and I can see that apple green would not be apple-tastic with the rest of your kitchen :).
ReplyDeleteFixing to paint a bathroom cabinets black....so I will WAIT for your what to do and what NOT to do before I start!
ReplyDeleteIsland looks great....you have such a good eye!
That looks so great!! I love the beadboard!! Nice job -- you're so talented.
ReplyDeleteBe still my heart... I love the butcher block!!! It looks amazing! We're looking at buying a fixer upper and I'm thinking the butcher block would be an ideal counter top!
ReplyDeleteAwesome. I need to some how summin up the motivation to do something like this with my island. In your very own words, it. is. CRAPATASTIC. Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't just look good--it looks GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteLOVE this, Sarah! You're taste is fantastic -- I love all the details (especially the fabric on those stools!) The "butcher block" looks amazing! Beautiful job!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the roller coaster ride you took with us on this project. LOVE the black! I know you have another project up your sleeve to reuse the old counter top, perhaps in the basement????? Can't wait to see what you do next! Jules
ReplyDeleteThe island is gorgeous. but, I may have you beat...been waiting for new draperies for 12 weeks....they should arrive today. I knew I should have made them myself!
ReplyDeleteIt is gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You women of the blogs are my motivation every day when I start my day off reading your projects!!
ReplyDeleteF.Y.I.-I am still learning about refinishing products and caught a very informative but scary story on some news program a few weeks ago about the storage of linseed oil..please check it out. I think it was good morning america or something like that.
The island looks great! Great job!!
ReplyDeleteSo right......its fantastic!
ReplyDeleteLOVE the butcherblock!
ReplyDeleteWe've got it on one side of our kitchen- can't wait to do the other side of our kitchen with it too!
Layla :-)
All I can say is...absolutely gorgeous!! You did a fabulous job. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteStunning! Stunning! Stunning!
ReplyDeleteHave to ask...did you have to degloss the cabinets before you painted them? I SO want to paint my "standard builder" oak cabinets (probably to white or ivory), but am rather intimidated by the whole thing!
Just one more question for today!! What flooring is in your kitchen? I really like the color and wonder how well it holds up to spills and such. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely GORGEOUS! I would haul that island into my kitchen in a hot second! I'm glad you finally took the plunge. :)
ReplyDeleteSarah, this really does look great. I bet you were so proud of yourself! You deserve some cake to celebrate :)
ReplyDeleteTotally worth all the work (easy for me to say ;) But really, it's gorgeous!!
ReplyDeleteI'm loving how sharp the black paint makes that island look! The cabinets are awesome & the butcher block is pure perfection. I'd never want to set a thing on it ;-P LOVE the whole room! Beautiful job!
ReplyDeleteHeck yeah girlie!! That looks AMAZING!! Your hard work shows. That is a fabulous island. I love all the little touches like the molding and the chair fabric. The color of the butcher block and cabinets is perfection. Awesome job :)
ReplyDeleteWwo! Really looks great. It takes guts to paint cabinets, but it's so worth it in the end. Great job!
ReplyDeleteOk... this is the last straw. I am now 100% convinced that I need the butcher block Ikea counters. Thank you for these tips!
ReplyDeleteSo amazingly cute! I want to paint my kitchen island now.
ReplyDeleteWoohooo!! It looks so awesome, I want to sleep on it too. Well worth all the trouble for sure.
ReplyDeleteits fabtastic!!!!!
ReplyDeleteIt looks gorgeous! All I can say is, What took you so long? : )
ReplyDeleteAWE. absolutely SOME. Really awesome. You did a great job. And I think you did well with the timeline--something as important as the kitchen island can't be rushed, you know?!
ReplyDeleteWonderful. Thanks for showing us the transformation!
Fantastic job! your kitchen did a 360... it looks soooo much better the black paint really makes it pop and the wood top is so much more attractive than the granite.
ReplyDeleteIt's beautiful. You did a wonderful job. I just love IKEA.
ReplyDeleteThe details, the details, I love the details! Wow! You've shown me that I can add some more black and it will look gorgeous! Just perfect. :)
ReplyDeleteIt looks awesome. Some day I will have a kitchen that I can do projects like that in!
ReplyDeleteOkay...where's the apple green? I know you have a picture of it hidden somewhere. I know what you mean about painters remorse. I just repainted my kitchen cabinets and when I looked at them last night...they looked kinda drab. The color is sagey. Good thing my kitchen is large! I'm in that "I'll probably get used to it stage right now."
ReplyDeleteGloria McAllister
Roanoke, Virginia
Bravo!!! Who knew that a butcher block countertop from Ikea could look like that...looove the new edge on it! I have been considering dolling up my kitchen island...I am now officially...inspired!:) Thanks!
ReplyDeleteLooks amazing. I also did a butcher block counter in my kitchen. For any readers looking to "shop around" I bought mine at lumber liquidators - also for a song... I used watco oil to get the color I wanted, then sealed it with beeswax. Looks great, sealed well, and smelled heavenly.
ReplyDeleteWow! This island just keeps getting better! I thought I LOVED it befor in the black with the stone top, but this is super awesome!
ReplyDeleteI am still planning on doing the black beadboard on mine...and my husband has you to thank..;)
Thanks for all the wonderful ideas! I am a newbie blogger, and I am inspired by all your ideas.Please stop by my blog sometime to give me some constructive critisism.
YEA....and I still have something I tore apart on my island back for Melissa's Procrastinator's party..um...two years ago, I believe. :) This looks AMAZING!! I painted my builder white laminate island turquoise just for fun and love it, but was holding out to find a slab of seconds granite. Hm...your butches block is awesome. May have to think about that.
ReplyDeleteWhat PERFECT timing for this post! We're in the process of moving, which means another total overhaul...and until we can afford the kitchen redo of our dreams, we're going to rip the terrible white tile off the counter tops and replace it with butcher block. The problem is, we didn't know how much you could change the color of butcher block or how to do it at all. We like to darker colored wood and I'm thinking that from your post we can make it darker?!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the transformation...amazing!!
I am so glad you finally got it to what you wanted it to be. It is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI love how the butcher block top turned out!!
Love the island!! And you got your apple green color in there with the fabric on the chairs - kudos to you!! :-)
ReplyDeleteYour island is stunning! We had IKEA countertops at a previous house but they didn't have the beautiful routered edges - what a difference that makes! :)
ReplyDeleteSo pretty I love love love it. The fabric is wonderful with the black and it looks so custom, im sure it added tons of value. I want to paint my kitchen cabinets sooooo bad but I am soooooo scared. Cant wait to see what process you used to paint.
ReplyDeleteluv luv luv it baby!
ReplyDeleteThat looks totally fantastic. :) Congrats on finally getting it all done. The fabric choice is great too!
ReplyDeleteSometimes a project grows and changes until it finds the final look. Great job.
ReplyDeleteIt's absolutely gorgeous! Is that tung oil food safe? I use mineral oil on my buterblock, but I like the finish that tung oil gave you. I may have to try that!
ReplyDeleteYou really did an amazing job! You must be in love with it.
-FringeGirl
Great job!!! Lourve the new island. I wish I could copy cat this... =)
ReplyDeleteThe title is SO ABSOLUTELY ACCURATE. That island is gorgeous. Gives me courage. Or maybe not (smile).
ReplyDeleteBernadette
www.b3homedesigns.blogspot.com
This is so freaking beautiful! I love it! And oddly enough my dad has been harping on me since I started the blog that I ought to be using Tung oil! :) Glad to see the finish is as beautiful as I have been told!
ReplyDeleteI think this has to be my favorite re-do that you've done to date. SERIOUSLY good. That countertop is killing me, and once again I'm pissed OFF that we don't have an IKEA in driving distance. Did you order yours, or get it at a store?
ReplyDeleteGREAT job!!
Don't ya just wanna do all of the countertops now...the island looks sooo gorgeous!!
ReplyDeleteyour countertop is GORGEOUS!!!! I LOVE the medium wood finish with the black. And your island looks perfect painted all black - just perfect!!!
ReplyDeleteA kitchen redo is our next big project and you are making me want to start right now! :)
Can't wait to read your painting tips!
Man, what an inspiration! Your island is just beautiful! I LOVE the beadboard! Great job!
ReplyDeleteIt's beautiful! Lurve. The routered edge on the countertop is gorg, and the fabric is totally cute too. When should I come over for dinner? ;)
ReplyDeleteI lurrrve it too! You did a fantastic job. Makes me want to tackle mine but I'm too scared!
ReplyDeleteElisabeth
you. are. amazing. that's all i have to say...that is beautiful in the pictures I can only imagine it looks better in person
ReplyDeleteAhhh, LOVE that counter top!! Love, love, it!! We hope to redo our kitchen soon...now to just talk my husband into what I'm dreamin' in my head!;) lol!
ReplyDeleteIf your in the Utah area, next time around i-d-a ran it through the router saw for you for free and it only would-a took a second! Nice job though, I'm totally jealous, I hate laminate counters...but they aren't a budget busters, so I'll live!
ReplyDeleteA-Mazing! Thanks for the tip about the Tung Oil. I've built butcher block counter tops for my kitchen and might have to give it a try!
ReplyDeleteLooks great! Love the edges added to the butcher block countertop - totally gives it a custom look!
ReplyDeleteI really think you should prime it again, paint it green, then black, then remove the paint from the front of the cabinets and paint them green and then black again. No, really, amazing job! Just looks so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteAmazing! I love the beadboard. I may have to do that in my kitchen.
ReplyDeleteExcellent work! I love it!
ReplyDeleteI've had a pretty unproductive summer too --- which I shall surely regret once I start working in a couple weeks.
I love this redo!! I know exactly how you feel with painting over cabinets..i am struggling with the same delima currently....Great job and maybe on my blog-my kitchen redo paint job will show up soon thanks to you!!
ReplyDeletechris from midwest cottage and finds
Holy, moly... the island is amazing. Love your counter stools, too. Bt the way, you are not alone in painting and repainting a project over a span of several months until it finally turns out the way you want it. :)
ReplyDeleteSo gorgeous! I've never been a butcher block fan, but you have converted me. Great job!
ReplyDeleteOh! So beautiful! I love how classy it looks! It turned out wonderful! Definitely worth the 2 year wait! :)
ReplyDeleteGREAT JOB! I really want to paint my kitchen cabinets but am scared to do it so I would love to know the steps you took. Sand or not sand, type of primer, type/sheen of paint. Very impressed with the butcher block from Ikea and getting the edges rounded.
ReplyDeleteThis is gorg! You have inspired me to consider butcher block for my kitchen island. It's tile (read=can't get the grout clean) and I hate it! This butcher block is way cheaper than granite and looks great!
ReplyDeleteUm, holy amazing! I LOVE that! I'm seriously soooo impressed! I really wish that you had a TV show! Thanks for posting so many pictures! I'm always wanting to see what you do from ever angle!
ReplyDeletethis is..... breathtaking!
ReplyDeleteLove this!! looks awesome!!
ReplyDelete-Jamielyn
http://iheartnaptime.blogspot.com/
Love, love, love this makeover! It turned out so nice! Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteYay, yay, Yay! You are going to show how you painted the cabinets! I have been dying to paint all my kitchen cabinets but have been way scared. I'm so going to do it after you show me how! No pressure though.
ReplyDeletePS, I lurk around these parts daily. I love your blog!
You are sooooo talented and such an inspiration to me!
ReplyDeleteThis island looks AMAZING! I love butcher block! The routed edges - whoa - the BEST! When we finally get to redo our kitchen, I am totally putting butcher block in somewhere.
ReplyDeleteWow, Sarah! The island looks fantastic! I'm drooling over that countertop! Who knew you could make an ikea counter top look like that?!
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU for posting this!! I've been wanting to build myself an island but was stumped about what to do for a counter. I had looked at Ikea's counters but didn't think much of them... until now! I think my parents have a router that can do something like that! It turned out so beautifully!
ReplyDeleteLURVE it! Thank you for sharing - inspiration to do the countertops myself. ;)
ReplyDeleteXO,
Kimberly
That looks sooooo beautiful!! I feel so much better now knowing Iam not the only one to start a project and then go off and start another one before finishing the first!;) I have been working on our island now for two months. Ha!
ReplyDeleteI love the beadboard that you added - that took your island to the next level - and the countertop, routed, is a beauty in itself - lovely! I painted my island black as well and left remained cab's stained - love it more every day. Wish I could have seen the green's you were talking about - I'm seeing greens alot more used as a netural color....
ReplyDeleteI am so glad to see pictures of your whole kitchen. I was just contemplating putting oil rubbed bronze knobs on my cabinets but was wondering if it would be to dark against my cherry cabinets and now I see it won't. I don't have an island but I have a raised breakfast bar and I would love to do something on the bar side. Your beadboard idea has really helped me.
ReplyDeleteI'm just like you...I would have dreaded to paint over beautiful cabinets! But, oh, how did it pay off!!! That is one of the most beautiful islands I have ever seen!! Thank you for taking us with you!! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that butcher block top, and am thinking of doing the same to mine now!!
ReplyDeleteI love your kitchen. I just designed my kitchen redo and it is almost an extact match! I can't believe I found your blog today. I am so excited to show all your beautiful work to my husband and for us to get busy! I was wondering which type of wood you used for your butcher block? My closest Ikea only has birch instock.
ReplyDeleteI love the fact that u painted your cabinet a dark color, my husband recently started on making my much wanted eat -in island. He added some plywood to the back of a Home Depot med. oak 30" base cabinet so that the kids wouldn't kick a hole thru that flimsy back. But I'm worried about him staining it to match the doors. I would much rather sand and paint the whole base a dark color, but I am very cautious about that because it is all laminated. Could use some tips on that please!! By the way, I love your style!!
ReplyDeleteI love your butcher block countertop-how has it held up since installation? How frequently do you oil it? We are thinking of replacing out existing countertops. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI'm from the indy area and was wondering the name of the company that cut and finished your butcher block counter top. I've been wanting to redo my builder grade island, and you have inspired me... Ikea here I come!!
ReplyDelete