Kitchen Island Transformation | i should be mopping the floor
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Kitchen Island Transformation

Kitchen islands are a great addition to any kitchen area. We put this one together to allow for extra seating and kitchen workspace. It's not too difficult to create a DIY kitchen island with a little know-how and some cost-effective resources.


We're finally done with our island. It was definitely a labor of love...but so worth it. I want to start by saying that we were inspired to do this after seeing Heather's Island over at At the Picket Fence. She gave a fabulous tutorial...so good that I carried the photos of it on my phone around Lowe's to duplicate her hardware and such. Our end result is a bit different...but we couldn't have done the nitty gritty parts without Heather's tutorial.

Here's our version:



Three sides of the island are covered in beadboard wallpaper. 
We also added this bar to the back of the island for towels.

I bought two saddle-style bar stools off of Craigslist to use at each end...
my boys love having breakfasts here!

We covered the back toe-kick with baseboard moulding since I only stand on the other side when using the island. {I hated that back toe-kick...it was a dirt trap}. We added little feet in the front toe kick, but kept it fully functional by not enclosing it.

Another before shot...this is after we had resurfaced the courtertops. There wasn't nearly enough workspace for me on the previous top. This is the main place I prep, make lunches, breakfasts and Bento boxes. I also like to serve from this area when hosting others for a meal. I use it constantly and needed more space.

We gained over two extra feet of countertop space!

And the kids can't get enough of sitting at it!

The whole thing started with a quick overnight trip up to Dallas. I somehow ended up at Ikea (imagine that). Our local Ikea in Round Rock hadn't had their butcher block countertops for ages, so I thought I'd check the Dallas {Frisco} store. While they, too, were out of butcher block, I was informed that it would probably be months before they got more in and some of their line had been discontinued. I made the decision to scrap butcher block and look for something else to use for the island I had been envisioning. This has a wood-look top and stainless metal sides all around...really liked it. 
And so, on this quick jaunt to visit a couple of friends, I came home with a 73" countertop. 
And the project began...

We had thought we could use whatever was holding the previous countertop in place to hold the new one in place. We found out it was held on by adhesive, so that plan went out the window.

After trimming the countertop down a bit {Ikea provides extra edges just for this}, we attached it. We trimmed it right there in the kitchen {we tend to live a bit on the wild & dusty side}.

We attached the new countertop with "L" brackets in four places. 

We took a bit of a different take on the legs. Actual legs for these type of projects were over $40 at our Lowe's. We found these outdoor decking posts for $12 {and some change}, also at Lowe's. They are a treated wood, so we knew we'd have to sand, prime a lot and paint well. But this was fine with us. 
We only used the mid-sections. The little board on top was a template we made to cut them all the same length. We did reuse the little area above the ball finials...can you guess where?

While we worried about their size, they easily fit in the miter saw and it cut them beautifully. This was definitely a two-person cutting job because of the size and weight of the legs. I held the back part because of the kick-back when the blade released....didn't want the leg flying across the garage.

If you don't have a compound-miter saw, you can inexpensively rent one from Lowe's or Home Depot {that's what Heather did for her island and it turned out beautifully}.

We slid them in place for a dry fit.

We attached the legs underneath with "L brackets" and "triangle brackets"...another Heather inspiration. Later we ended up adding an extra "L bracket" about an inch below that "triangle bracket" to reinforce it. I have no idea why I'm putting bracket names in quotes...it seems like the proper thing to do, no? They are attached to an apron created out of 1x4 boards, cut to size. I won't re-invent the wheel by explaining the process of the apron...Heather did a fabulous explanation of the apron in her post.

This is a shot without the apron...but it shows the mouldings that needed to be removed to proceed with the next step. We pulled the Quarter-Round (also sometimes referred to as "Corner Round", but since there's also such thing as "Half-Round", I feel the need to call it Quarter Round...it is a quarter of a circle...that's how I see it). Please ignore the filthiness of the inside of the cupboard...that is a product of sawing the countertop in the kitchen....and oh, about five years of use.

Now, the FUN begins! We used beadboard wallpaper versus actual beadboard. And it was EASY to work with and use. LOVE it and am planning on using it everywhere now. This is available at Lowe's and is about $24 for a roll this size. We barely used any of it for all three sides of the island.

We prepped by filling in the holes from where the previous corner moulding had been stapled into place (great job, Builder Bob). It was a pain to remove...again with the crowbar. It ripped off half of the actual wood, which explains the excess of DryLock (putty/filler) used here to fill.

The wallpaper is pre-pasted {niiiiice}. You cut it to your shape, wet it, fold it in half to activate for five minutes and apply it. Then smooth it with the tool. Where we matched up seams, we used more DryLock to fill the imperfections. It went on like buttah, I tell ya.

After the wallpaper dried, we put on the baseboard moulding. We used such a wide piece since we covered up that toe-kick. We used finishing nails, sunk the nails and DryLocked (puttied) over them for a seamless finish.

We also put the feet in...attaching from inside the cabinet. See where they came from? They're the decorative part above the finial ball on the posts for the legs. As grandpa would say, "waste not, want not." Amen, gramps.

The entire "foot" was too big, so we cut it in half and just used the two halves. We have three more of these {so six total when cut} and plan to use them when we give the main kitchen cabinets a make-over this summer.

We bought the cheap foam-board corner moulding which meant it couldn't be cut with power tools...it would rip to shreds. So I notched and scored and cut until we got the shape/size we needed. This took forever, but we got there.

In the words of DJ Lance Rock, "a-break it down"...

After all moulding was attached, I used both DryLock and Paintable Caulk to fill every last crevice. This makes a world of difference in the end result so be sure to take the time to do it.

Ahhh....sanding. Seems so simple, right? Well, the fact that we're dealing with outdoor, treated decking that emits the chemicals used to treat it when sanded takes this to a whole new level. This is me taking a couple of days off my life and using the Dremel to sand without a mask. Tsk, tsk. This is a big no-no. Always wear a mask when sanding treated wood.

The wood from the decking was really rough. It took both of us a couple of hours to sand the whole thing. But it was well worth it.

And I'm totally kicking myself for not listening to my husband when he suggested putting the little feet on last to make painting easier. Since I'm the painter, I didn't think it would be a big deal. That was until I was belly-to-tile with a 1/4" brush getting into all the darn detail of those feet. This was sooo annoying.

It got two coats of primer. And for a fleeting second, it made me think I should paint it white. But, since we are planning to paint the actual kitchen cabinets white, I wanted the island to contrast and be its own color.

You may remember this can of "Oops Paint" from my Mirror2Chalkboard post. It's like the never-ending loaves and fish supply...this can never runs out. I adore the color and am so happy to be the one who stumbled upon its goodness. There's still plenty to paint my new-to-me piano with. SAY WHAT!?! I didn't tell you I got a piano? Oh, yes. It will be aqua blue, too.

I'm also loving the Ikea towel bar that we installed on the back. This piece is really meant to hold tools and cute galvanized Ikea buckets filled with awesome-sauce. But, I saw it a bit differently. And it works for me this way. It does, however, annoy me that the five-year-old slides the hooks back and forth on the bar on a minute-ly basis. Good times.

We also added the birdcage knobs and the vintage pulls.

I am in LOVE with this thing. And I'm not one bit shy/reserved about it {like I probably should be}. I just can't contain the joy it brought me & my kitchen! It's a pleasure to work on! One more thing done in the ongoing kitchen update...28 more to go.









103 comments:

  1. Your island is beautiful!! I really loved your pictures, mostly because I got to see more of the fam!! The island transformation is amazing!!

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  2. LOVE IT!!! Great job! And I can't wait to see the piano.

    Blessings,
    Janiene

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  3. This is beyond anything that I could imagine. Absolutely gorgeous and I'm so jealous. Beautiful color choice too and it's always fun to get the Mr. in on a project. Thanks so much for linking up to The Cure for the Common Monday! I hope you will come by sometime. I know I will be back, xoxo

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  4. What a marvelous job you have done on this island! No one would ever guess from looking at it that it wasn't some custom piece from the get-go.

    Good to know about that butcher block. I started trying to get some last year, and they told me in Atlanta that it was back-ordered indefinitely.

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  5. What a brilliant makeover! I LOVE your new finished island bench!!


    Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
    Hope you have a fabulous week!
    Jill @ Creating my way to Success
    http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/

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  6. Beautiful! I love the color and the adorable towel rack. Great job :)

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  7. Holy moli macaroni! That is so beautiful Kristi! You must be so pleased! Enjoy...

    ~ Julie

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  8. I"m featuring this on my FB page today Kristi...can not resist!

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  9. Love it! So modern and useful to have! The bright color is great!

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  10. I love kitchen islands, and yours is really inspiring, I love the transformation, the color is perfect, the space for the stools is also the right one and is good size as well for your kitchen, if you don't mind I would keep this one in mind for future references on mine. Thank you for sharing.

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  11. Um yep...TOTALLY AMAZING! Girl you rocked the legs on both ends!! It's just fabulous and I'm so honored that my island inspired your island! I'm also glad to know the tutorial helped...always a little scary writing a tutorial for others to follow. You all did a beautiful job!!

    Heather

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  12. This is really fantastic Kristi. I'm hoping our new house has an island like your that I can spruce up. I'm totally loving the color and towel rack!

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  13. I LOVE I WANT I ADORE I LOVE!!! I shared it on my COM FB page. winks, jen

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  14. This is just beautiful!! I want to make one for my kitchen!

    Kristy @ Shona Skye Creations

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  15. i love how you extended that for seating! i'm having major island envy!

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  16. What a remarkable transformation

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  17. That looks SO great, Kristi! Nice work!! I'm about to embark on a kitchen remodel but I don't have an island - (galley kitchen) - but I would love one as cute as yours! Fun color, too, and I love the details!

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  18. This is AMAZING! Totally in love with what you did great job! Amee from Inspired-Housewife

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  19. Outstanding makeover..love the color!!! Thanks for sharing at my Nifty Thrifty Tuesday party.

    Blessings,
    Linda

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  20. WOW! you did an amazing job and the color is beautiful, i would love to feature it, if that would be ok with you please let me know,
    lauren

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  22. This is absolutely stunning!!! Thanks for linking up to the Glam Party. You can be sure to see this featured next week! :)

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  23. This looks great and I love the color!

    Amber

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  24. This is too cute and clever. I would love if you would share this on my linky party! http://www.igottatrythat.com/p/blog-hop-linky-colde.html
    Thanks,
    Marcie @ www.IGottaTryThat.com

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  25. OH MY WORD! This is amazing!!!

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  26. Wow, that is an amazing transformation. It looks great! Would you consider linking it up at my Pinworthy Projects Party? I hope to see you there!

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  27. Hi, You and hubby did an amazing job on that gorgeous island. Love the color...Connie

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  28. I love what you've done to your island! Your boys are so handsome too. I featured you today!

    http://daysofchalkandchocolate.blogspot.com/2012/06/im-at-fireflies-and-jellybeans-today.html

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  29. Wow, I'm a new follower because that is an awesome island. Great work!

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  30. Awe-inspiring work. And thanks for posting so many picks of the process. It's so helpful and inspiring. At the same time, we can all see what an enormous amount of work you put into it. And it really looks fabulous. I'm your latest follower!

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  31. That's the best transformation I've seen in awhile! Breaking it down step by step makes it seem so simple but I can't imagine that it really was. You guys did a great job!

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  32. BEAUTIFUL! I love it! Plus I love anything IKEA so you have made me fall even more madly in love! It looks so much better than the standard building island! Nice work!

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  33. Wow, what a HUGE difference! It looks fabulous! I would love for you to share this (and any other creations) at Pin It and Win It Wednesday @ www.cheapcraftymama.com!

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  34. Love it. The color is fabulous as well.

    Love for you to share this project at MADE by ME Wednesday's Linky Party @ JAQS Studio:
    http://www.jaqsstudio.com/2012/06/made-by-me-34-linky-party-and-features.html

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  35. Wow! This is fantastic! I love everything about it! I'll be featuring this on my blog on Saturday! Thanks for linking up!

    http://www.sumossweetstuff.com

    Sumo:)

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  36. Your island makeover if fabulous! LOVE the color and the towel rack is a perfect addition. Great job!

    http://fitcraftystylishandhappy.blogspot.com/

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  37. Oh my gosh - that looks so high-end!! LOVE it!

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  38. Love it Love it Love it!!! Absolutely BEAUTIFUL! Thanks for linking up and sharing!!

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  39. What a beautiful makeover! I found you via the linky at Seven Thirty Three. Thanks for sharing, and God Bless!

    ~Jess @ The Colorful Ones

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  40. This is Melissa@daisymaebelle.com. LOVE the island! What a great update for your kitchen! Nice work!

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  41. That looks great! I love the pretty turquoise color and the lovely contrast with the black counter top.

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  42. This is probably THE coolest make of a kitchen island I have seen in a long time. Awesome, awesome job. I think I have to talk to my hubby about making me something similar:)

    Great work and inspiration.

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  43. Kristi, Awesome transformation on your island. what a great solution!! I'm sure your family will create lots of wonderful memories there. :). Shelly Andrade

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  44. Beautiful island! My kitchen is in desperate need of an island, and so I'm always looking around for ideas. Thanks for sharing this amazing transformation!

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  45. Simply beautiful and inspiring! Thank you for linking up...wow, I am really in love (envy) with it too!
    ~Gay~
    itsahodgepodgelife.blogspot.com

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  46. Kristi,

    Your island turned out so fun! We used to live in McKinney, and I miss how close the Frisco Ikea was! We moved and now my Ikea is (lots) more a drive. :(

    I'm sure you will your island for years to come!

    Thanks for sharing,
    Laura

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  47. You're island looks amazing. What a simple and beautiful way to update the kitchen. great color too!

    We are running a Before and After Link party to support Habitat for Humanity, with a chance to be featured on other big blogs and win gift cards. Would love if you entered! http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/2012-before-after-series/

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  48. So awesome! I would love to do this in my kitchen! The color is perfect.

    I featured you today in my Friday I'm In Love favorites!!

    http://socialsalutations.blogspot.com/2012/06/friday-im-in-love-wow.html

    XOXO
    Jenn @ Social Salutations

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  49. Very well done! I love the way you used the feet to accent the front of the island, and the bead board wallpaper! I can't imagine how long this project took, but it looks great now and gives you much needed prep space!

    First time visitor and found you on the HodgePodge link party where I linked up too.

    ~ Ferly
    Gifts We Use {to grow, love and serve}

    My recent post:
    Learn As I Blog: Starting A Blog & Link Party #2

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  50. Wow! What a transformation and so impressive-I will remember this when it's time for our kitchen remodel-great job!

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  51. what an AWESOME transformation I love what you guys did great job. Stopping by from the Show me what you got link party

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  52. I love it! I especially love that you used Oops paint. I collect it myself! What a great color. I'd like to hear more about this beadboard wallpaper!

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  53. I love it I love it I love it! Totally worth your hard work! Visiting from Serenity Now!

    ~Ellie @ beauty4ashes-ellie.blogspot.com

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  54. Amazing job!! The color is fantastic. Thanks for sharing all of the steps in your tutorial. Megan

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  55. It is GORGROUS!!! And it gives me some hope for the island in our new house!!

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  56. You did a fabulous job! What an incredible transformation. I love the changes.

    Sharon @ mrs. hines class

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  57. I'm doing the exact same thing to my island - I mean exact but my top will be butcher block form Ikea!! I have it wrapped in beadboard and the molding around the bottom. I have to add the trim and such. The feet are genius on the underside giving it a furniture look. I'm going to copy!! I'm even painting it a blue color. And then on to the rest of the kitchen.....and painting it white!!

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  58. Wowzers! I can't believe what a huge change it is! I have never used beadboard wallpaper before but I have been thinking of it for a project I have in mind. I just found your blog via I Heart Naptime and I LOVE it! The name is awesome. :)

    I started a blog this weekend and would love some visitors if you get some time! http://tiffanyandcoblog.blogspot.com.

    Have a great day! :)

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  59. Oh.my. I LOVE this! My husband and I have been talking about 'enhancing" our kitchen island...enlarging the work surface. I've been showing him pics...I think this one's next. :) It is fantastic! Thanks for sharing!

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  61. This is absolutely GORGEOUS!! I LOVE the color esp. since it's my favorite. Hope you can link up at my trendy tuesday party!! http://www.sweetlittlegals.com/2012/06/trendy-tuesday-4.html

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  62. That is one crazy good redo! Featured this tonight! Stop by and grab abutton!! :)

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  63. Absolutely gorgeous...makes me wish my kitchen was big enough for an island! And, if you wrap a black hair tie a couple of times around the bar where you want the hooks to sit, they shouldn't slide so easily (but would still be moveable when you want them to be)

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  64. super cute! very creative! lots of hard work was put into it! I originally thought you took a table and placed it ontop of the shell of the island. So beautiful! great job!

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  65. I love your re-do, it turned out great! Thanks for the step by step tutorial on how to put it together. Thanks for sharing at Showcase Your Talent Thursday and I hope to see you at the next party!

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  66. Amazing! Great idea and tutorial! Stop by and link up if you have time!
    Mary

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  67. Just gorgeous Kristi! I love all the details and the color is amazing! Thanks so much for sharing at Mom On Timeout!

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  68. Hi Kristi....I've never been to your site before but saw the before and after at Kitchen fun and Crafty fridays. WOW am I impressed. What a redo. Its just beautiful and oh so practical and useful. You and your husband did an AMAZING job. I'm so happy for all your new counterspace to make many wonderful things on.

    See you are from Round Rock. We lived in Austin for 22 years and raised our family there. Absolutely love Texas. And we still claim it as 'home' even though we're no longer there.

    Love your blog...it is delightful! Glad I found you!

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  69. I just dropped by from the Picket Fence, where you got the tutorial for your fabulous island. It is totally wow! You guys did an awesome job... it looks amazing!!! Yes, flatery is the best form of complementing!! Happy Father's Day!
    FABBY

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  70. Kristi I just found ya over at At The Picket Fence. I HAD to come by and see your awesome island transformation! Why of why can't I have you for a neighbor!? Round Rock is just a little far but at least we are fellow Texans!:) I am going to have to head to Ikea and find that "towel" rack and create a project for it. I love it! I am wanting to redo our half bath so I am thinking that may be the perfect place for it. Off to Follow you and top share your wonderful tutorial on my FB page.

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  71. You and your DH did a great job! I especially love how you made the counter longer, so much more functional. And the stools are an awesome addition, too.

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  72. Uh yea I KNOW why you linked this up at Miss Information cause it's freakin awesome! So would be nice to have a handy hubby

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  73. You are so brave, I can never get my idea of what I want to actually turn out, and you and your husband are both still alive to talk about it?! That is a feat all in itself :) Laura from Real Momma stopping by to say thanks for linking up in the Best of Your Best Blog Hop!

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  74. WOW! This is such a dramatic difference. The finished island looks like its in the pages of a decor magazine. We've put bead board on an island before, but never thought of adding the extensions. Great idea, well executed. Gail (BibleLoveNotes.com)

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  75. I love the textured wallpaper. I used it to redo my old metal filing cabinet. Look in my boards how it turned out. It is easy to use.
    How did you seal yours?
    I thinking of putting a wooden frame around the drawer to protect the corners from getting torn.
    It looks great and the hooks that are now handles came from Hobby Lobby. Great savings.

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  76. I love the textured wallpaper. I used it to redo my old metal filing cabinet. Look in my boards how it turned out. It is easy to use.
    How did you seal yours?
    I thinking of putting a wooden frame around the drawer to protect the corners from getting torn.
    It looks great and the hooks that are now handles came from Hobby Lobby. Great savings.

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  77. Just came across this, Love how it turned out! Gonna have to share with a friend :o)

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  78. I should be mopping the floor but.......I'm reading your blog! Another way to get the legs could have been to buy an old junk table that still had decent legs and repurposed them. Just a suggestion. :) And may I say that you sound like a girl I could easily hang out with at my favorite store..Lowes.

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  79. Gosh! This is certainly one amazing looking island! Makes me wish we could have one in our kitchen. You guys did such a great job on this and now I can't wait until you're done with the rest of the kitchen!

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  80. This is phenomenal! Pinning and doing!

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  81. What a great idea. We have a little, not very functional island with no place for stools just like yours. I don't think we have room on one side where the island is close to the stove, but I think we could do a longer version on the other side that would give me more prep space and a spot for stools. Thanks for the inspiration. Love how you used color and functionality with the bar for towels.

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  82. WOW! I love islands & your's is amazing! :)

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  83. I have seen so many of those blah islands while house hunting...I can't believe that it is the same one you started with! I am filing this away in case we end up buying a house that has one! I also featured this on my blog today - http://www.unoriginalmom.com/original-fridays-13/

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  84. You should be proud- it looks fantastic!

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  85. More often, kitchen remodeling involves the replacement of older sinks and worktops, so if you too are planning to renovate your kitchen interiors, then make sure that you have chosen the high quality solid wood kitchen worktops that can provide better looks and durability to your cooking area.

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  86. Amazing!!! I am definitely doing this. Thanks for the inspiration.

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  88. This was very inspiring!! A little too late for me because we just sold my house with an island similar to your original one. I would have loved at least putting the beadboard wallpaper on it, because I looked at it so often and thought about cutting some but it just sounded too hard (I was lazy!) Thanks for posting this, it is very informative and looks fabulous! I am bookmarking it for my next home ~carolynsfunkyfurniture.blogspot.com

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  89. Looks great.

    http://swagbucks247.blogspot.com

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  90. Thanks for the beadboard wallpaper tip - priceless! I shall be using it!

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  91. OMG, my mouth dropped and flew open when I saw this fabulous upscale looking island. Thank you for sharing.

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