Don’t miss another post like this one! Sign up to get my posts delivered to your inbox here.
Every time I post about my kitchen, it seems that you guys love the DIY kitchen island the most.
And I love that you love it the most.
That piece is pretty special to me.
So special that I regularly threaten to be laid out on it when I die.
{Insert Grunt Labor rolling his eyes here.}
If you have read about the full kitchen makeover renovation, you know it has come a really long way. We knocked down walls, moved appliances, painted cabinets, took out cabinets, dealt with rude plumbers and much more.
And it was all worth it.
So, here is how we built our DIY kitchen island.
This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.
DIY Kitchen Island
First off, I apologize for the lack of photos of us actually building it. I was pregnant during the process (which was an adventure) and honestly, after it taking a couple hours to figure out how to build it, I wasn’t sure if it would even turn out well.
Luckily, I was wrong.
The good news for you is that since it did take us a few hours and a few curse words and few cross looks to figure it out, we figured out it was actually pretty easy in the end. So, really if you have basic DIY skills, you can build this island.
First off, let me give you the dimensions:
It’s five feet long, two feet (and a smidge over) wide and right at about three feet in height. For us, its the perfect size. It functions as a great workspace, we can eat breakfast at it, but it doesn’t take over the entire kitchen.
Here’s the materials we used:
The legs are old porch columns we purchased from a local architectural salvage store. If you can’t find salvaged porch columns, you can always find them at Home Depot or another local hardware store. We made a frame of 2x4s to go around the columns at the top and at the base. We used wood screws to attach all the 2 x 4s to the columns.
The bottom shelf is barn wood that came from my great grandfather’s farm. After the frame was completed, we just used a finish nailer to nail the barn wood into both sides of the 2 x 4s.
The top is the same countertop material that is in the rest of the kitchen. We did add some 1 x 4s between the 2×4 frame on top (underneath the counter) to give the countertops a little more support.
The screws weren’t too noticeable at the bottom, but were at the top. So, after the countertop was installed, we added decorative trim around the top to hide the screws. Its the same trim we used on our built-in bathroom shelving.
A coat of white paint and my barstools make it complete.
After we finally got our dimensions figured out, it took about an hour (without the countertop – we had pros put that in) to construct.
All in all, excluding the countertop, we have less than $100 in it. If you didn’t want a regular countertop, like ours, you could always just opt for wood.
You can see more of the kitchen details here or tour our entire renovated rancher here.
What do you think of our DIY Kitchen Island?
You’ll also love these ideas for your kitchen…
See how I made my laminate countertops look like stone here – you won’t believe how easy it was!
You can also get more DIY countertop makeover ideas here!
7 Kitchen Island Ideas you haven’t thought Of– out-of-the-box ideas for your own DIY kitchen island!
10+ Kitchen Ideas for Decorating, Organizing, and Storage– functional, but still pretty ideas!
7 (To-Die-For) White Kitchens – love white kitchens? Don’t miss these then!
Sign up to get my posts delivered to your inbox here.
You know you don’t wanna miss any of this crazy.
Stalk Me Here:
Pinterest / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram
Leslie says
So is the island the only table you have in the kitchen? Interesting. I could do something like that…my table takes over my entire kitchen!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Yep, Leslie, it is the only table we have in the kitchen. We use our dining room for dinner and eat at the island (or somedays the couch!) for breakfast and lunch.
Danelle - The Tattered Treasures says
I LOVE it. I have been wanting to make a very, very small island and this would be perfect. It needs to be open as yours because I don’t want to close up the space. Thanks for sharing.
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Glad you like it, Danelle! This island is great for a small, but not too small workspace!
Angela (Life in Velvet) says
Hi Jenna,
This is beyond awesome! I cannot believe you guys made your island! It’s gorgeous! How endlessly creative are you?! Thank you so much for your very, very sweet comment on my blog too! I’m looking forward to meeting you in a few days at the Atl Area Bloggers meeting!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Oh, Angela, you are way too sweet and giving me way to much credit! I cannot wait to meet you on Saturday! Yay!
Tamara says
Wow.. That is so amazing. AND while you were pregnant! I love the way you mixed the barn wood with white paint and used the columns for legs. Your stools are so cute. Great job..Thank you.
Blessings to you,
Tamara
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks, Tamara! Yep – being pregnant while doing house projects is always an adventure!
Dad says
Sweetheart, Granddaddy would be proud. Beautiful & Functional. Love, Dad.
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks, Dad!
Angie Lawson says
Jenna I absolutely LOVE the island (and everything else) in your home!! I adore your green barstools. Thanks for sharing the great tutorial! And also thanks SO MUCH for responding to my email a couple days ago about some questions I had (being a new blogger and all)! I’ll get the hang of it soon I hope. You probably just jumped right in and knew how to do everything, right!? Thanks–♥Angie
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
You are so welcome, Angie!! And you are giving me too much credit – I had no clue what I was doing when I was blogging at first! Don’t look at my oldest posts – they are horrid! haha!
Emily says
It is lovely! I love the shape and openness of it. I can see why you get so many compliments! 🙂
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks, Emily!
Linda @ A La Carte says
Love your table and I admire that you made it! Thanks for sharing at TTF!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks, Linda!
Dawn @ We Call It Junkin says
I love it, especially that you left the barn wood unpainted so you still see the charm and patina. Congrats on a great project. Take care – Dawn @ We Call It Junkin.com
History & Home link party, Tue-Fri weekly
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks so much, Dawn! Yep – I don’t think I could have lived with myself if I would have painted it!
Megan @ Our Pinteresting Family says
That is so beautiful! I love it. 🙂
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks, Megan!
Abby says
Your island is really lovely! I’m thinking this general idea would also work for a bathroom vanity…we need to do one soon, and this is really quite nice and custamizable. Your whole kitchen is just beautiful!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Abby, I think it would be great for a bathroom vanity as well! If we were ever to need a new vanity or build a house, I would totally consider doing this! Thanks, gal!
Rose Sanabria says
I live in a mobile home that has a very small kitchen and have been looking to add countertop space to it. I have been trying to figure out how to make one from salvaged cabinets, but have not had any luck finding one. I love your idea. Now to find the materials to make one. I live on social security so my very limited income is a problem, but I know what I want to do so The Lord and I will find a way. Thank you. Rose
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Yes, you will find a way, Rose! Scout out construction sites – they often toss wood they aren’t using into dumpsters and you don’t need a whole lot for this!
Marigene says
What a great little island! Gorgeous kitchen, too…
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks so much, Marigene!
Nancy @ A Joyful Cottage says
Hi Jenna. New follower here via Google+. Your island is beautiful. I just love it. I hopped over to your link on the countertops to see what you used for the top. Great choice. It’s amazing what you and your hubby have done with that kitchen. I have a monthly blog party Every Room In The House. The month of January we’re partying in The Kitchen. I’d be so happy if you’d share your island with us.
I hope you’ll come, as I know you would inspire so many others who are redoing kitchens. By the way, I saw the comment here from your dad. How sweet. It just touched my heart. xx ~ Nancy
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Hi Nancy! So great to have you following along and thank you for such a sweet comment about my island! I will be sure to hop over and link up! Thanks for the invite! And my dad – yep, he’s sweet every now and then! haha!
Tammi says
Love your island! It’s a great shabby chic / restoration look. Great job!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks, Tammi! I love the combination!
Cynthia Banessa says
Fantastic job!!! Pinning it!!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks so much, Cynthia!
Tiffany Nagy says
This island is fabulous!!! I am absolutely in love with it. I am joining you from the link-up and I am so happy to be a new follower!! I hope you will come on over visit me as well! Happy Monday!
Tiffany
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thank you so much, Tiffany! Thrilled to have you following along!
Sue says
Great looking island…I love your use of the barn boards….but even more then that I love those bar stools…they add just a great pop of color!!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks, Sue! I love the barstools as well!
Kristi says
Oooh, it’s gorgeous! I think the moulding is my favorite part. Oh, how I wish my kitchen was big enough for an island!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks, Kristi! I know what you mean about having a big enough kitchen – I feel it should be mandatory that every kitchen built is big enough for an island!
Jessi @ Practically Functional says
Wow, I love how that turned out! Great job, and the paint job is fabulous too! Thanks so much for sharing this at the Creativity Unleashed party, I’m pinning it for sure!
[email protected] Stroll Thru Life says
Love your island, it is perfect for your space. Thanks tons for linking to Inspire Me. Hugs, Marty
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks, Marty! It is the perfect size for us!
Katie @ Upcycled Treasures says
Jenna, this is gorgeous! I love the reclaimed wood you used, what salvage store did you get it from? Thank you for linking up to The Makers last week and I hope you will join us again his week!
~Katie
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
The wood on the bottom came from my grandfather’s barn. The columns that are the legs came from a local architectural salvage store, Architectural Exchange. Thanks!
Jamie says
Yep, I love it! Now can you make another one and send it to me…mmmkay?
Thanks!
J.
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
hahaha! Shipping will cost us three times what the island cost to make!
Carrie This Home says
Great tutorial, Jenna! Isn’t it great when a project turns out better than you expected? Thanks so much for sharing this at Frugal Crafty Home Blog Hop–you know we love posts like this!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Absolutely, Carrie! Thanks for hosting each week!
irene g says
Your Island is just gorgeous. Found your site through Pinterest. I love your style and all your fabulous ideas. I have an unfinished hutch top that I have been waiting to redo til I found the right base. I think something like this would be perfect! I want to make 2 shelves on the bottom for storage. Just one question. You said you screwed the 2×4’s into the columns- was this done from the outside of the column? Thanks so much. Irene
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Oh, Irene! I live for comments like this!!! Thank you so much! Yes – we screwed the 2 x 4’s into the columns from the outside. We used trim to hide the screws on the top and didn’t worry about hiding them on the bottom. Hope that helps! Your piece is going to be amazing!
Rhonda says
Love your island and love that your family’s barnwood is part of it – it looks great with those green stools!
Visiting from the Inspire Me Please party… Rhonda @ home.made.
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks, Rhonda! I love a piece that is special and that’s just what this one is! And those bar stools – one of my prized possessions!
Heather @ new house new home says
Thanks for the tutorial. You make it seem really easy. Oh to have a kitchen with room for an island.
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
It really was pretty easy for us, Heather! It is so nice to have a kitchen with enough room for an island – we had to tear out a wall in order to get it that way though!
Melissa @ DaisyMaeBelle says
I’d love to share this on my FB page! Would you mind if I grabbed a picture and shared the link? Life to the full! Melissa
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
That’s totally fine, Melissa! Thanks for the share!
Terry says
Beautiful island for a beautiful kitchen! You have created a lovely space indeed! Its gorgeous! I hope you have a great dya!
Smiles!
Terry
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks, Terry!
Dwight says
I love the design and build, your island is incredible! I love the legs that you chose. I wanted to share the Drop Leaf Kitchen Island that I built, which can be great for people with smaller kitchens: http://bacheloronabudget.com/diy-drop-leaf-kitchen-island-cart/
Looking forward to trying out some other projects on your site!
shelley says
This is beautiful – the addition of the molding really makes it pop! Thanks for sharing at Over the Moon.
Jenna says
Thanks, Shelley!
Cassie Smallwood says
I love this island! It’s so pretty! It’s so awesome to be able to create your own pieces for your home that fit in just perfectly. Great post!
Jenna says
Thank you, Cassie!
Charlene Asay says
I love everything about this island. I would love to make one myself. Pinning for later. I hope you will join us Sunday-Wednesday at Family Joy Blog Link Up Party.
Jenna says
Thanks so much, Charlene!
Tracy says
Wow! It’s gorgeous!!! Pinning it to show my husband. Hopefully he will build it for me!
Jenna says
Thanks so much, Tracy!
Theresa says
Love your kitchen island. Pinned & sharing Thanks for joining the Inspiration Spotlight party.
Jenna says
Thanks so much, Theresa!
Rachel Teodoro says
Are you kidding me?! This is amazing! I featured it on the create link inspire DIY ideas round up. Thanks for joining the party!
Jenna says
Thanks so much, Rachel!