I Turned an Antique Desk Into an Island, I Think You Will Be Surprised

MacGIRLver
by MacGIRLver
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I love quarter sawn oak, it is my favourite wood grain. My sister gave me a big old desk that was in the basement of her flower shop. I had to take it apart in order to get it out of there. I found that the panels could be removed fairly easily.
I needed a kitchen island, but didn't want a run of the mill, cookie cutter island, that just isn't my style.
The desk was very much like the one pictured above (I got this picture off the internet here http://www.dougschmittantiques.com/desk%20&%20office%20furniture/65flattopdesk/65flatopdesk.htm), but the top on it was ruined. The sides had gorgeous quarter sawn oak. Once I took all the panels off the sides of the desk I planned out my island so as to take the best advantage of all the panels.
I tried to lay them out in a balanced manner. At the last minute I decided the drawers were too good to waste, so I added another layer in order to use them. I didn't have oak for the front ends, so I painted spruce. I'm kind of tired of the design I painted, but it will have to stay as is for now.
I also took an antique door that was given to me, stripped the paint off of it, and used it as the top of the island. It does double duty as a display for some of the things I have gathered over the years.
The main reason for building the island was that I needed it to house a dishwasher.
I built a low counter top for my baking area and painted mosaic tiles on it in a design that means a lot to my family. The star and wings is a symbol that my Grandfather used for his business in the 1930's, so there is a little family history integrated into the piece.
I only had enough panels for 3 sides, so the back side is completely different, to me, it still works. I built very large drawers. The three panels at the far end are fake drawers, I have yet to add the drawer pulls to match the real drawers. See the panel at the back, painted like mosaic tile? I took that piece to work and painted it at my desk on my coffee breaks, 15 minutes at a time.
I built the the island in sections and then brought them into the kitchen and secured them all together. Unfortunately I did this before my blogging days, so I didn't take pictures along the way. (Also, I wasn't really sure I was going to be able to pull this off) So, what do you think of my island? I was lucky enough to be given pretty much the exact same desk last week, wow, how lucky can a person be! The top on this desk is in excellent shape, oh the possibilities! Apparently I am very lucky, because another friend said she has a desk for me, and it sounds like it might be another one of these!
MacGIRLver
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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  2 questions
  • Autumn Hall Zink Autumn Hall Zink on Sep 01, 2016
    I must first say WOW!!! How difficult was it to remove the paneling to see what's underneath? I am totally amazed!!! Just gorgeous!!!
  • B. Welch B. Welch on Jan 08, 2017
    Love, love, love how you did this... I'm still in awe of your work. I'd love to know how you painted the tiles on the bake top side. Please, please if you re-do the other two desks show us how you did this ingenious job and pulled it all together. I still can't figure out how you did all the art work on the pieces + worked with the drawers....just amazing.
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  • Barb Barb on Aug 04, 2021

    OMG, vision, talent and skill. Totally speechless. This is phenomenally beautiful.

  • SUSAN BRUNO SUSAN BRUNO on Jan 22, 2024

    I did something similar a few years ago but put it on heavy duty wheels. Sliders would do too if need be. Great project. Mine took about a month & 3 people to flip the desk, etc.

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