How can I turn this desk into an island?

here's videos you can sort thru for ideas https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=DIY+turning+desk+into+kitchen+island

What other Hometalkers did.

https://www.hometalk.com/search/posts?filter=desk%20to%20kitchen%20ilsland

Pinterest!!! They have all kinds of ideas.

I would think you’ll need to raise it up somehow

Judy is right that to be a comfortable kitchen island, the desk will need to be raised up to counter height. The difficulty in doing this will be constructing a base that is strong enough to withstand the weight of the desk, plus the movement of the interior of the drawers. It will need to be level and squared. The desk will have to be attached on to the base so that the structure is stable. Although it can be done, if you do not have all the requisite tools or carpentry experience, it is not an average diy project.

What a great piece! It would be an interesting island. You will need to check the height next to your cabinets. You may need a platform or put it on wheels that can be locked if you want to be able to move it. I would paint it a great dark grey or blue ,whitewashed or even black. Whatever goes in your home. I assume the back is solid so you could add a counter top that was abou a foot wider than the desktop, and it could be a small sitting area with two or three stools. On the drawer side I would remove the hardware for some new or paint the ones on it. I would also take out all the drawers on one side and put in shelves and nice storage baskets. I think you could have a great island.

I agree it would need to be raised and for all the reasons Flipturn mentioned that doesn't sound easy to me! But I am wondering if it could be raised on the top instead of the bottom (by someone who was knowledgeable.) In other words, if some sort of "legs/supports" could hold up a new top on top, the space beneath the new top could be partioned to store things like trays, cutting boards, baskets, maybe a wine rack etc that won't fit in these or any other drawers.

Yes, adding supports (small legs) and another top to raise the overall height of the unit may be another option. However, once again, the problem will be how to attach the supports to the base, while ensuring they are adequately robust to support the top.

Keep in mind that any island top takes a good beating with not only the weight of items on the counter top, but the added weight of people leaning against it. For maximum stability, it is best if the top layer is fully attached to the base, rather than being suspended on individual 'legs'.

As it stands now, the top of the desk is almost the same size as the bottom. Because islands are free-standing (not against any walls) for optimal function in a kitchen, the top should really overhang the bottom on the sides by enough inches to give space for feet. This space is referred to 'toe kick' space.

An island designed to be used as a sit down island requires a minimum number of inches for not only 'toe kick' space, but also 'knee kick' space. Unfortunately, this is often overlooked when trying to make units into functioning islands. I see pictures all the time showing stools set beside 'islands' yet there is no where near enough of either toe or knee kick space to allow the top to be used as a table/sit down surface.

If the island is designed as a stand up work unit only, then although the knee kick space is not as much as a factor, there is still a minimum number of inches needed for adequate toe kick space, even for cooks with small feet.