How do I make this table island-height. ?

Nancy Ryan
by Nancy Ryan

I love this table and it’s legs and I want to replace top and turn it island height.

  13 answers
  • FrugalFamilyTimes.com FrugalFamilyTimes.com on Jul 18, 2020

    Do you want to keep the wheels? If so you’ll need to add the height to the top. You could build a new apron frame And top to add height.

    • Nancy Ryan Nancy Ryan on Jul 18, 2020

      Thanks! Yes I want to keep

      the wheels and try to avoid compromising the antique legs. I was thinking building another frame on too

      might be my only option.

  • Edith Siegel Edith Siegel on Jul 18, 2020

    If it's just to be a counter in the kitchen, remove the table-top and add in the height to match counters. You might like to add drawers in this space for extra storage. However, if you want to use with bar stools you won't have legroom under this. then you would have to extend the table top. Most likely by making a new larger one. If that is too large you might cut out a piece on the end skirts to make the table-top extend over the side(s). It's a great table. Hope this helps.

    • Nancy Ryan Nancy Ryan on Jul 18, 2020

      Thank-you!

      the top appears to be of knotty pine. My dad had refinished the top years ago with sanding and varnish but in time the boards have warped and I just don’t feel they are sturdy enough to continue using so my hope is to replace the top. The old top actually extends out on both sides with an old-school style whereby a part of the apron flips to support each side. So I was kinda thinking if I replaced top so that it overhung on one of those sides I could add wooden brackets to the underside maybe.

  • Edith Siegel Edith Siegel on Jul 18, 2020

    Sounds like you're on the right track.I'd love to see a picture when you get it done.

  • Cynthia H Cynthia H on Jul 18, 2020

    Hi! My one concern would be increasing the weight on those gorgeous table legs and wheels. Standard counter height is 36", so that minus the height of the frame/legs, is how much you would need to increase the height. Most tables are 28-30 inches, so, you should be able to remove the old top, build up the sides under the new top, like an open box frame and then attach the new top. If you want to use it with stools, you will need enough of an overhang to accommodate a person sitting there. Hope that helps!🙂

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Jul 19, 2020

    Hello Nancy,

    Lower, Cut the legs to suit. Higher remove leg at bottom ( caster and 1 x round), then add block to the remaining round and shape to match above squarish part, then add back the bottom of the leg with the caster. Hope that is of some help. You may want to use a double ended screw to fit them.....


    • See 1 previous
    • Nancy Ryan Nancy Ryan on Jul 19, 2020

      John, would you cut just below or above that larger rounded part? Im

      thinking easier to hide the addition of cut below. Other concern is matching the colour of this very old leg. Lol.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Jul 19, 2020

    Hello again Nancy,

    I would cut between the top part that looks like a cotton reel so you have a wide piece of timber to fit together again with new. I would use a walnut stain and varnish r you could try a mix of Brown and Black Liquid Shoe Polish applied with a brush. (test colour on a spare piece of timber first). If not confident, get a carpenter to do it for you. If you don't want to do that, you could cut the table at bottom of squarish pieces and add extra there and shape to suit, or you could make another top frame and top and slip it over the existing without any damage to table. You could even have space for a drawer too maybe, depending on how high it needs to be raised. Hope that helps and is not too confusing for you!

  • William William on Jul 19, 2020

    Remove the top, add boards to the existing aprons on the inside the height you want. Glue and screw them to the existing aprons from the inside making sure the screws aren't to long so not to go thru the aprons. Then just attach steel angles for the new top.

  • Unexpected Elegance Unexpected Elegance on Jul 20, 2020

    You could had a wooden platform at the top of the legs to raise the tabletop.

  • Vimarhonor Vimarhonor on Jul 23, 2020

    Hello. My son did a similar project with reclaimed desk. It could be possible to place the whole table on a board and then put larger utility wheels on the bottom to give an additional height.

  • Agnes Chrzanowska Agnes Chrzanowska on Jul 31, 2020

    Change legs :) or better build super cool base like platform with some drawers or openings for baskets

  • Karol Karol on Dec 22, 2020

    Build up the top of the table by adding height there. Think of adding a long deep open box between the legs and the top. Space for plates and silverware!

  • Kmdreamer Kmdreamer on Jun 23, 2021

    Take off the tiny wheels and replace them with bigger wheels to raise it up