A Cool Kitchen Island Made From Two Nightstands

Ann
by Ann
$40.00
5 Hours
Medium
We needed a kitchen island but had no budget for it. Then we figured out how to use furniture we already had to build this cool kitchen island for cheap!
Can you guess what this is made out of? We used the two dark walnut nightstands from our 80's era bedroom set! They are made of solid wood and very heavy and perfect for this project.
Here's a before and after...and what a fun project! And like most of our good ideas it came from a moment of necessity, this time for a family holiday dinner.
We got the idea at Thanksgiving when we used the nightstands from our old bedroom set as a temporary island. I just threw a tablecloth over the top and used them for a much needed buffet station.
We removed the doors and drawers and screwed them together back to back on the inside. Since it was midwinter, I put a vinyl tablecloth on the dining table and finished the next step indoors. After cleaning and sanding I painted them with acrylic paint in cobalt blue washed with grey.
Already it's looking good! I used an all-in-one stain and polyurethane sealer on the inside and we installed some shelving all the way through for convenient storage. Molly Brown, our chocolate lab, is wondering what all the fuss is about.
We Mod Podged old cookbook pages to a sturdy piece of plywood then sealed it with two part pour on epoxy resin, the same kind used on bar tops. It is super shiny and durable. Love how the book pages and the floor have similar hues.
Such convenient storage! I covered one of the original drawers in red gingham check wrapping paper and put it on the bottom shelf. We reused one of the drawer pulls for a towel holder. This island has become the center for food prep and serving in our busy kitchen. We totally LOVE how this came out! And the total cost? Less than $40.
Ann
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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Frequently asked questions
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3 of 5 questions
  • The2091768 The2091768 on Oct 26, 2016
    How did you adjust the height of the tables to make it comfortable to the user ?
  • Cheryl Zeis Cheryl Zeis on Oct 11, 2017

    Did you huy a new bedroom set? Lol

  • Susan Scheibe Edsall Susan Scheibe Edsall on Jul 30, 2019

    There is a lip around the top of most end table. How did you get it to match? Did you shave off the lip in the back of both of them so they would meet?

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  • Deborah Gerbers Deborah Gerbers on Nov 19, 2017

    My mother always wanted an island in her kitchen. Cabinet people said it couldn't be done due to space issues. Well guess what, some genius came up with the island on wheels (they were hidden) and it was beautiful. Because it was all done 6 months before my mom passed, we were all happy she got the kitchen she always wanted. Where there is a will there is a way.

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