Make a Bar or Kitchen Island Out of Old Cabinets from a Yard Sale
Edited by Robbi, Lynn, estrella sacragon, Eng
A center island or a breakfast bar is something that nearly everyone would like to have in their kitchen.
It's possible to create one from items which you have repurposed. Kitchen cabinets can create an admirable breakfast bar or kitchen island, offering you more storage space at the same time as giving you more room for family meals or to entertain guests.
The use of repurposed items makes the breakfast bar that much more special, and since you're recycling old furniture it's an eco-friendly solution that also saves money.
Materials you're going to need
- 12 cabinets - yard sales are a great place to look for theseAdvertisement
- 28 casters (optional, if you want the island to roll)Advertisement
- 33 foot length of standard formica counter top - remnants can usually be found at the local home store for a discounted price
- 42 pieces of decorative molding for around the edges of the counter top
- 58 L shaped brackets, each about 2 inches long
- 6Paneling or finishing nails
- 7Hammer
- 82-4 wooden bar stools or high chairs.
Steps
- 1Lightly sand the edges of the remnant counter top and use paneling nails to attach it to the edges of the counter top.Advertisement
- 2If you want to use your center island as a rolling island, drill four holes and add casters to the bottom of the cabinets.
- 3Using the L shaped brackets, attach the counter top to the top of the cabinets with one cabinet at each end. You will want to make the cabinets face outward so that the sides show and the cabinets open at each end to give you more space.
Total cost of the breakfast bar:
$10 for used cabinets $15 each for 2 bar stools $19 for the counter top $8 for nails and brackets
How to Make a Bar or Kitchen Island Out of Old Cabinets from a Yard Sale
There is no doubt that the kitchen is among the favorite parts of the house of many people. Aside from the fact that this is where they can play their imagination in food preparation, the kitchen is considered by many as their safe haven, their comfort zone next to their bedroom. Nowadays, there are several techniques and styles that could give a kitchen a total transformation.
However, the fact prevails that not all kitchen ideas are pocket-friendly. In many cases, the home owner needs to shed off a huge amount of funds in order to make-over the kitchen. Fortunately, there are ways in order to improve the aesthetics of the kitchen without the need to spare staggering amounts of bucks.
One way of doing so is incorporating a kitchen island or also referred to as bar, out of old cabinets, which can be bought from yard sales. Come on! There is nothing wrong with using old stuffs, especially if they are indeed sturdy, fashionable, and if the beauty is timeless.
Advantages of Kitchen Islands
Before tapping the process of crafting a kitchen island out of old cabinets bought from yard sale, home owners, especially kitchen renovation enthusiasts should take a look at the primary advantages of kitchen islands:
- 1Kitchen islands could yield an additional counter space.
Nevertheless, the most common and primary purpose of many home owners for incorporating kitchen islands is to add counter space. It can as well be equipped with electric connection, so that home owners could make their food preparation convenient whenever they have to use appliances. They could as well put an extra stove on top of it.
Process of Making Kitchen Island out of Old Cabinets (From Yard Sale)
- 1It is better to have different cabinets, without counter top. Since this allows the home owner to combine and craft a single unit, based on his/her desired arrangement, by incorporating a single counter top. It's also advisable to purchase cabinets which quite look like the current cabinets. Note: The home owner should focus on the sides, as well as the back of the cabinet/cabinets. In an event that the old cabinet is unfinished, then the home owner could finish it. Home owner could simply put an MDF or plywood, and then paint it.
- 2The cabinets need to be arranged in accordance to the order and place that the home owner wants. If the owner will be utilizing multiple units, then it is much better to juncture multiple pieces. Ideally, this must be done in very thick areas, for instance, the frame. Home owner could make2 cabinets facing a similar direction or in opposite directions, or if the dimensions will allow it, then one of the cabinets could face the side. What is important here is the preference of the owner and how he/she wants to manipulate the space.
- 3Once the old cabinet/cabinets are already in place, home owner could make a counter top. Owner could utilize various materials, like granite and butcher's block. Owner should ensure that the cabinet combination's dimensions are sized appropriately. Nevertheless, there should be extra 2 inches in the width and length for the counter's lip.
Tips
- If you want to use the casters, you definitely will want to attach them first before you add the counter top to the cabinets.
If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.
