11 Materials ~ $150 14 Hrs Medium Difficulty
This island update is a small remodel project I completed for my parents kitchen. The front face of the island was looking pretty beat up so we wanted to give it a refreshed look on a budget.
Here is a before photo. This is the original cabinets and island from when the house was first built.
Before, when you come in from the front door this was the face you see from the foyer. As you can see, it was getting quite beat up from the bar stools or people kicking this face when seated. So my mother wanted to touch up this surface.
Step 1 - Create a CAD Model
I made a quick model in CAD before I purchased any materials or got going on this project, . I recommend doing this as it gives you a good idea on what you need to buy and how it will look. It also makes it very easy to share your ideas (this is how I got approval from my parents to do this project).
If you don't know how to use CAD software, this type of projects is a good one to learn. I used SolidWorks but you can use any software.
Step 2 - Prepare the Surfaces
Once I had plans and purchased materials from Home Depot, I pulled off the old front board as shown. I then used a putty knife to strip as much of the leftover adhesive.
I also cleaned the floor and the sides of the island (those are the cabinet sides and will not be replaced).
Step 3 - Cut and Dry Fit
I ripped down the 4'x8' sheets of 1/4" birch plywood with the table saw.
I also then cut the Select Pine Board. I decided to use 1" x 4" for the bottom boards and 1" x 3" for the front verticals and everywhere else to give the best look.
Once the pieces are cut, I did a quick dry fit to insure proper fitment.
Step 4 - Nail Boards Up
With everything cut, I tacked everything up with 1-1/4" finish nails and a pneumatic nail gun.
*BE CAREFUL to selected the length of nail to not pierce the surface of the inside of the cabinets*
I decided not to add the two middle verticals as shown in CAD model for a more simplistic style
*As you see I added this trim piece after paint - I recommend not doing that. Just nail everything up at once if you can.*
Step 5 - Seal The Wood
Before paint, I first sealed all of the wood with two coats of wood sealer.
Step 6 - Seal Joints and Nail Heads
With the wood sealed, I used latex caulk with a calk gun to seal the joints. As you can see, it was not perfect, but i did my best to wipe excess away and I was not too worried about it since I knew I was painting over it.
*Looking back, I would had put the caulk on the back of the boards and then pressed them on and nailed them to have the caulk squeeze out of the joints*
Also, not pictured, but I used DAP Painter's Putty to fill in the nail head holes.
Step 7 - Paint
Up next, Paint! This really makes this project come alive.
I used painters tape on floor and under counter-tops to make the job a little bit easier. I am by no means a professional painter, but with enough diligence, I got going.
I applied two coats on the three sides of the Island. The color is the same as the kitchen walls which really gave the new look we were looking for and makes the island stick out a little more in the kitchen.
The front face and trim piece was painted white to blend in with the counters. This step was done after the rest of it was painted... which led to problems. See next photos...
...When I pulled of the painters tape to avoid painting this face, the paint was pulled off anywhere I had excess DAP Painter Putty. So make sure to remove excess Painters Putty.
I touched it up and called it was all good... Just be aware.
Project Completion!
And just like that... the project was completed! I am very proud of this project and how it has freshened up the Kitchen with a simple but modern look. Thanks for checking out the build, I hope you enjoyed it!
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