Read the sequence from the top before cutting, painting, or moving pieces.
Welcome anyone new! I have a really fun project to show you… for Knocktoberfest!!!
YAY! Isn’t it cool?! Have y’all seen some of the FABULOUS knocktoberfest projects that have been going on around blogland? They really are so fun!! Be sure to go look at the previous project Jamie over at C.R.A.F.T and next in line, Melissa at 320 Sycamore to see some other great projects!
When my cute friend Linsday of Makely School for Girls invited, me I was all in… and then of course I procrastinated. Good intentions yes, any action?… of course not! But ya know, with about a week to spare I decided, it would be so cool to build a kitchen table/island. my. poor. husband. I will be honest, lately he does a lot of the building, I do a lot of the business and writing, so yeah, he basically took a six day stay-cation in the garage, not exactly a tropical location! I am soo happy to have him back home!! Well or just back in our daily lives. You cannot imagine how messy our house is. Gotta love last minute projects!
Here is the thinking behind the project. Technically we have a kitchen table that I LOVE! It was the table that we grew up with and was my grandparents before that. It has SO much sentimental value to me, but here is the sad part, it is just TOO big for our current space. We need the table to be smaller. Although, I do still want to be able to fit quite a few of us around the kitchen table…
Also, our kitchen is compact to say the least, so I wanted to create another work space, so instead of a table height table, I wanted a counter height table so it could double as another work surface.
Table/Island Needs:
- counter height
- smaller than current tale but not TOO small (about 3′ x 4′)
- optional larger size when needed
- some storage for utensils and art supplies for my girls
Alright, well you got a sneak peek of the project above, now here is the inspiration. Apparently I can’t just make an exact replica, I feel like if I am building something, I might as well customize and take the best of whatever I like, and add my own spin to things… This first table I liked, the Abbot Zinc Top Island from Pottery Barn was the MAIN inspiration for the shape and form of the table. (image and product source)
| Pros: |
Cons: |
| I love the overall shape and size. | The table top is too small |
| I adore the casters! | No storage |
| I love the shelf | The shelf makes it hard to sit at comfortably |
| The hook support bar could easily become a drawer (and it has!) |
The second inspiration piece is the Hamilton Reclaimed Wood Marble To Kitchen Island from Pottery Barn (image and product source)
| Pros | Cons |
|
Love the Casters |
Table top too small |
| Love the rustic feeling | Too much storage? (is that possible?) |
| Oh my goodness, those “X” sides, have my heart! | Can’t sit at this island because of the design |
| Tons of Storage |
Okay, so those fabulous inspiration pieces got us working on a hybrid table /island, with a bit of our personality sprinkled on top for good measure!! I don’t have the exact plans for you yet, and I haven’t quite finished the top, that may take another week, (#knocktoberfestfail!!! Sorry, they are coming!) but here is what it looks like… Uh yeah, in our living room, because our kitchen is in the middle of being built, and is no place to photograph anything!!! ( I wish I had my cute stools in the photos…see below)
One of the best features for our cramped space are the drop leaves. This way, when we need a big table we have it, but when we don’t it is still the well fitted size for our family!
I LOVE the storage for my utensils (and the other side of the table I haven’t filled up yet, but I want it to be supplies for coloring, painting, and crafting for my girls etc.)
I LOVE the table top (even unfinished as it is!)! It is SO cool!
I still need to decide how I am going to finish off the table top. What do you think I should do? Should I stain it, or leave it natural? Would white washing it look good? I wanna see the wood grain for sure, I am just not totally sure which way I want to go. We plan on using epoxy or some sort of envirotex to fill the gaps… and have a nice smooth finish, but I am not sure I want it that glossy, so we may need to figure that out…
 |
 |
Oh and I just ordered these clearly cute stools from Overstock. They are 2 for 89.00 bucks! Killer deal! I want to get some chairs with backs later, but for now these are a great start, and you know I love me some yellow!
Please look at the other lovely projects:
| Monday, October 21 1. Lindsay – Makely School for Girls |
| 2. Beth – Home Stories A to Z |
| 3. Gina – Shabby Creek Cottage |
| 4. Beckie – Infarrantly Creative |
| 5. Emily – Decorchick! |
| 6. Wendy – The Shabby Nest |
| Tuesday, October 22 1. Donna – Funky Junk Interiors |
| 2. Jess and Monica – East Coast Creative |
| 3. Jackie – Teal and Lime |
| 4. Jen – Tatertots and Jello |
| 5. Carmel – Our Fifth House |
| Wednesday, October 23 1. Chris – Just a Girl |
| 2. Lindsay – The White Buffalo Styling Company |
| 3. Melissa – The Inspired Room |
| 4. Ana – Ana White |
| 5. Marianne – Songbird |
| 6. Karianne – Thistlewood Farms |
| Thursday, October 24 1. Roeshel – Handmade Showoff |
| 2. Sandra – Sawdust Girl |
| 3. Jamie – C.R.A.F.T. |
| 4. Cassity – Bekob |
| 5. Melissa – 320 Sycamore 6. Mandi – Vintage Revivals |
| Friday, October 25 1. Ashley – The Handmade Home |
| 2. Stacy – Not JUST a Housewife |
| 3. Traci – Beneath My Heart |
| 4. Brooke – All Things Thrifty |
| 5. Laura – Finding Home |
| 6. Sarah – Sarah M Dorsey Designs |
What do you think of this knocktoberfest project?
