Get Additional Countertops and Storage with a DIY Kitchen Island

If your kitchen feels cramped or lacks storage and prep space, adding an island can provide the counter and cabinets you need. Islands not only maximize unusable floor space but also often become a focal point in open-concept cooking areas. Fortunately, building one doesn't require hiring a carpenter, as repurposing old cabinets offers an affordable DIY approach to gaining extra surface and organization.

As experienced DIYers, we'll walk through the complete process of constructing and customizing an island from cabinet boxes. With proper planning and some basic skills, you can create flexible new storage solutions while avoiding the high cost of custom cabinetry.

Choosing Cabinet Boxes for the Base

Standard kitchen base cabinets make ideal foundations for DIY islands since they offer an existing floor-level structure to build upon. Evaluate the dimensions of your current cabinets along with the available floor space in your kitchen to determine the potential island size and layout.

Typically, base cabinet boxes come in 3-inch increments, from 9 inches up to 36 inches wide. Piecing together units allows customizing width to your exact specifications. Most are 24 inches deep, though 30- and 36-inch depths provide more room for larger sinks or appliances. Kitchen workflow and spacing to appliances, doors, and traffic paths should guide exact placement.

Selecting Appropriate Cabinet Size and Layout

Consider your needs when choosing cabinets. Will you use the island strictly for extra countertop workspace and storage, or do you also want seating? Standard 24-inch deep units usually suffice unless you plan to incorporate a rangetop or oversized farmhouse sink. Allow clearances for knee space and chairs when establishing dimensions.

We oriented our 118-inch wide island parallel to our existing counters and appliances after measuring the open floor area. This provided sufficient clearance while maximizing a usable rectangular footprint. We selected four base cabinet boxes, two each of two different widths, allowing counter overhangs.

Matching Current Cabinet Finish

Consistency in style lends a seamless, custom look. Repurposed cabinets don't need to match exactly, but close finishes prevent the island from feeling out of place. We sanded ours down to raw wood and applied gel stain in an espresso tone matching our existing shaker-style units to achieve a cohesive appearance.

Structural Support Considerations

While cabinet boxes provide an accessible starting point, their framed construction alone won't reliably anchor the heavy load of an island workstation. Depending on the span length and countertop material used, significant sagging or even collapse becomes a risk without proper reinforcement.

After establishing rough island dimensions, we butt-jointed the repurposed base units together. We then attached thick oak crossbeams between the front and back cabinet frames and through the sides of abutting units for stability. The entire undercarriage framework got lag bolted into the floor framing below to prevent any shifting or rocking under load.

Preparing and Leveling the Floor

With cabinet boxes bolted together into one unit, installing the island base requires an extremely flat, smooth subfloor. Uneven spots cause instability and racking over time as weight stresses connections. We recommend using a long level and laser line level to identify any low or high areas.

Checking for Level Floor

Mark trouble areas for grinding down high spots or filling in divots and cracks with self-leveling cement compound. For large low zones, cut and secure layers of exterior-grade plywood. If existing flooring lacks adequate support, first address underlying structural deficiencies before covering with new underlayment.

We discovered a roughly one-inch dip near the island location, apparently caused by a rotting subfloor deck board. After sistering in fresh lumber and blending even with floor leveler, the surface stood ready to receive cabinets.

Options for Stabilizing

Assembling the Base Frame

With an even subfloor fully prepped, mounting the cabinets can commence. We first aligned and clamped the four base units tightly in place on the floor to prevent shifting while installing corner braces inside each joint. Drive pocket hole screws or use heavy L-brackets when combining standard cabinet boxes.

Cutting Cabinets to Size

If your collected cabinet carcasses surpass needed island dimensions, use a circular saw or jigsaw to cut them down to size before joining. Remember to account for interior framework when marking cut lines to avoid removing critical structural components.

We trimmed five inches off a 36-inch sink base to achieve the established 118-inch width. Cutting through the cabinet sides and double checking for plumb crosscuts ensured straight cabinet sides over the entire length.

Joining Cabinet Boxes

Secure abutting cabinet sides together firmly with structural brackets or wooden bracing spans screwed into cross holes drilled through the box frames. Oversize pieces of oak work well for bridging cabinets end-to-end and adding reinforcement. apply adhesive between contact surfaces to strengthen connections before fastening.

We further rigidized the interior using plywood gussets screwed into each cabinet back corner and through the oak braces. The result felt solid as a stationary unit, despite lacking panels or a countertop.

Anchoring Frame to Floor

With the cabinet cluster fully braced internally, anchor the entire assembly securely to the floor. Use lag screws drilled into floor joists if possible, or epoxy anchors for concrete floors. Sinking heavy hooks into subflooring alone risks pulling free over time.

We toenailed several stout ledger boards into the perimeter floor framing as a strongback for lag bolting down through the cabinet bases. The supplemental ledgers will also allow securing an overhang support frame later on.

Adding Custom Cabinet Doors and Drawers

Now that a solid structural foundation has taken shape, turn attention to the cabinet interiors and exterior surfaces. DIY-built doors and drawers enable matching the style of your existing kitchen or customizing with more unique options like reclaimed barnwood or copper accents.

DIY vs Pre-Made Cabinet Fronts

The decision depends largely on available tools, skill level, and how much sweat equity you wish to invest. We built shaker-style maple doors and drawer fronts to match existing kitchen finishes, which required intermediate carpentry proficiency.

Techniques for Sizing and Installing

European-style concealed hinges enable full overlay doors and easier alignment while hiding unsightly gaps. Allow 1/8 inch spacing gaps between doors and drawer fronts for smooth operation. Keep widths identical across all doors for consistency.

We cut all doors to 17 inches wide, with varying heights between 27 and 30 inches as needed. After routing edges and sanding, hang each door using spacer tabs and screws to dial-in perfect spacing on the first try.

Undermount soft-close slides keep drawers aligned behind fronts. Check alignments with doors closed before finalizing attachment.

Creating Storage Pull-outs

Take full advantage of unused interior cabinet space with storage upgrades like roll-outs, cabinet door racks and other DIY optimizations. Consider access and clearance requirements before building.

We added double waste bin pull-outs within a 36-inch base unit along with two levels of rack storage behind a set of doors. Spacing dimensions between rollers and making openings wide enough to remove bins took careful measuring beforehand.

Countertop Material Options

Choosing the appropriate surface for food preparation and durability within your budget steers the next phase. While natural stone countertops like granite and marble look stunning, the heavy materials often require professional fabrication and installation.

Popular Choices Comparison

We selected a maple butcher block counter for aesthetics and scratch resistance. The heavy material challenged our DIY abilities but offered rich appearance Worth the effort.

Important Measurements

Carefully measure for sink cutouts, taking future replacement models into account if possible. Overestimate seams and edge overhangs, allowing 1/8 to 1/4 inch for fitting while leaving room for sanding and finishing the exposed wood edge.

We used a rub joint with loose tenons between the two counters for alignment. Clamps pulled the seam together tight during glue-up.

Sink and Appliance Installation

Expanding beyond a basic prep station, adding one or more sinks or electrified appliances escalates complexity but enables greater functionality. Consult local codes for required GFCI circuits, ventilation, and plumbing access needs when incorporating powered components.

Code Requirements

Permanent islands with equipment connections mandate permits and professional installation in most jurisdictions. Strict regulations govern electrical and gas hookups to ensure safety. Consider hiring assistance unless you posess specialized trade skills.

Compatibility Factors

Match sink basins and cooktops to cabinet and counter depths to ensure fit and access. Allow for toe kick height and material thicknesses like backsplashes. We ordered an ADA-compliant shallow sink to accommodate limited underside clearance in our 30-inch high cabinet box.

Exact field measurements also prevented issues aligning prefab quartz around the stainless bowl. We still recommend a professional fabricator for tight-tolerance cutting of expensive countertop materials.

Professional Help Advisable

Unless you have construction experience, advanced DIYers should enlist professional assistance when incorporating powered appliances into a kitchen island. The specialized expertise offers peace of mind by ensuring safe, compliant operation and connection of electrical, plumbing and gas systems.

Painting and Finishing Touches

Complete your island transformation with a fresh coat of paint or stain for the cabinets, adding decorative enhancements like moldings, accent lighting and hardware. Detailing finishes an integrated, built-in look.

Prepping and Painting Cabinets

For painted cabinets, apply bonding primer first, then sand lightly before finishing with two topcoats of cabinet enamel. The formulation resists yellowing and is scrubbable for durability. Buy sufficient for the entire kitchen to avoid slight color mismatches between batches.

We brushed two coats of gel stain onto the new shaker doors and drawer fronts to blend with existing maple cabinets, then applied three layers of water-based urethane for moisture protection.

Adding Decorative Trim

Frame the island with crown molding, light rails or other architectural accents to integrate visually with the rest of the kitchen. Undercabinet lighting or glass door frames highlight displayed contents or illuminate tasks.

Keep decorative trim simple and clean-lined for a contemporary style matching our kitchen aesthetic. Square floating shelves echo the linear door style while task lighting illuminates the counter.

Safety and Maintenance

Prevent possible injuries and excess wear by checking for stability issues right away and implementing prudent use habits. Catch minor damage early before repairs grow costly.

Checking for Levelness and Stability

Verify all doors and drawers open and close smoothly without rubbing or binding immediately after assembly. Confirm counters feel completely secure with no corner lift or movement when bearing weight. Periodically check for loose joinery or cracking over time.

We noticed the butcher block developing a slight bow across its length after installation. We re-secured the ledgers to impose flatten the span, which returned it to perfect levelness.

Cleaning and Avoiding Damage

Use cutting boards, pot holders and trivets religiously to prevent scratches, scorches or moisture damage. Clean up spills immediately and regularly apply conditioner to nourish wood counters.

Harsh chemicals can degrade finishes prematurely. We found a gentle, food-safe detergent works well for everyday wipe-downs without harming our water-based urethane topcoats.

When Repairs Become Necessary

Check for loosened anchors, cracks, wood swelling or hardware issues annually. Tighten or replace compromised parts right away before bigger problems develop. Refinish or swap damaged countertops sooner than later to prevent safety issues.

We noticed the corner braces loosening over the first year of use. A few turns of the screw clamped everything back solid, restoring rigidity.

As you can see, building a kitchen island from standard cabinet boxes puts upgraded counters and storage well within reach. Some carpentry proficiency makes construction easier, but the project remains approachable even for an intermediate DIYer. With clever repurposing and reinforcement, unused floor space transforms into personalized function that feels custom-designed.

The island we created from a few old cabinets and scrap oak beams added over 10 feet of extra countertop plus concealed storage at a fraction the price of buying custom. With endless options for size, features, and style, what unique creation will you dream up?