Take Your Kitchen Island to the Next Level with Custom Corner Posts
Kitchen islands are immensely popular for good reason. They provide extra workspace, storage, and seating to make kitchen tasks more convenient. But a basic rectangular island can feel dull. Custom corner posts open up creative possibilities to take your island from blah to beautiful.
Corner posts serve important structural purposes while also letting you customize the look of your kitchen island. Internal corner posts provide hidden reinforcements. Decorative external posts add visual interest. Read on to discover how corner posts can transform your island aesthetically and functionally.
Enhance Style with External Corner Posts
External corner posts mounted on the outside of your island are design details that enhance visual appeal. They attractively accentuate the corners and dimensions of your island. You have abundant material choices for these visible posts including
- Ornate metal posts in wrought iron, steel, or brushed nickel
- Rugged and elegant wood posts made from maple, oak, walnut, or teak
- Sleek and modern stone posts using granite, marble, or quartz
- Durable recycled plastic and acrylic composites
Consider your kitchen's existing style. For traditional spaces, carved wood posts add warmth. Sleek metal communicates modern flair. Granite chunks pair nicely with other stone surfaces. The design options are unlimited.
Creative Design Ideas
Go beyond basic posts to add custom details like:
- Turning cabinet doors into integrated corner posts for a seamless look
- Incorporating decorative trimwork, beadboard, fluting, or other embellishments
- Including feet, corbels, and brackets for architectural interest
- Using posts to frame the island corners in an elegant way
- Painting posts as an accent color to match your scheme
Custom corner posts allow you to create varied, eye-catching corner shapes for an island with otherwise rectangular sides. Get creative with uneven, angled, or rounded corners to make your kitchen truly unique.
Reinforce Structure with Internal Corner Posts
While external posts highlight aesthetics, internal corner posts inside your island provide critical structural support. You won't see these posts, but they work hard behind the scenes. Internal corner posts:
- Reinforce and anchor the corners
- Attach the island securely to the floor
- Bear the weight of heavy countertops and appliances
- Add stability with barstool seating at the island
These supports prevent wobbling and separation over time. Hardwoods like oak and maple make excellent internal corner posts that won't crack or warp. Steel is another sturdy option. Install these supports properly when first constructing your island.
Select Durable, Stylish Materials
Choosing the right material ensures your custom corner posts last for years while coordinating beautifully with your design. Here are a few top options:
- Wood: Oak, teak, maple, and walnut offer hardwearing elegance. Consider moisture and splitting.
- Metal: Wrought iron, brushed nickel, and steel provide industrial appeal. Watch for corrosion.
- Stone: Granite, marble, and quartz make a substantial statement. Seal properly.
- Composites: Recycled plastic and acrylics offer durability. Can lack natural warmth.
There are also many ways to customize any material through staining, painting, distressing, and more for your own unique look.
DIY Installation Tips and Guidelines
With proper planning and care, installing your own custom corner posts is very doable. Follow these steps for a foolproof DIY approach:
- Gather necessary tools like drills, drivers, saws, screws, adhesive, and clamps.
- Precisely measure and map out post placement based on island dimensions.
- Anchor bottom of posts to floor with adhesive and/or screws.
- Attach posts to interior island framing using wood screws and construction adhesive.
- Join countertop and corner post seamlessly using adhesive and angle braces.
- Take care to make posts plumb and joints flush for best results.
While manageable as a DIY project, don't hesitate to call in a contractor for installation help if needed. There are also ways to save on labor costs, like having a contractor do the structural work while you handle the decorative finish details.
Get Inspired by Creative Examples
The amazing corner post transformations you can make are limited only by your imagination. Look at these examples below of custom posts used in real kitchens to spark your inspiration.
Rustic Farmhouse Charm
In this cottage kitchen, chunky beveled oak corner posts support an autumn-hued concrete countertop while providing the rustic warmth of natural wood.
Sleek Modern Style
The gleaming brushed nickel corner posts in this minimalist modern kitchen provide an industrial edge that accentuates the crisp, geometric lines of the design.
Organic Earthy Elegance
The organic shapes and natural wood textures of the corner posts in this kitchen bring visual warmth and an earthy elegance that contrasts beautifully with the cool marble countertops.
Corner posts are a great way to take your basic kitchen island to the next level. Use corner posts imaginatively to create an island that's uniquely yours. With the right posts your island will not only look amazing but also stand up to years of use.