Restoration Hardware {Inspired} Island

Hi Friends!

I am so super excited to share the finished pictures of my new kitchen island with you! 
It turned out just like even better than I envisioned it, I couldn’t be happier! I’m going to do this in two posts. This first post will simply be a show and tell…and then I’ll do another post with all the steps we took to build it.

Ok, so we’ll start with a finished picture and then I’ll tell you a little about it and give you lots more views!

Here is my kitchen before the island:

Actually, there is still an “island” in there. That’s a Costco rack taking the space of an island just to be sure I really wanted an island.  I wanted to make sure it wasn’t in the way and more annoying than helpful.  I have a very square kitchen, but it’s not super wide…so it’s not really meant for an island. I have approx. 96 inches between the counters.  So I built the island to be 24” and that leaves me 36” on each side of the island for walking space. Ideally I believe the recommendation is 42” but the 36” is working just fine for me.

Wait just a minute here!

This is suppose to be the show portion, not the tell portion!  I’ll give you all the details later. Smile!

Ok, but where I was going with that previous thought was that the above picture is NOT the before-an-island-picture.  HERE is a real before an island picture.
{You may need to sit down for this one.}

THIS, my friends, is the real before picture! Can you believe your eyes? yes, yes it’s the same kitchen!

Ok, anyways…back to my island.

I love islands. I think they are the centerpiece to the kitchen, which is the centerpiece of the home. I have always wanted an island. I want a place where my 3 children can “help” me cook and I can still move my elbows. Oh, see, I’m doing it again! I’m giving you all my commentary.

Here’s the inspiration…Restoration Hardware’s Salvaged Wood Kitchen Island, priced at $2,695…plus tax, plus shipping…over $3,200!  Ouch!  Well, not even ouch, just NO WAY!!

Here’s mine:

Ok, so let’s review…

Before:

And After:

I just love it! Can you tell?

And now, I get to cross one more project off my 2011 to do list! Yay!!

Ok, and like I promised, I’ll give you all the details and tell you how we made it soon…I’ve got lots of commentary to share with you.  Smile!

UPDATE:  Here you go!  Here are ALL THE DETAILS of how I built my island!!!

Linking up at these parties!