Kitchen Island Makeover with Salvaged Materials

A kitchen island should be a gathering place for the whole family, but this island had no counterspace for people to sit, was not centered under the lighting, was too small and had insufficient storage space. Designer Joanne Palmisano’s solution was to build it out with salvaged materials. See the makeover in this DIY Network video:



The plan was to reface the island with wood and door panels and replace the countertop with copper to match the coppery feel of the tile in the backsplash. Salvaged materials included:

  • Copper top custom-ordered from a sheet metal fabricator.
  • Three matching doors from a deconstructed colonial parsonage – the beautiful green paint complements the color scheme in the kitchen
  • Pair of weight-bearing corbels to support the overhang of the new countertop

The doors were cut to fit around three sides of the island. The hardware was removed and recycled and the edges planed for a tight fit. The doors were then attached to the outside of the original island with screws and wood glue. To make the island bigger, a new addition was added using the cut doors and screwing them directly into the floor. The back side of the island was left open for three new shelves and a rollout trash bin. Salvaged 2-inch wood trim was cut and attached to the rough edges on the open side of the island for a finishing touch

The copper sheet was prepped for the countertop. As it was very thin, it was framed out with two inches of salvaged dimensional lumber to keep it rigid. Applying a solution of water and sulfur gave it an aged look, and heating it with a blowtorch gave it a unique and colorful patina. A few coats of shellac were applied on top to seal it and to create a safe, smooth surface for food preparation and eating. A 12-inch wide sheet of copper was nailed to the underside of the countertop just where it overhangs the seating area. Then the countertop was attached to the island face using metal brackets.

The corbels were cleaned and shellacked to preserve the original look. They were place beneath the overhang on either side and secured with discretely place wood screws right into the door panels and copper.

At the end of this makeover, the former barely functional kitchen island is now a comfortable family hub, even between meals.

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