Building the Kitchen Island

I wanted to show you some pictures of the Island being constructed!

We have not built one before, so it took a few weeks as we were pretty much making it up as we went along! We used fence posts (planed and sanded) for the four corners and 2" by 3"s to create a base the size we wanted as a starting point.

We then built a unit to fit into the middle which would house the electrics for 2 sockets and create cupboards on either side and 2 drawers above them on the sink side.

On the seating side- we 'blanked out' the space where drawers on the other side would go.

Euan added in the sockets ( wiring comes through the new floor)

 And finally we got the Oak top! Its a huge 140cm by 190cm and was made at Norfolk Oak

 

The oak that forms the open storage at each end cost a few pounds and came from the timer yard a few miles up the road. They were all different widths and lengths and looked like firewood but after we worked some magic on them with Euans planer/thicknesser, a good sanding and some oil- they looked gorgeous.

We added the supports at one end- cut in a curved shape to match the wall cupboard.

The bar stools proved difficult. We had 2 false starts with other sets of stools which had to be sent back because they were too tall....you couldn't sit at the island. In the end, I bought them from Neptune and they are perfect.

                                                                                                                                                            

A Kitchen Update....Our Island.

When we came to view the house 3 years ago....it was the kitchen that we fell in love with because we could see that it would one day be big enough to have an Island and that was the dream.

But we 'finished' the kitchen 2 years ago without having built the Island because well, we wanted a large one and we didn't have the money. So we had to wait! 

It was the bespoke oak top that cost the money...we could find only one company (Norfolk Oak) that would make us the worktop and it had to be driven up here especially from Englandshire....but it was worth it! Euan made the base of course. There are cupboards on both sides, drawers and open storage at each end.

 I must apologise for the quality of these photos.....I need to get a decent camera or a steadier hand methinks

A few other things in the kitchen have also changed and been added.

We ended up replacing the oak worktops with granite. We loved the oak but it began to bow and stain, even with regular oiling and I was always paranoid about water around the sink.

We also extended the worktop into the window this time....the granite we choose is a really beautiful warm colour...Giallo Venneziano.

We also found a Welsh Dresser on Gumtree which now sits nicely on the far wall and gives me somewhere to display pretty things! Here it is a few weeks ago at Christmas.

 

The island is a joy to prepare dinner or do baking on.....sorry bout the mess in this one!

Euan made us a little extra unit to give us more worktop around the sink... he made it a wine rack with oak shelving to match the island.

                             

Euan put in a big drawer and open storage at each end.

And here he is.....the kitchen maker himself!

We/I really mean Euan also got around to building us a proper larder which is wonderful and has really made life a lot easier! No more rummaging through wee cupboards to find things....its all in the same place!

We lived with wiring hanging out of the new floor under the old table for 2 years because we knew we would be putting power into the island when we got round to building it! Its really handy for appliances and for charging phones!

I am sorry I have neglected my blog. I will try to put together a post at some point showing a bit more of the making of the Island, rather than just the end result.