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antique dresser made into a kitchen island
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Posted by kitka (My Page) on Sun, Aug 23, 09 at 10:19
| I would like to make a kitchen island out of a vintage dresser or buffet. (First need to find something). Has anyone tried this? Not sure what to make the top out of. I just need a narrow island and I would like to paint it black, but I have never refinished anything before. Would love to see pictures if anyone has done this. Would also appreciate any tips/hints. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: antique dresser made into a kitchen island
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| You might want to post this on the Kitchen forum. |
RE: antique dresser made into a kitchen island
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| If you are going to put a new top on it and paint it black....why do you want an antique dresser? |
RE: antique dresser made into a kitchen island
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| I like the idea. See the photo in the link for some inspiration. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Dresser turned into island
RE: antique dresser made into a kitchen island
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I'am sure you don't want to hear this....but that doesn't look like an island made from an old dresser but rather a table that moves around. That base and the legs look very out of place with the rest of the piece, the placement of the handles on the drawers is odd and the top looks too too big for the base.
How about something like the table linked below?
Linda C |
Here is a link that might be useful: Old table
RE: antique dresser made into a kitchen island
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| Thanks everybody. I was thinking something like in the website shown below, with a vintage buffet or dresser painted black (rubbed/distressed). I need it painted and not stained in order to work it in with my kitchen decor. |
Here is a link that might be useful: painted vintage buffet
RE: antique dresser made into a kitchen island
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| I've seen some antique pieces made into bath vanities and really like them. Could be cool making an island - like your inspiration, kitka! |
RE: antique dresser made into a kitchen island
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| What a great idea! I have a dresser from the early 1900s, possibly 1920s that is similar looking to the one in your picture. So that may be the era you want to look for. Obviously, the dresser needs to be in excellent shape (i.e. sturdy). It would be ideal to find something with casters or turned legs, that seems to be the standout feature - you can always change the color and knobs. How about a marble top? Or butcher block? There are plenty of choices - all depends on your taste - good luck! |
RE: antique dresser made into a kitchen island
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| I don't have a picture, but there is a lady in my neighborhood that has a sideboard turned island in her kitchen. They had a piece of granite cut for the top. It's very similar to the last piece you linked, but hers is black. |
RE: antique dresser made into a kitchen island
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| The last time I was lurking here I thought about posting the suggestion that something like a sideboard or buffet be used instead of a dresser. I have three late 19th, early 20th century dressers and they would all be to short for a kitchen island. Or even a bathroom vanity anymore. Modern day vanities are being made taller than in years past, thank goodness. |
RE: antique dresser made into a kitchen island
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| I like the idea but the dresser and the top would take some planning and searching to get it right (I don't personally like the idea of new top on old dresser). I would be more inclined to consider the old table suggestion, but the top would have to be made safe for food preparation unless you're prepared to never use it that way. And I like the black paint in the kitchen. |
RE: antique dresser made into a kitchen island
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| Why mess up a piece of antique furniture? I suggest going to an unpainted furniture store and search for a piece suitable for your use. You can paint it any color you like - maybe do it in enamel or similar washable finish. For the top, get creative - think plywood, interior doors, shelf boards with prefinished surfaces, or cement simulating stone. You could fabricate a 'butcher block' style top: glue together a stack of 1 x 2 inch hard maple boards, 1 inch edges up. After the adhesive has set, cut to size, smooth the top and sand, and then finish. If your island is permanently fixed to the floor (won't be moved), have an electrican install electrical outlets in each end of the island. |
RE: antique dresser made into a kitchen island
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I remember a multi-million dollar house at the parade of homes that was created in an English cottage style. It had a big, heavy, old table, with a bottom shelf, as the main work area/island in the kitchen. That house was the most cozy, interesting house I've ever seen on a home tour. If I had enough room in my kitchen, I would love to have that look.
D. |
RE: antique dresser made into a kitchen island
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| After much searching about--I find that it probably will have to be a buffet rather than a dresser due to height. For those that HATE the thought of messing up an Antique--I plan on using one that's not "ready for prime time". Something that's, let's say, you wouldn't want to re-stain, maybe the top is in horrible shape, chunks/ bad gouges, etc. I also appreciate a solid wood piece and wouldn't want to paint over it. I did find a really cool buffet already painted, but when I put it in my kitchen found that it was about 6" too big. Going to instead use it in my craft room for supplies--it is a charming piece (jacobean style, white/shabby chic). Going to try & find a shabby chic table to put with it, hang a chandelier, and I will have a trendy craft room!! I need a buffet about 48" or a little less, decided I will paint it white, not sure yet about the top. The style I am gravitating to is Jacobean--I am finding many that are in pretty sorry shape, just need to find the right one. I would like to post a picture when I find one, but can't figure out how to paste photos in these postings. Thanks to everyone for their postings--I enjoy reading your comments. You keep posting--I'll keep reading. |
RE: antique dresser made into a kitchen island
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| I personally dont see the issue with "messing" up an antique piece of furniture. If you find something that you can restore and it's something that you will treasure, than whatever would be the difference between having it in your kitchen vs having it tucked away in a guest room or somewhere where it wont get near the admiration/use. With it being a focal point of your kitchen, where people will be more likely to see it and admire it. Is there some unwritten antique law that I'm not aware of? |
RE: antique dresser made into a kitchen island
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| I agree Rjinga, thanks for your comments. But I do get folks that get a bit un-nerved when I mentioned painting an antique piece of furniture (my husband is also giving me a hard time about painting over wood that's in good shape). To me, just being able to get some use out of something that someone no longer wants is the real beauty, antique or not. I am sticking with purchasing an antique buffet (going to look at one from craigs list today) and will be painting it white and enjoying the heck out of it once it is in my kitchen right smack dab in the middle! If I can figure out how, will post some pic's. |
RE: antique dresser made into a kitchen island
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| Well, this certainly got my attention. I recently acquired a small (34x34) table that was pretty beat up but would make a perfect table to pot plants on. I filled the holes from the dog chewing on two legs, painted it a darkish wedgewood blue, and absolutely LOVE it. It isn't an antique, nor even particularly well built, but really cute. So, this post rang my bell because we have planned an island for a kitchen re-do that has been in the 'we should' stage for 12 years. Not a money issue, just can't get into it. I had this little table in the middle of the kitchen floor while i planned its makeover, and found it really handy....
I have this really great antique dresser in the basement that belonged to a distant Elvis relative. She had 'antiqued' it back in the 60's when that was the rage, and left it when she moved out of our spare room. I've always thought about stripping it and refinishing it, but I love this idea of turning it into an island. I would want to put a top on it that extends far enough to eat off it on the back side.
Would that rumbling you hear be E rolling in his grave?
Barbara |
RE: antique dresser made into a kitchen island
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| If it's not hand carved by Chippendale himself, and isn't an "important" piece (ie it's machine made oak of the victorian era) it's a great candidate for this type of renovation. Having a top made is a cinch...have a marble or stone guy/gal come out and make a template. They can do this easily and a marble top on top of an eastlake style piece is within norm for antiques... It will be gorgeous :) I've done the same in my powder room at home (it's a beautiful but not important sheet music holder turned into a vanity). I had an expert craftsman add 3" to the piece to hold the top and refinish it (it had gone allegator and I was preggers and didnt want to do it myself due to fumes). I just purchased a house with many bathrooms and plan on doing the same with a bunch of old eastlakes on the property for the bathrooms. I also plan on working an antique butcher block into the island (it will be a small continent because it's a big room with no wall space for storage). I hope to work in a few antique pieces into the island (ice box etc) :O) I hope you find the right piece...it will be gorgeous |
RE: antique dresser made into a kitchen island
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| I have an old mahogany partner's desk that I plan to use for a kitchen island. It originally had a leather top that's no longer there, so I haven't figured out what to do about the top yet. I'm short, so the desk height is fine for me. And, since it's a partner's desk it's finished on all sides. |
RE: antique dresser made into a kitchen island
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| Wish I could remember the forum, but one of the members used an antique buffet, on legs, as a kitchen island. I thought it was beautiful and unique. |
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