How to Build a Kitchen Island Out of Vintage Wood Benches

Kitchen islands are one of the latest and greatest trends in kitchen that seem like they are always going to be popular. The lasts trend if to have a kitchen island that looks like a distinct and custom piece of furniture right in the middle of your kitchen. This simple kitchen island made of new or vintage wood benches is a fun project that will add a shabby chic design, vintage touch, or retro redo to your kitchen.

To Make a Kitchen Island Out of Old Wood Benches You Will Need:

Wood benches

Milk paint (optional)

Screws

Plywood

Power drill

Beveled Glass (optional)

Wood legs

Castors (optional)

The first step is to assemble your grouping of vintage wood benches. You want to stand them up in a pattern to make the shape of your kitchen island. Piece them together like a puzzle.

Now, determine which vintage bench is the tallest, but hopefully they will all be similar in size.

If you can, you can use a jigsaw to shave off the bottoms of any legs that are a little bit too tall. You could also ass small piece of wood or even bun feet to add height to shorter benches.

Once you have all your benches the same height you are ready to move on. You need to turn all the vintage benched over topside down in the same pattern of your kitchen island.

Now, top them off with a sheet of plywood. This should be as wide and long as the furtherist legs on the benches.

Tip: Paint the sheet of plywood before you assemble your kitchen island. It will be so much easier. You should also add a coat of paint to any benches that need it as well. Use milk paint for a vintage look.

Now, drill a hole thought the back of the plywood into the legs of the benches. Add a three-inch wood screw to attach them together.

Now, you need to add four legs to the bottom of the plywood to bring your kitchen island up to counter height, I like to use wood fence posts for this. Have them cit to size. You can attach them with L brackets and screw them into place.

If you want your retro vintage kitchen island mobile add some castors to the bottom four legs while you have it upside down.

Now, have some friends help you flip your kitchen island right side up. They will need to support the benches at you turn it over.

Once in place you can top off the whole kitchen island with a sheet of thick beveled glass for a one of a kind shabby chic kitchen island that is sure to be a conversation starter at your next dinner party!!