Kitchen Island upgrade - builder grade to modern classic

Three years ago we bought a house with a gorgeous kitchen, full of the latest high end gadgets, cosy and welcoming. It had a Sub-Zero fridge/freezer and drawer fridge, nugget ice machine, fully kitted out with Wolf appliances kitchen. We felt extremely privilege that the previous owner chose us as the next owners of this phenomenal kitchen and many of our overnight guests have chosen to make incredible gourmet meals for us instead of eating out!

However, it did not have an island or a microwave. Strangely, we found the island in the upstairs office and the microwave in the laundry room.

When we moved in we moved the island from the office into the garage, just until we knew what we were going to do. Yes, I know, crazy to have granite countertop in the garage when I needed some chopping space around the stove.......so, three years later I decided to move it into the kitchen and have some creative fun. Not sure why I didn’t do this when we moved in!

This is what it looked like.

I had spent hours searching the internet for the perfect unit for my perfect kitchen. Should it be black, wood, steel, country, gold, rustic, vintage......and I got stuck, for months, years. Then one day while I was cooking, I decided to put the island into the kitchen thinking that if it didn't work out, I would just throw the old one out and buy a new unit from the kitchen company.

I quickly learned to love the extra countertop, it was a life saver, what a difference. So I decided to channel my creativity mojo and upgrade this ugly unit into modern stylish island that fitted my designer kitchen without breaking the bank. I

started by going to Lowe's, and bought new corners and 1/4" thick wood to make a frame on the three blank sides of the island (this unit has two drawers and one open bottom space).

The idea was a bit blurry, but I knew I didn't want traditional look, something a bit more unique. So I went to Home Depot to get some ideas like paintable wallpaper, planks, decorative tiles, metal plates etc. I just wanted something a bit more retro / modern.

I came home with thin wooden strips and some blue masking tape.

My idea was irregular, jet open pattern. I put on some music, cut the strips with 45˚ angel and started playing around. I felt pumped and very satisfied, the response from the family was not what I was expecting, their comments: "not quite seeing the magic!", "I don't like the blue tape", "don't like the colour". Really, I just started.

The family still not convinced, but apparently it's better without the blue tape!

After the first primer coat, the comments had shifted, but not in the right direction, "I defiantly don't like this", "Are you ever going to stop" and "I don't like the paint, it's not white".

Then I turned it upside down to put the skirting board on and my son said, "I liked it the other way around". Really! I am only putting the skirting board on, it's a bit difficult to open the drawers when they are turning this way.

So I turned it around and painted it with Chalk paint, Urbane Bronze (SW7048)

Bought some new hardware and pull out drawer system from Rev-A-Shelf.

WE LOVE IT.

It looks like it has always been there and makes the kitchen feel competed.