$30 Fake It Til You Make It Butcher Block Kitchen Island

When we bought our home three years ago,

there were many things we weren't content with.

Many.things.

HA!

The kitchen was one of the main areas that needed cosmetic work.

We had all white cabinets in our previous kitchen and loved them.

The hubs and I both agreed,

 that we eventually wanted white cabinets in our new home as well.

We decided to start with the kitchen island.

It was a built in and we knew we had to work around that.

The island was originally the same color as the rest of the kitchen cabinets.

Almost a nude colored wood that neither one of us personally cared for.

The hubs started by removing the drawers off of the island.

He then sanded and sanded and sanded.

Next, we used liquid nails to add beadboard to the sides that didn't have drawers.

The hubs also added small nails to hold the beadboard in place.

{Sorry about the dark evening time picture}

We then painted the island {drawer side} white.

Then painted all four drawers white and added the hardware.

Now, here is where we had to get super creative with this project!

We knew we wanted butcher block or at least the look of butcher block.

However, after researching the large size we needed,

we knew, at the time, it was not in our budget!

So, we started thinking abour how we could create the look of butcher block.

We found a large piece of wood that was nice and flat at Home Depot.

Then added small pieces of wood on the sides.

Then sanded and sanded and sanded!

Visually creating a piece of thick butcher block wood.

Next, we applied a million tubes of liquid nails to the top of our existing island.

Then placed the "fake butcher block" on top.

And had the kids sit on it.

For like two hours.

Oh yes, we did.

 

After the top dried 100%, the hubs also added screws from underneath.

We then stained our fake butcher block top.

 

 

We also added various pieces of molding.

Crown molding really does add so much more character, to just about anything.

 

Now, if you look super duper close, you can see the seam.
However, I will tell you,
all of our friends and family thought is was butcher block,
until we {of course} told them otherwise!
:)

We could NOT be happier with the way this project came out.
It is perfect for our little family of four.
Many nights we pull up bar stools and eat around our island!

It has been perfect for cooking and baking as well!

Here's a last little side view for you!

Thanks so much for sticking with me through this rather long post!

I will be sharing with these talented ladies this week!

Hope you have a great evening!
XOXO