Making a nice kitchen island.

[StageLeft]

I went to a store that sells unfinished furniture. A well sized center kitchen island with drawers and things can be had for $500. A really nice, larger one is $1000. I see plans on the interweb for other ones, but for those who've done it, what's a ballpark on the cost of materials? Also, what's the main tool I need to have? Is it a table saw? I only otherwise have a drill and access to a miter saw.

 

[Vette73]

It really depends on what type of style and what part you will make and what part you buy.
The tools it would take to make a GOOD one can be table saw (good one), router, pocket screw kit, and other basic tools (drill and so on). That is if you buy the doors, unless it is a open design.
I have a full tool set which includes router, good TS, shaper, jointer, planer, etc... and could build one from dried raw wood.

So it is not easy and might require more/better tools depending on the size and quality you want.

IMO have you looked at Ikea?

 

[Bignate603]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
IMO have you looked at Ikea?

I was just there yesterday (getting shelves) and they have some nice stand alone ones. It would be the easiest solution by far. You can literally set them up, put them where you want it, and you're done. No carpentry, no messing with the floor.

 

[DrPizza]

I wouldn't think that building cabinets is a good project for a beginner. (You said you only had a drill & access to a router, hence the assumption.) Finishing unfinished cabinets isn't a bad project though, and $500 is a pretty good price, depending on the overall size and type of countertop.

 

[DrPizza]

on second thought, there's just such a huge variety of "kitchen islands," that I guess I could see some of them as beginner types of projects. But, by "well sized kitchen island" for $500, I have no clue what you're looking at. I have seen what I thought was a beautiful kitchen island at Bargain Outlet for around $600, with a granite top. I think it was about 4'x6'

When I said that it wouldn't be a good project, I was thinking more along the lines of this or this

Then, I saw the Ikea kitchen island: here

So, too large a variety of styles to even recommend tools you'd need, and especially, the quality of those tools.

 

[sonambulo]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
I wouldn't think that building cabinets is a good project for a beginner. (You said you only had a drill & access to a router, hence the assumption.) Finishing unfinished cabinets isn't a bad project though, and $500 is a pretty good price, depending on the overall size and type of countertop.

I agree with this. IMHO, it's worth the time to shop around at local custom cabinet shops and get some quotes. Also could you be more specific Skoorb? How big is big, what type of wood are you planning on using, what kind of countertop, are you going to plumb it or run any kind of gas or electric into it, and are there any kind of custom cabinet configurations or just boxes with shelves and drawers? I know this sounds anal but this will help a LOT.

Originally posted by: DrPizza
Then, I saw the Ikea kitchen island: here

That's a kitchen cart; IKEA lexicon be damned.

 

[JMapleton]

Are you referring to a full blown attached kitchen island or a "kitchen cart"? Big difference.

 

[DrPizza]

Oh, and for what it's worth, keep a close eye on craigslist. You'd be amazed at what you can find for kitchen cabinets. From "wow, you really need to update this kitchen" to "my husband makes so much money that I'm not satisfied with the 3 year old beautiful cabinets. I want custom exotic wood cabinets and viking appliances and..."

You could get a handful of really good quality lower cabinets, a sheet or two of furniture grade plywood for the back or sides, and have a huge variety of options for the countertop. Simplest: plywood or (whatever the heck that particle board stuff is), with formica top and edges. The formica would require a little use of the router. Or, plywood, then cementboard & put tile or 1'x1' granite squares on it.

Going this route would give you the greatest number of options & cost the least. If you had a sink base, & were handy with plumbing, you could put a sink into the island. Or a cooktop.