Friday, April 17, 2009

Porter Family Kitchen Island Re-do

Meet Lisa Porter.

[twitter+cropped+Derby.JPG]

Her blog is The Lisa Porter Collection. I highly recommend you stop by and visit her, if you haven’t already done so. It’s one of the prettiest places on the web! She has impeccable taste, and is one amazing and inspiring lady!

I just had to show you what she and her husband did to their standard, builder-style kitchen island.

original_island

First things first, Lisa painted the island white, and changed out the hardware…

island_before

Then, while her husband was out of town, she removed the panels from the sides, and the drywall from the back of it. Next, she removed the formica countertop.

original_island_side_view

Initially, they were thinking about doing a huge butcher block top, but soon found out it would cost more than they wanted to spend.
They really wanted a wood top with character, and they knew they would never use it to cut on. So they re-configured some old wooden panels, from a folding screen, to use as the top.

Toshiba Digital Camera

They added beadboard paneling to back, and sides, and chunky base molding around bottom.

detail_of_island_new_top_and_beadboard_on_sides_and_back

There used to be an electrical outlet on the outside of the island, and instead of removing it, they turned it the other way (so that it faced the inside) for the "hidden" microwave.

detail_of_island_raised_with_trimmed_base
Total cost: $50.

New look : PRICELESS!

28 comments:

Katy said...

Seriously!?!? So, creative and I love the transformation.
I'm just excited with my front door that I painted yesterday. (of course I posted about it...:)

Anonymous said...

I loved it, and wanted to see more but I couldn't get on her site by clicking what you had typed.???

Anonymous said...

i tried to go to her blog but it says it doesn't exist

Anonymous said...

I tried to follow the link to her blog but something seems to be wrong...

Michelle said...

I can NOT believe that only cost $50. What an amazing transformation!

Anonymous said...

Hi there! Luv, Luv, Luv your blog! The link does not seem to work for The Lisa Porter site? Can you provide another?
Thanks

LuLu said...

Oh my goodness this island could be just what I am looking for. We have a builder grade island and is so boring, but don't want to spend the money on changing the top to granite.. but i love panels and doors this could be it! THANK yOU SHOWING THIS ISLAND!!
LuLu

Anonymous said...

I loved the counter redo then I saw what it cost and now I *really* love the counter redo, lol.

Lisa Porter said...

Well my goodness Layla! What can I say? I am so flattered that you posted about the Porter family island! My husband feels like a star!!!!
Maybe next time he hears me walking around with a tape measure, he will follow along with his tool belt and saws ready for action!
You are the greatest! Thanks for a great start to our weekend.
All the best to you both.
Lisa

Kim said...

Big changes! We just painted our kitchen island! I will be posting about it, in a couple of days!

Your blog is beautiful! Thanks for all the "hands on" advice!

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

Wow - she has vision and the ability to make it come to fruition! That's one heck of a before and after!

Unknown said...

I love what she did.
Thanks Lettered Cottage. You bring sunshine and happiness to my life.
It's definitely a must have during these difficult economic times.

J.J. said...

How cool is that!!!

I need ideas for CHEAP to redo our counter tops as they are blue. I don't care for them to be blue. hmmm

I'll check back later to link to her blog....as there seems to be a little glitch. :)

Jane said...

I love your blog- read it everyday! But latedly GOOGLE reader has not been updating it. Do you know why? It stopped updating after your hubbies guest post and I can't seem to get it to read further!!!
HELP! :)

Leigh of Tales from Bloggeritaville said...

Really has that WOW factor!

Mandi @ Sweetly Home said...

Wow! What a transformation!

martha said...

Are you a mind reader??? I have been trying to find a creative and inexpensive counter for my island....Thanks for the inspiration - keep it coming.

Anna Whiston-Donaldson said...

Bravo! Seriously inviting!

martha said...

P.S. Went to her blog. It is just smashing! Can't find the post about her kitchen. Please help.

Annette said...

I absolutely LUVVIE DUVVIE your kitchen island re-do and I have been looking for rugs like the ones you have in your kitchen. Care to tell where you got them from???? I would love to know. Thanks!!!

Lisa Porter said...

Hello to Layal & to your visitor Martha. Thanks for the nice comments. I did not do a post about my island re-do, instead i left that to a re-do specialist...that would be you Layla! But Martha, if you have any other questions or need more details, email me from my blog and I will be happy to help.
Y'all have a great day!
Lisa

Kristi~The Slipcover Girl said...

why do we have to wait for our husband's to be out of town to demo?! I do the same thing.

Jen@Balancing Beauty and Bedlam said...

I can't believe you just featured this. I have been planning on redoing my builder island and just turned the plug inside for the microwave and am looking at bead board as we speak (or type :) Love the top...such fun.

cynthia said...

beautiful! just love it!

please please please tell me where you got the rugs!

Emily@remodelingthislife said...

Wow, beautiful! Thanks for sharing with us!!I am going to check her blog out now

Misti of Studio M Designs said...

Very cool transformation, but the ridges would drive me CRAZY. My boys would have so much stuff spilled in there! The rugs seriously caught my eye...just my style.

~Misti

Alicia said...

Love Lisa's work, as much as yours!!!

Unknown said...

It doesn't get any more creative than this!