#Kitchen Island

I was in need of a table in my kitchen and looking for odd and inexpensive ways to make one. If you purchase a rolling utility cart or island you're going to spend $250 to $500 depending on how fancy and big you want the thing to be. I would guess what I have done here would cost under $60 for the materials. I didn't include any stains, paints, or sealers in that figure. Nor does that include any tools you might need. This project seemed to be my love letter to pocket holes. Picking up a pocket hole jig will change your life. They're wonderful.

Step 1: What You Need

I looked all over for cheap ideas until I wandered into an aisle with material for building stairs.

For the table top I chose two pine stair treads. They were 11.5 wide and 48 long. About an 1 thick.

For the table legs I chose four preprimed stair rail balusters.

For the shelf I choose one 1 x12 x8'.

For the support pieces I picked up pine 1x6's and ripped them in half with a table saw. If you don't have a table saw pick up some 1x4s.

You aren't limited to using pine. They had a variety of stair treads and balusters. You could choose to do a stained table and use oak or some other hardwood. I choose pine because I planned on leaving the top natural and painting the rest.

Stains, sealers, paints.

Wood glue.

A vacuum or broom to clean up your mess (I built this in the kitchen it was going to be used in).

A drill and drill bits

A saw (at least a handsaw; I used a compound miter saw and table saw)

A pocket hole jig (handy things; I have a Kreg brand one, but there are a variety of ones out there that cost far less--shop around)