That's Smart: Kitchen Island Alternatives

Filed under: Kitchen, Your Home, Projects, Furniture

Before you invest in an expensive, custom-built kitchen island, you may want to consider these creative possibilities.

We could all use a little more storage or extra counter space. That's probably why the kitchen island was invented. But what if you're not quite ready to renovate your kitchen or invest in an expensive built-in, but you're in need of a quick fix? Here are a few options to consider. These pieces offer up extra space, convenient storage and a sprinkle of style.


1. Rolling cart
There are lots of inexpensive microwave and beverage carts on the market, and if you're looking for something on the smaller side, a tiny cart is just what you need! Plus, most of them are on wheels so they can move around the kitchen with you as you perform your tasks. For example, the Go-Cart Carbon Shelf Table from cb2 or the Belmont White kitchen cart from Crate & Barrel might work well in smaller spaces.



2. A desk
Yes! Maybe you just upgraded your office furniture or found a great vintage desk at a garage sale. ReadyMade reader Gail Wilson repurposed her daughter's old desk into a kitchen island. If you're crafty, I bet you could come up with something as creative as Gail, who added beadboard to the front and lumber to the top. Another option is to invest in an inexpensive ready-to-use desk like this rolling one for $260. Not only does it have wheels, but it folds down for easy storage.



3. A dining table
Although the table might be a little lower than your standard kitchen island, a solid wood table acts like a butcher block and takes a pretty decent beating, like the one we spotted above and below in Elle Decor. If you don't mind bending over a little, you can slap some cute mismatched chairs around it, or try adding a bench to one end and use the other end for rolling dough or chopping onions. If the height gets you down, cut off the legs and replace with some higher ones from IKEA. Adding a shelf toward the bottom is also a great way to make use of the space underneath (above).



4. A bookshelf
If you're mostly looking for more storage, try a bookshelf. It's a great place to stash the cookbooks, mixing bowls and dishtowels if you have limited counter or cabinet space. You can also use two bookshelves as table legs, like these Winsome shelves (pictured above), and add a counter on top. Simply find an inexpensive table on Craigslist and remove the legs or even grab a top from IKEA like the GALANT (above). Cymax also has this great bookshelf-meet-work surface for $600 (below), a whole lot less than a custom island with a granite countertop.

For more kitchen ideas, don't miss:
- Kitchen countertops that don't hold up
- A kitchen makeover that recalls the past

 

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