We bought an antique farmhouse table that was about 30"x42". It needs a glass top but otherwise it looks great.

The problem with a dresser is that the back is likely unfinished. I have seen some unique antique pieces that would work, it just takes a lot of searching.

http://images.craigslist.org/00M0M_kJbjxyEHTOG_600x450.jpg

I saw this old carpenter's work bench on my Craig's List and thought it would make a nice island except for the big round hip-killer knob on the front.

Depending on the piece, you may be able to finish out the back in a creative way though. It's a cool idea because of the storage it would offer so I would look to see what's out there.

My3dogs just did an awesome island using her old island, bedposts, and a new counter. Here's a link to a thread that shows it:

http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2968728/question-for-my3dogs

I hope she doesn't mind me posting it. I'm always so impressed with her refurbishments, ideas, and beautiful home!

I ordered components from table legs . com to make our island. They were really helpful and it was much cheaper than what anyone quoted me and I could make it exactly what I wanted in terms of size, colour.

I made a small kitchen island out of an old 1970s stereo cabinet - I put small shelves for spices on the blank back.

You may find the lack of a toe kick uncomfortable if you repurpose.

Here at home, we had a carpenter copy an antique general store counter for one island. The other we bought on first dibs, it was described as a French zinc topped pastry table.

At the beach house we had the carpenter copy a piece from the Mousehole kitchen in the UK, and topped it with scrap black slate. It has hidden wheels in the legs.

Hi from the UK!

DH has built islands for our last three houses. The most recent one incorporated a vintage sideboard we had owned for about ten years, some tongue & groove MDF as well as four decking newel posts that I stained to match the dark wood knobs. All topped off with a slab of Labrador Antique granite. Positioned to take advantage of the view from the large window in our extended kitchen, we tended to favour sitting the side with the drawers - unless we had guests over - which admittedly lacked somewhat in legroom.

Photographed at different times, the second pic (of the rear side) shows the earlier stools we had which had to go as they were of poor quality and ultimately disintegrated.......grrrr!

Am currently in the throes of designing a new island for our latest house, but that will be built from scratch.

Mimi x

OT, waving to the UK and Westbrook! Gorgeous backsplash you have there!

I recall an antique piano being turned into an island on the blog VictoriaElizabethBarnes.com

http://victoriaelizabethbarnes.com/category/my-favorite-finds/

"Back not finished"?!! REALLY? I just scurried around and did not find one dresser in my house whose back could not be turned out to face the world..weird. Maybe things have changed? I don't own an antique dresser. What is most important, size or reinventing a piece? It is very doable to purchase base cabinet pieces, marry them with a counter top and have the exact size you desire. I wonder how often a lay person can go on a hunt for a piece for reinventing and find just what is needed? I would love to have DH use an old dresser for his new bathroom cabinet..but finding a piece is proving far more difficult than the actual reinventing will be!! It seems like it works better to have a piece laying around..and discovering; "Hey I could do such and such with that"!!

would you consider a butcher block table/island? --- boos makes them as well as many other companies... we bought a large one several houses ago and it was very convenient and attractive. it was on casters so could be moved as needed too...

Thanks for all the ideas. Westbrook, those are great islands! Love your style.

We did turn an antique sideboard into a vanity. I love it. I have seen a few dressers in CL that are the right size (or close) for this island, but I didn't like the style. We have a large furniture consignment/antique shop down here and I haven't checked there yet.

i have seen the John Boos pieces...just thought I might find something a bit more quirky.

Ahhh...wish I had My3Dogs' talent!

Victoria Elizabeth Barnes is a blogger who lives a few miles from me and writes with a great sense of humor. She has an addiction to CL and huge mirrors. She bought an antique square piano and with her DH's carpentry skills turned it into an island for her Victorian home.

http://victoriaelizabethbarnes.com/repurposed-antique-piano-kitchen-island/

oops - I didn't realize Star Jeep had already posted this.

"Back not finished"?!! REALLY? I just scurried around and did not find one dresser in my house whose back could not be turned out to face the world..weird. Maybe things have changed?

None of the dressers in our house have finished backs, but then they're all at least 50 years old.

I thought I'd seen a thread on this topic fairly recently, and here it is (from the Kitchen forum):

Repurposed or nontraditional, islands/storage?

I commandeered a red rolling toolbox from my husband once to use as a microwave cart. Worked great - had all the drawers I needed and I used the side handles as towel holders. A friend saw it an used 2 blacks toolcarts side by side and put a 6' butcher block top on hers.

These worked well in rental units that needed extra space, but could not be remodeled.

Cawaps, thanks -- I do sometimes read her blog, so I remembered the piano island! So neat.

Loonlake, I love that idea! I just started looking at tool carts but the more I think about it, I think it would be too sleek/modern when what I really want is cottage/quirky. Our kitchen table is a pine farmhouse style table...would love to find a similar style for the island.

If I bought something new, I'd like one of these John Boos islands, although I don't like the prices!

Most kitchen islands I've seen that were made from a chest of drawers had the back extended for seating.
Here's some I found via a quick search on Pinterest.

Well, I came across this today, which I think is really cool but maybe too industrial and not "cottage" enough. It's the same size as the island we have but a lot less bulky.

I still have some other local resources to scout out...

As for an unfinished back, beadboard wallpaper(will need to paint/stain), or any wallpaper can be applied to give it a finished look. I used such a treatment on the backside of a bookcase my son wanted to use as a room devider.

Cool ideas! OMG love love the piano.

SueB, I think the last piece is too open.

Actually, it's too short. Oh well. We are off to a big barn full of funky antiques that the owner finishes and customizes...might find something there!

Jade that is a beautiful island! And a beautiful price. I like how there is toe kick room and a decent overhang for working or stools

Jade, that's awesome!

Oh it's so nice seeing a close up of your island that we saw a peak of in your living room thread. I love that bold blue!

I found this on CL last night. It's the right size! I'd paint it, because it seems too formal as is. I just want to make sure the drawers work well.

Oh please don't paint that!

It will look awesome without paint! Really, try it as is first. Could have a black or creamy stone top or black-stained butcher block.

Diane

False alarm. DH didn't like it (all of a sudden he has an opinion??).

I have repurposed dressers for kitchen use. The thing I've noticed that you'll want to be careful of is to check just how sturdy the drawer bottoms are. The drawer storage is wonderful (!) as long as those bottoms are beefy enough to hold all that you'll be tempted to store in them. Some dresser drawers are rather thin and wimpy.

I watched and watched CL until I finally found the piece I wanted for less than $100. Purchased it, and added legs and a black walnut top, with an overhang for eating.

I like that, bestyears!

LOL Sue. That happened with my hubby during our build. I have to admit once that side of him showed, we've come up with some great things that are better than I ever could have come up with alone. I hope the same happens for you.