How to Build a Kitchen Island From a Bathroom Vanity

Add style and space to your kitchen with a do-it-yourself island.

With the proliferation of small appliances designed to make cooking chores faster and easier, you may covet more food preparation space. Few serious cooks would turn down extra storage space, too, but kitchen renovations are often expensive, messy and inconvenient. Kitchen islands provide a decorative and useful alternative, but they're still pricey. When you get a little help by using a bathroom vanity for the base and a prefabricated countertop, your island can be ready to use in a matter of a few minutes. Whether you “upcycle” a salvaged vanity or start with a new one from the home improvement store, the process is uncomplicated and relatively inexpensive. Does this Spark an idea?

Things You'll Need

• Ceramic, metal or laminate tiles
• Thinset mortar or adhesive
• Bathroom vanity
• Grout compound
• Double-sided carpet tape (optional)
• Finished countertop

Instructions

1. Lay out the tiles in a pattern to complement the rest of your kitchen décor.

2. Attach the tiles to the unfinished side of the vanity, using thinset mortar or the adhesive recommended by the tile manufacturer. You may want to use tiles already attached to a fabric mesh, especially if your design involves small tiles.

3. Apply grout between the tiles, removing the excess as you work. Allow the grout to cure according to the manufacturer's directions before cleaning the tiles with a damp sponge and clear water.

4. Place the countertop on the vanity. The weight of a typical top will hold it in place with no adhesives. However, for added security, apply double-sided carpet tape to the top of the vanity before laying the countertop in place.

Tips & Warnings

• Add casters to the bottom of the vanity to make your island easy to move. If the frame of the piece is too narrow for the caster plates, use carpenter’s glue to add wood scraps to the corners to build them out. Apply the casters by turning the vanity upside down before attaching the top.

• “Glam up” your island by gluing or nailing trim molding to the doors and drawers. Add unusual doorknobs or drawer pulls to express your personal style or add special interest with paint effects.

• Wood paneling is another option for covering the unfinished back of the vanity. You can attach it with carpenter’s glue or finishing nails. You may also be able to staple it to the furniture base.

• If you add wheels to the base, be sure that you brace them to hold the vanity steady when you're placing the countertop.