Contemplating
This is one of my favorite kitchens of all time.
I'm contemplating how I will turn my little Early American table into my dream kitchen island.
I bought legs and casters to make the table taller. It needs to be about 8 inches taller.
I brought home my stuff and set to work only to be stalled when I turned it over and discovered it once
had casters on it and there are large metal lined holes in which these wheels attached.
This ruined my plan for screwing in leg extensions. Back to the drawing board.
Not sure what to try next.
I am noticing that quite a few of my favorite islands are shorter than cabinet height.
Like this one.
This one has always been a favorite of mine.
I love the metal top and I thought I might paint mine black but right now I'm leaning towards
keeping it the natural wood color.
This one is a table in the middle of the kitchen. I love the wood tone with all the white around it.
Looks like it has a marble top which would be good for mine.
I love Courtney's whole kitchen. Her black island inspired me to paint mine black.
But my kitchen is tiny and I think black might be too much in my space.
This one is just about the size of mine. See how the legs were extended on it to make it taller?
I'm definitely adding towel bars to mine.
This one I've always loved. Just including here for good measure.
Debbie Dusenberry's (Curious Sofa) very stylish eclectic kitchen includes
this cute salvaged island. It appears to not be very tall.
Perhaps I can just add large casters to mine and call it done.
Love the stainless steel top on this one. This island is the color of mine.
I guess I'll make a trip to Lowe's and Home Depot this afternoon and search for
options on what to do since my first attempt fell through.
My Mom came up yesterday and we went to the
2012 Symphony Show House in Heritage Hills
I planned on giving a glowing report of it but I was very much disappointed.
I only liked one room in the house.
The artist's studio out back was very cool though.
Anyway....I have photos from the tour book I could share.
I was walking through this house and thinking...oh...my blog friends would rip this house to shreds.
It has faux painting all over the walls...animal prints everywhere...incredibly gaudy.
My Mom agreed...she did not like it either.
It's a gorgeous home...but it needs to be decorated be someone who knows what they are doing.
The so called decorators that did this house decorated it in a mix of bordello meets oil baron.
The theme was "The Jazz Age" since the home was built in 1925.
But the master bedroom bath took it's cues from Elizabeth Taylor.
Sorry? Uh....Elizabeth Taylor was not around in the 20's.
There were so many things off about what era they were trying to reproduce,
I thought - did none of these designers bother to google 1920's?
(It's the least they could have done)
Obviously, they did not have a clue.
Anyway....let me know if you want to see this monstrosity and I'll scan all the photos and
share.
You will be horrified.
In other news....
My Mom was here of course and I'd told her about my Craigslist find of this...
I'd forgotten that she'd been wanting a sideboard and hutch in this style for her
sun room.
I remembered after I posted about it. So I mentioned it to her over the phone.
She didn't seem that interested till she saw it yesterday.
She said that "Yes, she wanted it."
She would not let me put it outside to ruin.
It was just what she had been wanting for the sun room.
So...darn....I lost my potting bench. I'll have to search for something else.
She said..."Have Charles make you one."
Charles is my brother in law.
That is a nice thought...but it will never happen.
So I've got to find something else to make into a potting bench.
I was happy that my Mom was excited about it.
It's not very often that I can give her something she can't get herself.
She'll be refinishing the whole thing.
I know she will do a beautiful job.
Then she saw my little soon to be kitchen island and had a fit over that.
I told her I have to make it taller some how and she did not like that idea.
She wanted it too. But I know I'll probably never find a table to fit in my small kitchen again.
So I didn't let her have it.
But I fell guilty about it because it would make a very nice table for her tv.
Leave me a comment if you want me to share the Symphony Show House.
I'll have to scan all the photos tonight.
23 comments:
Hey, Girl! Just a thought- instead of adding to the bottom could you build a box and add it to the top like the black one with the metal top. You could cover it in metal or faux it. I would love to see the Symphony House!!!
Karen -
Yes, I think that is a good idea. To me it does look like that one had a box built on top to add the needed height.
Since it once had wheels, can you just add some more and then use it table height. If you find the right wheels they can add as much as 3 inches, that might be enough to do it. Love your table, it is fantastic and looks perfect. Hugs, Marty
I really enjoy reading your blog. I also have a kitchen that doesn't allow much room for an island. My house was built in the late 60's and it continues to be a work in progress. Three years ago, I found a kitchen island on Craigslist which had a Boo's block top. It was brand new from a former cabinet shop owner. I think it's perfect in my kitchen and my husband and I wonder how we lived without it! It adds aesthetic appeal as well as function. I love the idea of you using your antique table as an island. Perhaps you can get a block top or a piece of granite specially made for it. If you read, "For The Love Of A House", you will notice that Joan and Dan have a special way of finishing furniture which I have been inspired to try. I think your table would look best refinished instead of painted. Either way, I am sure it will look wonderful in your house and give you pleasure for years to come!
Margaret, Virginia
Add those wheels and go for it. You could still add to the top as well if it doesn't feel tall enough. maybe find something that would work at a builders salvage store. I have had good luck at the ReStore.
I would like to see the symphony house as well. If nothing else just out of curiosity to see what they did.
I know whatever you do to your table will be just right!
Nita,
Is it possible to pull out the metal lining in the holes with needle nose pliers or a screwdriver? They were probably just drilled in to begin with. Then you could add your legs. Maybe even a few wooden dowel rods and glue...Just thinking is all.
As for a post on the show house.
It would be fun to read your comments on each of the photos. That's for sure!
Adam
Hi Nita,
I have two suggestions – one for the top, and one for the bottom. Would it be possible to remove the tabletop from the legs, and some height to the top of the legs, and then re-attach the top? I love how some of your inspiration shots had drawers in the island – maybe you could build (or have built) something along those lines? That would add some height, and also add some storage.
For the bottom – I like the idea or trying to remove the metal remnants of the last wheels, but if that doesn’t work could you saw-off the bottom bit of the leg (the ball-looking bit) and then continue with your plan from there?
I have pondered and pondered how I could fit any kind of island in my kitchen. It's just so tiny.
Brenda
I love the pictures you shared for ideas. I especially liked the idea of adding the metal top. I can't wait to see your finished project. And I would love to see the show house pictures too. Good post!
i want to see the photos too!
browsing through goodwill and salvation army today here in norman i saw several pieces that would be perfect for a potting bench or kitchen island.
seems alot of college kids are moving out so there are antique hand me down items and just regular furniture too.
good luck!
Bordello meets oil baron? Now you have to show us the pics!
yes please leavde the pic its not often we get to bash the uppety designers
Well... if you hate it, we will too, probably...
But share the hate with the love!
Yes, please show us the Symphony Show House! I was wanting to go see it myself, but couldn't. "Bordello meets Oil Baron ..." That is just too funny! I am actually not surprised by this decor, it seems to be a theme here lately, based on a few of the OKC/Edmond houses that I've seen. Love the island table. Wish I could find one just like it for my tiny kitchen.
My vote is to add your beautiful casters {all things are better with wheels} & leave it at that. I'm swooning over the French table with the marble top. Yours would be exquisitely PERFECT left just as it is but w/ a marble top added. And I bet you won't miss the lack of height {I don't}. If you do, you can move on to plan B from there.
Pic's? Yes, please. We all love to hate a badly done designer home!
I love your table turned island. Especially the fold down leaves on the ends. I used a regular antique table for an island once and loved it. But I'm short so it was perfect for me.
I say go with the wheels and see how it works. I find as you live with things more ideas come to you. Thanks for sharing.
your little table can be fixed, I am a believer anything can be fixed to just what you want it to be. It can be made taller no problem, One problem finding someone who knows how to fix it LOL I have all great ideas but can't do it by myself
so nice you and your Mom spent time at that old house
and so nice of you to let Mom have the piece of furniture for her sun room
Please show pictures from the show house! I thought of going, but from pictures I had seen in various publications I thought it would be too formal and stuffy for my taste.
Good luck finding a new potting bench piece!
No island. Put in a harvest table.
It was a long pedastal table I already owned, and hated.
Cut it's sides away, making it narrow. Painted the top, left the claw-foot pedastal alone.
Now I love it.
Of course it needed a pair of chandeleiers, new floor, new stove....
Glad I already owned the table!
Garden & Be Well, XO Tara
Beautiful island inspiration! Good luck with your island transformation! I am your newest follower!
You have piqued my curiosity...would love to see the showhouse. Plus, it will be fun to gasp at gawdy! p.s. Keep looking on Craigslist...bet you will find your potting bench there. I love CL...have even bought 2 cars on it.
Oh, go ahead - post the photos! We could have such fun groaning over them. Remember the HGTV show about the Dallas decorator? Maybe she had a hand in this job. Bordello meets Oil Baron was exactly her style!
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