Update your kitchen island with a new counter.
A kitchen island is a work area, a snack bar and a gathering spot for friends and family. It might boast amenities like a prep sink, dishwasher and cook top or be as simple as a stand-alone counter with space for a few bar stools. Kitchen islands come in all sizes, shapes and decor styles. If your personal taste has changed or your kitchen simply needs a face lift, updating your kitchen island can be accomplished by customizing the design to freshen up the finish. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Paint the island a different color. Choose a color that blends in with the other hues in the room or make the island pop with a contrasting shade. Opt for one color for the doors and another for the rest of the piece. Paint the island glossy black for a contemporary look, choose white or blue for a beach theme or Colonial colors like mustard yellow and terracotta red for a country kitchen.
2. Install paneling over the island's sides. Opt for bead board in a cottage- or garden-style kitchen. Go for wainscoting with raised panels in a more traditional room. Give the island a rustic flair with barn board or wide knotty-pine planks.
3. Replace the counter top. Remove an old laminate counter in favor of a solid surface like granite or marble. Dress up a Tuscan or Southwestern design with rustic tiles painted in bright colors and primitive scenes. Go modern with a cement counter.
4. Switch out the hardware. Replace dated and worn hinges and drawer pulls for an instant, budget-friendly update.
5. Exchange old bar stools and chairs for new ones to match your d cor or, for a cheaper option, paint or refinish them and opt for new upholstery.
6. Select new lighting. Replace dated lighting with pendant lights or a chandelier. Place a table lamp on the island for extra illumination. Add modern flair with contemporary track lighting. Exchange the appliances.
7. Replace dated stove tops with sleeker, more modern versions. Swap out a stainless steel sink for a farmhouse style and opt for dish washer drawers rather than a traditional unit. Choose stainless steel or brushed nickel finishes or hide appliances behind custom cabinetry.
8. Add accessories. Choose brightly colored fabrics and pottery dishes for the island snack bar in a Mediterranean-inspired kitchen. Fill a vintage basket or wooden bowl with Granny Smith apples to add pop to a country kitchen island. Hang a wrought-iron pot rack displaying copper cooking pots over the island in a French Country kitchen. Plant herbs in clay pots and keep them on the island for easy access. Keep a cutting board and knives close at hand.
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