How to Build a Kitchen Island

Pick a drawer and shelving unit. Depending on the size you would like, go to your nearest hardware or department store where you will find both drawer and shelving units. For a 6-foot island, pick out a combination of drawers for the kitchen side that you can use for storage and shelving for the other side that you can use for decorations. These units need to be 4 feet high with flat tops. The shelf unit can be 4 feet long, and you can get two 2-by-2 sets of drawers at 4 feet in height. These will need to be assembled per the included instructions when you get home.

Select a counter top. A counter top can be purchased at any hardware store. It can be Formica, Corian, marble, whatever you would like. They will cut it for you there, and all you'll need to do is tell them you would like the corners rounded or squared off. Make sure that for this application, it is cut at 6 feet long by 4 feet wide.

Assemble your drawers and shelving units. Most units are fairly straightforward and have pre-drilled holes so that you can easily screw the sides and the drawer runners into place. If you want extra security, run wood glue along any edges that lie flush with each other for added stability since an island will get a lot of impact being in the middle of the kitchen. These units usually come in two pieces (drawers on one side and shelves on the other). Do not attach them at this time.

Mark off the measurements where you want your island to go. Use the dimensions of the island to guide you. You can simply draw on the floor using a pencil.

Attach your drawers and shelving to each other. Place your drawer and shelf units together in the center of your island space. Run a thick zigzag bead of polyurethane glue with your caulk gun over the backs of both units. Press them together. Using your 1/2-inch screws and screw gun, screw the backs together, which will make a positive seal for the polyurethane.

Anchor the entire unit. There will be a roughly 2-inch gap between the bottom of the shelf unit and the floor. Slide a 12-inch 2-by-4 board underneath on both sides and push them all the way to the back. These will be your anchoring blocks for the whole unit. Take your screw gun and several 4-inch screws. Screw them through the bottom shelf, into the 2-by-4 blocks, and straight into the floor. Your base unit is now solid and sturdy.

Attach the counter top to the kitchen island. Make a heavy zigzag bead of polyurethane glue over the entire top of your shelf/drawer unit. Carefully position the counter top onto the top of your shelf/drawer unit. It should be exactly centered. Use your tape measure to measure the overhang, which should be exactly the same on every side.

Anchor the counter top to the island with screws. From below the top of the shelf and drawer unit, screw in several 3/4-inch screws up to positively attach the counter top to the lower island structure. It is important that only 3/4-inch screws are used because you do not want the screws to puncture the top of the counter top. If you have used either a Corian or a marble counter top, just apply the polyurethane glue and set the counter top per the above instructions. The glue and the natural weight of these types of counter tops will keep them snug and firm without having to anchor them with screws from below.

Insert the drawers. Put all the drawers (and shelving) in place. You can now step back and admire your very own kitchen island.