In a previous post I wrote about creating both function and beauty in a home — a topic I love because the way our space works and looks affects everyday family life and how comfortable we feel welcoming others.
Good design, to me, isn’t about producing a perfect photo-op or having the trendiest rooms. It’s about shaping how we live. A home that functions well and feels orderly reduces stress, helps us manage daily responsibilities, and makes it easier to open our door to guests.
Redesigning life in our home has been exciting and very rewarding.
Some time ago I mentioned an unfinished kitchen island we have. By unfinished I mean a piece of furniture sold to be painted or finished by the buyer. My mom bought it years ago intending to turn it into a bathroom vanity, but never used it. Now it’s sitting in the center of our kitchen waiting to be transformed into something both attractive and practical.
And yes, we’re still waiting {taps fingers on the butcher block top}.
These photos were taken a few weeks ago and, aside from some progress elsewhere in the kitchen, the island looks the same as the day we moved it in.
UPDATE: THE KITCHEN ISLAND IS FINISHED!
And yes, those are holes in our floors. Heh heh. This project isn’t over yet!
Bringing the island into the room while we work on the rest of the kitchen has been helpful. Seeing it in place allows us to visualize how it will fit with the overall design and how it can serve our needs functionally. It’s not a large work surface and offers limited storage, but our kitchen is small, so anything bigger would feel cramped.
Given the space constraints and our budget, this little island seems to meet our needs. It’s not a permanent or costly piece — it was free — so we can update it without stressing over perfection. If we later decide it’s not functional enough, it can be replaced. For now, I’m excited to begin the transformation and see how it performs.
As I plan how to bring order and function to our kitchen, there are several changes I’m considering for the island to add style and improve storage. Because it sits in the center of the room, I’m taking time to think through what will be both attractive and practical before committing to a finish or layout.
I had hoped the island would already be finished, but other projects have taken priority. Still, we’ve made significant progress. Our new sconces are installed and they look beautiful. We’re also close to having the pantry set back up, which is exciting — I even found a pretty, functional item for it that holds car keys.
The cabinets are not painted yet, but our painter is working through other jobs and will be here soon. I’m equal parts nervous and excited to see the color choice come to life. There’s more to do to complete the kitchen, including flooring, but we’re inching toward a point where the space feels “done enough” for now. I’ll share the full reveal when everything comes together.
My goal for this season of kitchen updates is to use October for nesting and creating order and beauty, then slow down the projects in November to enjoy the holidays.
I previously shared a post with 12 freestanding kitchen island ideas that inspired me. I’ll likely borrow some concepts from that round-up as I plan this island’s makeover.
Thank you for following along — I can’t wait to show the finished result.