Knocktoberfest!! Time to knock it off!
Welcome anyone new! I have a really fun project to show you… for Knocktoberfest!!!
YAY! Isn’t it cool?! Have y’all seen some of the FABULOUS knocktoberfest projects that have been going on around blogland? They really are so fun!! Be sure to go check out the previous project Jamie over at C.R.A.F.T and next in line, Melissa at 320 Sycamore to see some other great projects!
When my cute friend Linsday of Makely School for Girls invited, me I was all in… and then of course I procrastinated. Good intentions yes, any action?… of course not! But ya know, with about a week to spare I decided, it would be so cool to build a kitchen table/island. my. poor. husband. I will be honest, lately he does a lot of the building, I do a lot of the business and writing, so yeah, he basically took a six day stay-cation in the garage, not exactly a tropical location! I am soo happy to have him back home!! Well or just back in our daily lives. You cannot imagine how messy our house is. Gotta love last minute projects!
Here is the thinking behind the project. Technically we have a kitchen table that I LOVE! It was the table that we grew up with and was my grandparents before that. It has SO much sentimental value to me, but here is the sad part, it is just TOO big for our current space. We need the table to be smaller. Although, I do still want to be able to fit quite a few of us around the kitchen table…
Also, our kitchen is compact to say the least, so I wanted to create another work space, so instead of a table height table, I wanted a counter height table so it could double as another work surface.
Table/Island Needs:
- counter height
- smaller than current tale but not TOO small (about 3′ x 4′)
- optional larger size when needed
- some storage for utensils and art supplies for my girls
Alright, well you got a sneak peek of the project above, now here is the inspiration. Apparently I can’t just make an exact replica, I feel like if I am building something, I might as well customize and take the best of whatever I like, and add my own spin to things… This first table I liked, the Abbot Zinc Top Island from Pottery Barn was the MAIN inspiration for the shape and form of the table. (image and product source)
| Pros: |
Cons: |
| I love the overall shape and size. | The table top is too small |
| I adore the casters! | No storage |
| I love the shelf | The shelf makes it hard to sit at comfortably |
| The hook support bar could easily become a drawer (and it has!) |
The second inspiration piece is the Hamilton Reclaimed Wood Marble To Kitchen Island from Pottery Barn (image and product source)
| Pros | Cons |
|
Love the Casters |
Table top too small |
| Love the rustic feeling | Too much storage? (is that possible?) |
| Oh my goodness, those “X” sides, have my heart! | Can’t sit at this island because of the design |
| Tons of Storage |
Okay, so those fabulous inspiration pieces got us working on a hybrid table /island, with a bit of our personality sprinkled on top for good measure!! I don’t have the exact plans for you yet, and I haven’t quite finished the top, that may take another week, (#knocktoberfestfail!!! Sorry, they are coming!) but here is what it looks like… Uh yeah, in our living room, because our kitchen is in the middle of being built, and is no place to photograph anything!!! ( I wish I had my cute stools in the photos…see below)
One of the best features for our cramped space are the drop leaves. This way, when we need a big table we have it, but when we don’t it is still the perfect size for our family!
I LOVE the storage for my utensils (and the other side of the table I haven’t filled up yet, but I want it to be supplies for coloring, painting, and crafting for my girls etc.)
I LOVE the table top (even unfinished as it is!)! It is SO cool!
I still need to decide how I am going to finish off the table top. What do you think I should do? Should I stain it, or leave it natural? Would white washing it look good? I wanna see the wood grain for sure, I am just not totally sure which way I want to go. We plan on using epoxy or some sort of envirotex to fill the gaps… and have a nice smooth finish, but I am not sure I want it that glossy, so we may need to figure that out…
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Oh and I just ordered these super cute stools from Overstock. They are 2 for 89.00 bucks! Killer deal! I want to get some chairs with backs later, but for now these are a great start, and you know I love me some yellow!
Please check out the other lovely projects:
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Monday, October 21
1. Lindsay – Makely School for Girls
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2. Beth – Home Stories A to Z
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3. Gina – Shabby Creek Cottage
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4. Beckie – Infarrantly Creative
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5. Emily – Decorchick!
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6. Wendy – The Shabby Nest
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Tuesday, October 22
1. Donna – Funky Junk Interiors
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2. Jess and Monica – East Coast Creative
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3. Jackie – Teal and Lime
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4. Jen – Tatertots and Jello
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5. Carmel – Our Fifth House
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Wednesday, October 23
1. Chris – Just a Girl
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2. Lindsay – The White Buffalo Styling Company
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3. Melissa – The Inspired Room
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4. Ana – Ana White
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5. Marianne – Songbird
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6. Karianne – Thistlewood Farms
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Thursday, October 24
1. Roeshel – DIY Showoff
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2. Sandra – Sawdust Girl
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3. Jamie – C.R.A.F.T.
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4. Cassity – Remodelaholic
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5. Melissa – 320 Sycamore
6. Mandi – Vintage Revivals
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Friday, October 25
1. Ashley – The Handmade Home
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2. Stacy – Not JUST a Housewife
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3. Traci – Beneath My Heart
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4. Brooke – All Things Thrifty
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5. Laura – Finding Home
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6. Sarah – Sarah M Dorsey Designs
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What do you think of this knocktoberfest project?
YAY! YAY! YAY! I absolutely love this! It’s so you. And I squealed when I saw the little drawers for silverware. LOL
I think you should leave it a natural color or do a really light stain. I dig the natural with the dark gray.
Yes! I agree with the stain idea. I am just hoping the poly doesn’t darken it too much!!!
And oh my that silverware drawer right at the table no less? I know!! Think of it, no more fighting for who needs to get a new fork when (and that is when not if) my daughters drop theirs on the ground!
That table is amazing! I love it! Very nice job.
Thanks!!!
You’re table looks awesome, but I’m super crushin’ on the yellow clock!!
I love it too! I wanted one for SO long! and the best news is, if you wanna get crafty you can make it, we have free plans:
https://www.remodelaholic.com/2013/04/build-a-swedish-mora-clock/
https://www.remodelaholic.com/2013/04/build-a-swedish-clock-part-two/
GOOD LUCK!
Loooove what you’ve created! Our kitchen is tiny and I only have about 3 feet of counter space total and very little cupboard space/storage. I have been wanting to make something that’s right for our house for a long time now. This design is perfect!! 🙂 I wish I could get my hubby to get on board and help ME make some stuff. I guess I’d better just hop to it and do it myself. First, I have to clean out the darn garage so I have a place to work! lol
Oh the garage, it is a love hate relationship around here. It is necessary, but I am so sick of the constant mess! Ugh! I will have the plans for you soon, so check back!!!
Unreal! Amazing!! I love it so much!! I want to do a shorter modified version of this as a craft table for my kids…. I love it so much. Awesome job!!!!!
That is a good point… maybe when we do the plans I will see if we can include a shorter table height plan, but we will see!
I love that! It could have so many functions. I think a nice light stain would be pretty. We recently made a dining room table out of pine and put on a light two coats of American Walnut (which sounded much darker than it was). It gives it a nice natural look with just a tiny bit of depth.
I’m sure you hear it a lot, but I’m in love with that clock!
Andrea, That is good to hear. I am LOVING the light color, but I know as soon as we get a poly on it it will darken up a bit, so I am trying to figure out what I want to do exactly…
I love and now I want one, love the inlayed wood design and I lvoe love love the drawers! Can’t wait to see what you do with the top!
THANK YOU! I am so in love too! (and yeah, I can’t wait to see the top finished and be able to get my house back in order!!!)
I love your DIY version -every detail is awesome from shape, to drop leaf, plank-top design and handy drawer! Great job!
Two of those stools in silver should be arriving today at our house! haha! Couldn’t beat that awesome price!
Thanks Roeshel! I am SO happy with how it turned out!
Oh my gosh… crazy awesome! That cutlery drawer is amazing! Outstanding design, girl!
THANK YOU! I am in love with that drawer too!
It is BEAUTIFUL and so functional! I say yes to the staining, maybe a light gray-ish Restoration Hardware type stain?
Oh i like that look too!!
Cassity, My jaw-dropped when I realized your knock off was the table. It is way more amazing than both your inspirations! Can’t wait to see the complete plan!
Maybe Minwax’s new Classic Gray…or would that be too much gray? I just refinished a table too with it and LOVE it! Just the right amount of wood grain showing through.
Are those 4X4 posts he used to build the frame?
Yes they are 4×4’s that I used to build the frame.
This is awesome, but will you post a full tutorial? I think you should keep it natural – I love the way it looks right now.
Ohhhhh! I can’t wait for the plans!!! This is just the design I have been looking for!!
Will you be posting plans?
I will be posting plans. I can’t promise when they will be up though. I am glad that you want plans though. We really love the table.
+1 for plans! This table is just what I’ve been looking for.
I love this! I am just leaving a comment to say thanks for the idea and to keep up w/ comments so I know when you post the plans. Thanks!
You are welcome, Lacie!
I love this table!!! absolutely amazing. and the cutlery drawer is soooooo cool! Outstanding design!. any chance to get the plans ?
I will be working on them soon. Stay tuned. Glad that you like it. We really love the drawer in the table.
I’m just seeing this so I’m sure you’ve already finished it but if not, I’d use a food grade beeswax finish. It darkens the wood to a rich warm color without any stain.