A Unique Kitchen Island

Cleaned up and repurposed, an old French dental-tools cabinet is nifty and functional in the kitchen.

- Brian D. Coleman

Having bought a historic apartment in New York City’s Greenwich Village, owners Alex Carl and Peter Campbell wanted to make it family-friendly yet preserve its vintage elements. The kitchen has up-to-date appliances set against very appropriate subway tiles, but both storage capacity and countertops were limited. The couple found a vintage dentist’s cabinet when they were traveling in France, and immediately saw potential. The rotating top would be another prep surface; banks of drawers were perfect for cutlery; casters meant the table could double as a movable bar or buffet.