BUILD YOUR OWN Kitchen Island

Transform basic Ikea cabinets into a custom kitchen centerpiece

- BY ETHAN O'DONNELL

A well-designed island can completely change how you use your kitchen, becoming the go-to spot for meal prep, dining, entertaining and more. And if you're building it yourself, here's a secret: you don't need to splurge on high-end cabinetry to create something both stylish and functional.

Our version starts with three Ikea Sektion cabinets: two 30-in. base cabinets with doors and shelves, and one 24-in. base cabinet that holds pullout trash or recycling bins. Add a few thoughtful touches—such as an arched rear panel, display ledges and a custom butcher block countertop (see page 30 for our how-to) — and you'll have a sturdy, spacious island that feels truly one-of-a-kind.

1 ASSEMBLE THE CASEWORK

Assemble the casework of the three Ikea cabinets according to the included instructions. Use wood glue and clamps along with the dowels to ensure a square and sturdy construction.

At this stage, don't worry about the doors or drawers. Just make sure the cabinet bottom, sides, back and top metal stringers are well assembled and square with no feet.

2 PREPAINT THE MDF SHEETS

Though touch-ups and finishing details are inevitable, prepainting the MDF panels (at least the ½-in. material) will save you time in the long run. Prepare both faces by priming the backs and painting the fronts with a paint/primer combo in advance. Sealing both sides ensures the panels won't warp before they are cut.