Jennifer Rizzo

A DIY,home decor,crafting and decorating lifestyle blog

  • Home
  • Shop
    • Shop Jennifer Rizzo Design Company Online
    • Shop Craft and Art Supplies
    • Creatively Christmas book information
  • Workshops
  • Our home
  • Projects/DIY’s/Lifestyle
    • Printables
    • Craft/home decor projects
    • Room makeovers,before and afters,home projects
    • Furniture makeovers before and afters
    • Art lessons and painting DIY projects
    • DIY wall art
    • Popular recipes
    • Interior design and decorating ideas
    • Entertaining
    • Running a small business,shows and shop keeping
  • Holiday housewalks
    • 2020 Holiday Housewalk
    • Holiday Housewalk 2019
    • Holiday Housewalk 2018
    • Holiday Housewalk 2017
    • Holiday housewalk 2016
    • Holiday housewalk 2015
    • Holiday Housewalk 2014
    • Holiday housewalk 2013
    • Holiday housewalk 2012
    • Holiday housewalk 2011
  • Contact
    • press, speaking engagements,book signings
  • Privacy Policy
    • Affiliate and Sponsor Disclosure

Vintage workbench turned kitchen island…

April 6, 2014 By Jennifer

Last summer, when I found a vintage workbench at the flea market, I knew it was time to replace our kitchen island with something, well, older.

We had bought our first kitchen island when we moved in to our home 13 years ago, it had evolved from a counter height pub style table into a useable piece of furniture when we added a stock bathroom cabinet,

It even made it through the remodel, getting a coat of paint or two along the way.

Jennifer Rizzo's kitchen summer time

But I just wanted something a bit more industrial with more surface area. It seemed like I always ran out of counter space when I was cooking dinner.

Vintage work becnh used a kitchen islandSo we brought this great find out of storage and swapped it out. The other island got a coat of paint(again) and is going into the kids play space for a craft table.

Using a vintage work bench as a ktichen island is inexpensive and give a great industrial feel.I love the touch of wood in the space, and the wood itself has such great patina!

Seal and clean the vintage wood to make it safe for a kitchen islandWe were very lucky the top was in amazing shape.It didn’t have any oil staining or anything else  that would make it too gross to use.

And after a light sanding, huge cleaning and sealing it’s perfect.

a piece of baker's marble used as  a kitchen island topWe still keep our piece of baker’s marble for food prep and  hot pans . I would actually like to get a bigger piece now.

Great patina of a vintage work bench used for a kitchen islandIt still has a hole from the old clamp. Pretty cool.

Old patina wood on a ktichen islandI just love the look of the wood and metal and the great patina!

Microsoft Word - Document2 2

You can still register for Building a Creatively Made Business 2.0!

Click here for info!

Building a creatively made business 2.0

Comments

  1. Melissa R says

    April 7, 2014 at 12:12 am

    Love the patina on the wood! Curious…how did you hang the silver platter behind your stove? Mine has awkward feet, but I would love to hang it on a wall someday.

  2. Jeanette @ Creating a Life says

    April 7, 2014 at 1:51 am

    What a gorgeous piece! The rustic wood and metal look great in your kitchen.

  3. Sandra says

    April 7, 2014 at 4:35 am

    I love your cabinet colour, looks warm. Care to share the colour

    • Jennifer says

      April 7, 2014 at 7:51 am

      It’s linen white by Benjamin moore Sandra.

  4. jp says

    April 7, 2014 at 5:54 am

    Oh, that workbench just has so much more character….I love the contrast. Your kitchen is beautiful!
    JP

  5. baileywife@irishmanacres says

    April 7, 2014 at 6:47 am

    I bought a workbench last fall at an auction from a dear man in our community that passed away from cancer. We are waiting to do a little remodeling in our kitchen, and it is going to be our new kitchen island. I knew it the moment I saw it at the auction!! I have thought of keeping the clamp on ours though….we’ll see….great to see yours, now I have a visual for my husband;) ~ Kim

  6. Jeanne says

    April 7, 2014 at 7:42 am

    Very nice!
    xo
    jeanne

  7. Erin says

    April 7, 2014 at 9:43 am

    It looks amazing in your kitchen, Jen. A great update and so functional.

  8. Penny @ The Comforts of Home says

    April 7, 2014 at 11:31 am

    I love that piece and it looks wonderful in your kitchen!

  9. Kris says

    April 7, 2014 at 12:38 pm

    Oh Jen it is gorgeous and so full of wonderful character. It looks so great in your kitchen. Really opens the space. Great treasure to find at the Flea Market.
    Kris

  10. Kimberly ~ SerendipityRefined says

    April 7, 2014 at 1:13 pm

    It’s fab! I love the way you’ve changed things up in your kitchen, added an industrial element, AND found a use for your former island in the craft space! Repurposing at its finest! xo

  11. Sally says

    April 7, 2014 at 4:17 pm

    Okay, I’ve always admired your island… and wasn’t sure if I was going to like something new (don’t you love my honesty – LOL), but I LOVE this. It’s perfect! The open legwork makes your kitchen seem so much bigger!!!

  12. Brenda Kula says

    April 7, 2014 at 5:08 pm

    Oh, I love that piece in your kitchen! Just seemed to light the whole place up somehow.
    Brenda

  13. Joni Young says

    April 7, 2014 at 6:53 pm

    I love the old one! I thought , “Oh know! big mistake!’ I have went back and forth looking at the pictures. I think I like both looks. I love it when you show all your before and after pictures. I need to do something to my house so it isn’t so boring to me. I can tell you love your home. You inspire me to change my home décor.

  14. Jody says

    April 7, 2014 at 7:52 pm

    I love the new island, it adds so much character to your kitchen!

  15. Kim says

    April 8, 2014 at 5:31 pm

    LOVE!!

  16. Kim says

    April 8, 2014 at 5:31 pm

    LOVE!!

  17. Ginene Nagel says

    April 8, 2014 at 10:20 pm

    A lot of the tops on vintage workbenches are rock maple. Great find and it looks beautiful.

  18. Jamie says

    April 8, 2014 at 11:20 pm

    I love it! Such a great industrial piece 😉
    Hugs,
    Jamie

  19. Laurie says

    April 9, 2014 at 10:21 am

    As always… My cousin is amazing! I love all the things that she has done and continues to do!! She has that special talent, that whatever she finds… she makes it into an amazing piece of art!! So proud of you Jen!! Love you and miss you so much!! Laurie

  20. Julie @ follow your heart woodworking says

    April 10, 2014 at 8:30 am

    Being a woodworker, I’d love to get an old bench like this. I think it’s calling out for a shelf underneath, no?

  21. Tamara @ Provident Home Design says

    April 10, 2014 at 10:00 am

    Jen, congrats on your new awesome island! I lucked out on finding an 8 ft. one a couple of years ago on Craigslist. It acts as an island and kitchen table. I’ve been very happy with it! You can check it out on my home tour if you would like..:-)
    http://providenthomedesign.com/home-tour/

  22. Jaybird says

    April 10, 2014 at 12:13 pm

    That is a great looking island!! You did a good job.
    Many years ago, and much to the disgust of hubster and most of the rest of the family, I hauled home a woodworkers bench, complete with a wooden vise, and put it in the dining room for a “sideboard”. Everyone has calmed down now and agrees that it was one of my better ideas :^) I use the bottom shelf for standing platters, and the drawers for odd silverware. I open the jaws of the vise and insert a 2×8 to make the top a bit longer when I need more space.
    Blessings to you,
    J

  23. karen@somewhatquirky says

    April 15, 2014 at 4:55 pm

    This is a great piece. Oh how I wish I had space for a table in the middle of my kitchen!

Trackbacks

  1. Charming Traditional Home ~ Jennifer Rizzo - Town & Country Living says:
    May 11, 2014 at 7:19 am

    […] I think my favorite room in Jennifer’s house is her charming kitchen. Before it got its makeover, the kitchen had stained cabinets. I love that Jennifer painted them white … it really brightens up the space. Jen recently swapped out the kitchen island you see here for a new island! […]

  2. My summer home tour... - Jennifer Rizzo says:
    June 4, 2014 at 4:00 am

    […] Our kitchen also had a big makeover about 4 years ago. We recently changed out the original kitchen island for a vintage work bench. […]

  3. Building a kitchen island.... - Jennifer Rizzo says:
    June 29, 2014 at 9:09 am

    […] to be in September’s issue of County Living! If you liked this post, you might also like: turning a vintage workbench into a kitchen island. Our complete kitchen remodel If you are reading this post at any other sites or blogs besides […]

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

sign up for our newsletter and receive a free printable


The 2020 Holiday Housewalk

Jennifer Rizzo + Whimsy Decor for the Holiday Housewalk Day 1

Categories

archives

website security    

***Create at your own risk!!****
Any content on this blog was created for inspiration and entertainment purposes only!
Creating with my or any contributors or guest writers suggested tools, methods, or suggested products is under the reader’s/your own risk.

***************************************
Please do not use any pictures or images off my blog without credit and linking back. Blog name,company name,All original art work and projects are copyrighted and protected works. If we have used an image from your site and you would not like it featured or promoted, please let us know and we will remove it promptly.
*******************************************
I have been compensated for posts featuring products from sponsors such as Michaels Craft Stores and Decoart Brands, but opinions  in working with these are entirely my own, and all sponsored posts are disclosed as such. All other sponsored posts are noted at the end and disclosed. Some posts may contain affiliate links.

Copyright © 2021 Jennifer Rizzo Design Company LLC · Design by Sadie Olive · Log in