Kitchen island for just 15 euros! Nilla turned her dream into reality in an unexpected way

What a gorgeous kitchen island, Nilla! Where did you get the idea?

A similar island had been on my mind for a long time, but I didn’t want to spend too much on it. I was worried I might not want it anymore in a year. Over time, I started thinking about how I could build one myself as cheaply and quickly as possible. When we ended up with an old IKEA Malm dresser that we no longer needed in our walk-in closet, I immediately decided to turn it into an island. My partner Santeri was initially skeptical, but I didn’t give up.

The core of the island is an unused IKEA Malm dresser with six drawers, which Nilla and Santeri painted black.

How did you actually put the island together?

We had an old table in our home for quite some time that was in the way, and two of its legs were broken. The tabletop was the perfect size for an island, but we worried it might be too heavy for the lightweight dresser. We decided to give it a try anyway!

First, we painted the white dresser with black kitchen paint, which we happened to have on hand. Then, we attached the tabletop to the dresser with construction adhesive.

The tabletop had already been covered with dc-fix contact paper in a style that matched the kitchen, even before we made the island. Nilla still dreams of adding gold pulls to the drawers.

How long did it take to make the island?

By the time we got back from the store with the adhesive, the dresser paint was already dry. We waited until the next day for the adhesive to set. Luckily, the tabletop stayed firmly in place, and the dresser stayed upright, so we could start using the island right away.

How much did the project cost?

Because we already had everything else, we only paid about 15 euros for the adhesive. We also wanted bar stools for the island, and the three stools we bought from IKEA cost a total of 45 euros. In all, we spent around 60 euros.

Nilla loves how the kids can now sit by the island while she cooks.

How has the finished island worked out for everyday use?

We’ve been really happy with how it turned out. The island is light enough to move if needed but sturdy enough to stay upright, especially when there are things in the drawers.

I love all sorts of small and big DIY projects. The best part is when even a wild idea ends up working out better than expected.

Next, we want to add gold pulls to the dresser drawers so it blends seamlessly with the rest of the kitchen.