Easy DIY Kitchen Island with seating, storage, microwave under cabinet (marble quartz countertop)

[@thatguydiy9440]

Full color step by step build plans now available! www.etsy.com/listing/1156469729 The build plans include a full list of tools and materials needed, all cuts with exact measurements, and step by step assembly diagrams to build this Kitchen Island exactly as I did! The build plans also show you how to make a shorter or longer island to fit you space.

[@weekendhomeprojects]

Love the dog with the kong in the final shot.

[@melanieharris4386]

Excellent!!!! Very informative. I love that you showed errors. You have Inspired me. Keep up the great job of showing others.

[@HannadayFLO]

That's the nicest self built island on KZbin. I wouldn't want microwave down there so I'd choose more wide drawers. You are excellent at this. On a previous video someone pointed out specifically that the outer plywood should always be shy of the total height for you don't want weight to sit on the ply, thus the pine framing would sit very slightly above the plywood all around the top where the counter will eventually sit. Are the doors just push to open? As I said, wonderfully done and beautiful result.

[@joanmcdonnell7958]

This is a good diy kitchen island tutorial. I'm pretty sure you have a frame in there already so you need 2 or 3 cabinets/drawers and end panels which are just doors. Then you get a cheap handyman to put it together. I did this with my bar on Colorado. I ordered the cabinets online.

[@thatguydiy9440]

Thanks! Appreciate it.

[@Dil_Dil_804]

First MASHAALLAH I will make the kitchen of my house the same way. Second your work is very Fantastic, now you do a great job, I got to learn a lot from you. Incredible

[@realist8082]

Love your video. Bookmarking so I can refer to it as I undertake this project. Thanks Hoss.

[@jasonbrandonhill]

I modified this slightly and made island ends. My only issue was that the nails didn't keep the trim flush after the countertop was installed and I had to sand the seams a bit. If I were to do again, I'd make more secure anchors for the side trim pieces, or leave them just a hair short so they don't get any load from the countertop. Luckily, I didn't have time to fully paint mine before the countertop (or vinyl floors) were installed, so it's an easy fix. Awesome video. Thanks!

[@cme2858]

Great video! Turned out beautiful.

[@9103ACER]

This video is tremendously insightful and educational. The breakdown alone at the difference in costs is such a great piece of content alone! Thanks

[@thatguydiy9440]

Great thanks for the feedback. I hope it helped with you diy island plans!

[@toddlempe1454]

Very ambitious! I like that you went ahead and chose an shaker update style for the island vs. the standard oak style in your kitchen. I appreciate how you approach things and the outcome reflects it. well done, I'm certain she loves it as well.

[@thatguydiy9440]

Thank you for you comments.

[@singlefather01]

Hmmm. I used the deckton countertop, and the cost was over $3,000. I used a mixture of poplar, maple plywood and construction lumber for the total of $400 for this island case. I used the Bin Zinsser Primer and Emerald, so the paint was $200. After each paint, I sanded flat with 120 grid and eventually to 2000 grid on the final layer. I put a $6,000 professional grade gas stove with a $2,000 island vent. I originally spent $2,000 on the base cabinets. But they were of very low quality nailed joints, so I ended up making them myself with dovetail. The total cost of material for cabinets came out to $800. I used the same paint. I also added a pot filler. The cabinet came out nice with a spice & knife rack drawer. The total cost came to about $13,000. I've also integrated a 30W USB-C charger and the 24W wireless charger (my phone can't use that much power) for my cell phone into the island. I am 100% certain that no one will be able to make the island with this many features. The construction was done with an absolute tolerance of less than +1/32 inch. If any professional would do this? I am sure you can find someone. Oh, I had to hire a professional to put the vent, plumbing and gas pipe. I am not counting those. Watching KZbin, I feel like I should have documented and video my process.

[@intellectualsmoke]

Great price

[@PTucker0864]

Excellent. I wasn't sure where to start.....never thought of surrounding cheesy builder-grade base cabinets with my own frame. 👍 The music drowned out alot, but hey, you got the point across. 👍

[@thatguydiy9440]

Thanks! Good luck!

[@jessii_d]

love that you left the "mess up" in the video bc I guarantee this happens to a lot of us impatient folk who are too excited for the end product. great video though and cant wait to build our island this coming summer. plan on using your video so fingers crossed

[@thatguydiy9440]

Thanks for watching! And....yes, I mess up on these types of projects frequently. I've learned just to take the time to fix it right or i will be staring at the mistake all the time. I am finishing up detailed plans, hopefully in the next two weeks. I'll send you a link to a copy.

[@thatguydiy9440]

Finally got the detailed step by step plans completed. If you are still interested, here is the link! www.etsy.com/listing/1156469729/ultimate-kitchen-island-build-plans?click_key=9e001f9e2fafe5677ad5d53ef30ffe15a237b25a%3A1156469729&click_sum=31988dd2&ref=shop_home_feat_1

[@bulapulecio]

It looks amazing!! We’re going to build our own island and I would love to follow your instructions. Can you share your CAD drawing or measurements for the cuts, please? It's my first time doing anything like this and it would help a ton! Thank you!!!

[@thatguydiy9440]

@laurabula I final got the step by step detailed plans done. If you are still interested, here is the link! www.etsy.com/listing/1156469729/ultimate-kitchen-island-build-plans?click_key=9e001f9e2fafe5677ad5d53ef30ffe15a237b25a%3A1156469729&click_sum=31988dd2&ref=shop_home_feat_1

[@wyldanimal2]

When a sanding disk or belt is clogged with paint or varnish, run the sander and use a wire brush to clean it off, then you can sand again. you can probably repeat this 3 or 4 times till the grit is wore out.

[@juliebz2038]

Very nicely done!

[@jeffavery9413]

best one ive seen yet!

[@thatguydiy9440]

Thanks!

[@jokearoundme1125]

Thank you for your charing.

[@WM-xd8zc]

Thank you! You gave me some great ideas.

[@pf5658]

Nice job man. It turned out great. I’m actually building a ten foot island in my kitchen right now and just awaiting countertop. Speaking from experience though. Most of the times you are able to see any faults after you prime your work so that’s one good reason to prime. Not sure how you missed that.

[@kprhok]

Great step by step video. Thank you!

[@designereats3661]

This is helpful. Thank you

[@rustythecat2163]

Excellent project very well done. Thanks! Video was really good showing the build process step by step. Thanks for cost options. The island looks great in your kitchen. You wife must be very pleased with the outcome. Your island has a high end look and was glad to learn you are pleased with the IKEA cabinetry. You made it look sooooo easy. Wish you and your family well each and every day.

[@terence4427]

I like kitchen islands with the microwave space but wonder if it's best that the microwave faces the refrigerator.

[@abdulrahmanmohammed4204]

Thanks for the video- final product looks amazing. Please spend a bit more time to show the final finish and fruit of your hard work.

[@HeidiJo100]

Super impressed!

[@swisschoco25]

Is having the microwave on the island really practical? What if you have kids or pets? I personally would hate to have to bend down everytime to have to use the microwave. Everything else looks great

[@alisaben1]

This is SO cool!

[@carpecanus1316]

Fantastic video...but something's not quite right with the CAD dimensions. The 6'9" length (@5:50) on the frame and plywood back can only accommodate 81" of cabinets (not the 84" that he used for the project). That span should be 7' for his configuration of cabinets, correct?

[@reneemezzasalma6151]

Question is the actual island screwed down to the floor?

[@paulhughes3961]

House Bondo would have been a better choice for filling the seams as it won't crack and it sands much smoother and easier.

[@lanceroot520]

Hi, very cool instructions/video and cost break down. One question: do you mount the island to the floor to prevent if from moving/shifting? Or how does that work typically? Congratulations!

[@LawrenceValverde]

Came here to ask similar question. Doesn't look like you secured it to the floor at all.... Does it not risk shifting like that?

[@deshaunjackson1854]

I'd recommend J&K Cabinets. About the same price as Home Depot, but significantly better quality. Plywood, no MDF etc. The paint and stains are so durable, you can wipe turpentine on them and won't hurt it. Not that I'd recommend you wash with turpentine.

[@user-xe7ng5ri8o]

Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge. I know this is a yr old but I just saw for 1st time. If you don't mind me asking... can an island be moved? My house is ceramic tile and i want to move the island but can't find video on how to do it

[@thatguydiy9440]

It’s possible, Assuming the same ceramic flooring is under the island or is still in production if some tiles need replaced. Depending on how far you want to move it, electrical and plumbing could be the tricky issue.

[@williamsfamilyloft2538]

How do you install the quartz countertop? I keep watching these videos and nobody shows how you do it, do you glue it on the bottom to the wood?

[@alanmeola]

Great video. Exactly what I was looking for. How would you rate the cabinets from the RTA store? RTA cabinets seem to be great bang for the buck. Thanks!

[@thatguydiy9440]

Thank! I don’t have a whole lot of experience with cabinet quality other than what we used here from the RTA store and the standard off the shelf cabinets from the big box stores. These were significantly higher quality than the stock cabinets in the big box stores. I really liked the higher quality coating on the cabinets. I believe you can buy sample doors from the rta store.

[@vico9359]

What clearances around the island were you looking for right before final placement? My kitchen doesn't open up as wide as yours does.

[@thatguydiy9440]

We were primarily checking to see if the cabinets from both sides would open without hitting each other, that the refrigerator could be opened without hitting someone at the island, and that the stove could be open while still having enough room to pass through. This came out to about 3 - 4 ft clearance depending on the side.

[@jaysav8958]

Where was the 1x5x8 decorative board used? I see the 6" board was used on the end caps. And the frame of the island seems to be 4" board. Looking forward to your reply!

[@mizacki123]

Hello. Did you need anything or did you put anything to the wood before you put the granite or whatever stone countertop you put over?

[@thatguydiy9440]

No, we the installers put on the stone top the put some braces in under the seating area. They used some type of silicone adhesive to adhere the top so it wouldn’t have a chance to move.

[@TheOriginalGraniteBrackets]

If you're looking for support brackets to support your countertops, we can help out!

[@smithlacey22]

Did you vent your microwave? Is that necessary? I'm planning a kitchen reno this summer.

[@colinyamaguchi4109]

Did you anchor your island to the floor

[@lydiarosado8746]

Amazing!

[@lisahodsdon9141]

Will you share the exact cabinets you purchased from RTA?

[@angelf9800]

How did you cover the sides and edges

[@ricmille10]

Hi. I just wanna let you know that you did an awesome job on your island table. Its really nice and I like it. My wife and i been wanting to make one but don't really know where to get the cabinets. Only place i know is homedepot and lowes. Any advice of specific place to get the cabinets? But the butcher block i will get it at home decor. Pls need your help. Thanks

[@thatguydiy9440]

Take a look at (RTA) ready to assemble cabinet sites online. That is where we got these. They are may option out there

[@stephenkim7571]

Thanks for your video! Question! When the cabinet parts were delivered, did you have to unload it from the delivery truck yourself? I just cancelled my order because their video says that it is our responsibility to unload them. how could a man or two unload several hundred pounds package from delivery truck without any mechanical aid?

[@thatguydiy9440]

When ours were delivered the driver got them off the truck and brought them into the garage.

[@torrienday6719]

How would this work if you don’t have a basement to add electrical for the microwave?

[@thatguydiy9440]

This would be more difficult than the work I did. A trench would have to be cut in the concrete slab so conduit and wire could be run to the island.

[@shaunthesheep1416]

cute dog.whats the width from island to cabinet.thanks

[@thatguydiy9440]

From island to cabinets by the sink is 3 feet. More by the stove and refrigerator

[@brianvoss3461]

Great job! Looks fantastic. Question....why did you put the electrical box inside the cabinet? What are you plugging in on the inside of the cabinet?

[@thatguydiy9440]

Thank! This was for the microwave mounted in the island.

[@mohammedtuma100]

Very nice 👍🏼

[@thatguydiy9440]

Thanks!!!

[@LCO20]

Hey! Thanks for the video! We’re going to build our own island and would love to follow your instructions. Can you post a link of your CAD drawing on the description please? It’d be very helpful. Thanks for all that you do!

[@thatguydiy9440]

Hi Lisa. I’m currently building a detailed instruction plan due to getting several request. I can send you an early copy and would really appreciate it if you gave some feedback. I’ll send you a note when I have a copy available.

[@LCO20]

Thanks so much! I’ll share with you our finished results too 👍

[@aakajc1]

Do you have a similar video with a sink in the island?

[@veronicahinojosa8821]

Your video is seriously the best with instructions and sooooo detailed BUT that background music is so annoying can't hear you at times...

[@lorenamartes3525]

beautiful love it 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@thatguydiy9440]

Thank you!!

[@TheAveryRose]

What are the recommend width/ walking space between counters and an island?

[@thatguydiy9440]

We have 36 inches. I would not recommend going any less than this. At 36in two people can get past each other and drawers and cabinets can be open on both sides. You will want a bit more space between the island and Refrigerator. Here are a few articles to consider. www.durasupreme.com/blog/remodeling-stories-sophisticated-farmhouse-15-years-making-2/ www.hunker.com/13402770/what-is-the-recommended-distance-between-a-kitchen-counter-a-kitchen-island

[@R2Engineering]

It looks great. Although I noticed you did not screw the island frame to the floor. Did you feel any movement of the island after you installed it completely?

[@thatguydiy9440]

Thank! No we did not. I think that too is around 1,000 lbs on this own. I don’t think I could move it if I wanted to!

[@zunayrodriguez6812]

Helloooo thanks for this video and i want to ask you what kind of floor specific do you have in the kitchen ,please ?

[@Ericmillerg]

What type of microwave did you install in the island?

[@tracecisneros4336]

are the floor planks floating or glued down? how did you go about securing the island to the floor?

[@thatguydiy9440]

The floor is floating plank. I used a few long wood screws through the 2x4 supports into the floor. Honestly I think it could have gone with out. It should weigh close to 1,000 to 1,500 lbs

[@steveche42]

@@thatguydiy9440 is it ok to screw through the floating plank? since its floating ive been hearing that it cant be screwed down?

[@pierpamela1860]

What are the measurements of the island and how many people can sit

[@TheBnn106]

Built-in microwave does’t need ventilation? Thanks

[@thatguydiy9440]

No. Any ventilation on microwaves just blows the smell back into the room. We put a true over oven exterior ventilation system over the stove.

[@jonathanim16]

Nice job 👍 What distance from the cabinets you place the island ?

[@thatguydiy9440]

Thanks! The island is about 3ft from the cabinets so drawers and doors can open on both sides with out hitting.

[@phillipsolomon3150]

I'm trying to use your concept to build a smaller island as far as length. For the decorative pieces and thickness of those legs, I'm doing the same thing. I did have on question. When I am planning it out, using "actual" measurements, I end up with 3.5(2x4)+.47(plywood)+.75(1x4)= 4.72... so did you use a 1x5 or a 1x6 for the end cap? I can't figure out with the CAD what wood is where on the frame

[@thatguydiy9440]

Hi Phillip, remember you will also have plywood on the in side of the panel, at least in the sitting area. I used a 1x6 for the end cap (5.5 actual measurement). I can’t remember, I may have had to rip that down by 1/8in to 1/4in for a flush finish. I’d recommend dry fitting your pieces with a clamp and the actual wood you get. Unless you have professional wood working equipment or want to buy the high dollar wood it can be hard to get everything perfect. But you should be able to get it pretty close with the basics. Good luck!

[@kwasiowusu7006]

how did you secure the island?

[@trisnrik2245]

Nice. How u install the top tho ?

[@thatguydiy9440]

We had professional counter top company install the stone.

[@danielmarra6726]

It’s looks great… I would hardly call that easy though

[@vince4908]

Thanks again for the great video! Was the quartz countertop just placed directly on the island frame or was there a piece of plywood that the countertop sits on above the frame?

[@thatguydiy9440]

It was placed directly on the island frame. The counter installer put in support brackets under the seating area.

[@simonealexander7626]

Can you put countertops directly on the cabinets?

[@thatguydiy9440]

Yes, you can

[@canderson6715]

Are the cabinets only attached to each other, or is it screwed to the floor?

[@claramorgan8670]

What's the software you used to make the plans for the kitchen island? Edit: Ok, I finished watching the whole video! Very nice end result! I just have a few concerns about it. For example, in order to not break your back or your wife's back, the end-result counter should be at waist level, and from what I can see in the video, that height probably wasn't met. Yet, to achieve that height, you could've added a small level for an extra layer of drawers, for example, above the cabinet (under the actual marble quartz countertop). I understand this island is a permanent fixture in your kitchen. However, for those who live in a rental property, a steel frame with wheels (with brakes) could also be added at the bottom of the island. And, if someone's planning on moving to another property and bringing the island with them, I would assemble the whole thing in such a way to make it easier to disassemble later. At 13:03, you're putting screws so as to have them below the surface and you put a bit of wood filler on top of the screws to hide them. Instead of that, I would've used pocket screws to assemble that part. so that the screws are automatically hidden (no wood filler needed) and it would be easier to disassemble the whole thing for transportation. At 15:05, you talk about cracks/openings. I think that was probably created because you didn't use any clamps to hold the structure in place while the glue was drying. Not putting clamps allows the wood to move. Then again, I also don't know what else you might have put to hold the wood altogether while the glue dries. Nevertheless, whether you put screws or nails alongside glue, clamps should always be used while the glue is drying. That prevents most problems ending with having to use a planner or sander to level things up nicely. All and all, it's a very nice project with a very nice end result. I just hope both your back and your wife's back aren't suffering because of the height of the island. I sure would love to do something similar to your island! I really love it! Thanks for sharing this and I really hope you'll be sharing more projects with us all! You've got a new subscriber, here! ;) Cheers!

[@thatguydiy9440]

Hi Carla, thanks for your comments. Regarding the height. The island is standard counter top height and even with our kitchen counter tops. Another option would have been to go bar height but that it typically only done for eating areas which may only be a portion or the overall island. All in all we felt going with the standard counter top height was right for us. Regarding your comment on the pocket screws when attaching the 3/4 in sheet. I guess this would have been possible if putting the screws threw the 2x4 and into the plywood. However with the plywood only be3/4 in thick I would not recommend this. To ensure its secure I would recommend going through the plywood into the 2x4. The plywood needs no be sanded prior to painting anyway so sanding the wood filler was not too much additional work. You comment on the gaps and cracks at 15:15... I used a brad nailer after the glue was applied so the boards would not have moved. To avoid this issue in the future, I would need to use a plainer to ensure all boards are the same thickness and there are no curves or bowing in the boards. That being said, I did not have an electric plainer so planned on doing some of this by hand.

[@claramorgan8670]

@@thatguydiy9440 Thank you for your reply! It was BEAUTIFUL!!! And, for sure, you have to use the height that you think it's best for you and your family. I, personally, would've gone with a taller height because I'm 5'10" and I think the whole point of an island is to build it so that it's good for us and our needs (in my case, I love baking a lot, so having a countertop that's lower than my waist is a back killer). I really enjoyed your reply because it sheds light on those grey areas for which I didn't understand your reasoning. Now I do and I thank you for it! Like I said, BEAUTIFUL reply!!! Thank you again!

[@clem8362]

So I have a leftover slab of granite from my countertop install that I'm having edging put on to use for an island. I have a tile floor and my home is single story with no basement. Do you have any recommendations on how of anchor the island to the floor?

[@thatguydiy9440]

You could drill through the 2x4 base, get a concrete drill and use one of these anchors. I used something similar in the basement at my last house. Some of these anchors are permanent, some can be removed so consider that. www.homedepot.com/p/Red-Head-1-4-in-x-2-1-4-in-Zinc-Plated-Steel-Flat-Head-Threshold-Sleeve-Anchor-50123/100131834

[@deborahpinkey1264]

If the island is small enough, put it on castors that can be locked into place. That way, you can move it about, as needed. Just a thought.

[@thatguydiy9440]

@@deborahpinkey1264 completely agree! I wish I would have done this at my first home. It can be push up against the wall our out of the way when not needed.

[@SubePelayo928]

Where you white cabinets refinished or RTA as well?

[@thatguydiy9440]

The white cabinets were refinished. Originally they were the standard oak colored builders grade from the 90s

[@SubePelayo928]

@@thatguydiy9440 exactly what I have now. Yours look good!

[@richardrothmeier2928]

none of the videos show how to attach top. is it glued or screwed on?

[@thatguydiy9440]

I have countertop installers install that. The used a silicone when installing.

[@charlesashworth9850]

Just curious how long those wood screws were you used to attach the framing together. Assuming you went much longer to secure it to the floor?

[@itscard0man]

what dimensions is you kitchen ?

[@bepresent9932]

Did you still have to attach the base cabinet to the floor?

[@thatguydiy9440]

I did not, just to the surrounding base.

[@clementmabunda3131]

Is this island mounted onto the floor?

[@thatguydiy9440]

Yes it was anchored to the floor.

[@patrickfranco824]

Did you anchor it to the floor?

[@thatguydiy9440]

Yes it was anchored to the floor.

[@aolson8283]

How did you anchor the island to the floor?

[@thatguydiy9440]

I believe we just did 4 large screws on the corners. It is so heavy i doubt it would move even with out the screws.

[@eleinsantos6134]

You didn’t show how you attached the quartz to the cabinets

[@thatguydiy9440]

We had professionals install the stone. They aligned and centered the countertops then siliconed them.

[@renderwood]

First I was like damn those are expensive cabinets (also the shipping was expensive), but then I saw that they in fact were pretty high quality. I am planning similar island, but where I make butcher block style counter top and table-ends from the same material.

[@deborahpinkey1264]

Habitat-for-Humanity Re-Store can be a very good resource for new and used cabinets for a fraction of the cost.

[@thebrosofny2513]

Great content!

[@1010mero]

It was a little flimsier than I expected. I had to add a 2x2 piece of wood to the bottom on the rear side in order to stabilize it better kzbin.infoUgkxXTh-lz-8W6GcB219vTLp27-MxbZYObBX . It is also starting to bow a little at the outer wall ( I've had it up for about 6 months), I've already had a shelf tumble down because of the bow and the fact that the little shelf brackets are quite short. I went out to home depot and got some longer ones so that the shelves don't tumble down again. Overall, it looks very nice for the price and it holds a lot ( I use it as a pantry). I am very satisfied with my purchase. I just strongly suggest reinforcing it before putting it up.

[@ashihtaka]

Were the cabinets bevelled on the edges? I couldn't tell

[@thatguydiy9440]

No, they were not.

[@arnelvicta2965]

Hi What’s the exact measurement of the quarts?

[@jphomebrew]

Your wife gonna be mad when she finds out you used the table to assemble 😀

[@thatguydiy9440]

It happens!

[@mtsyoyo]

厲害！

[@joel_fpv]

The cad drawing is too blurry I can't hardly see the dimensions of the frame from the website.

[@steveche42]

did you have to drill the entire island into the floor?

[@thatguydiy9440]

We put a few screws through the frame into the floor in some spots to avoid movement over time but honestly I don’t know that it would have even been necessary. I would guess it weighs 2-3,000 lbs and has a lot of surface area so it would be very difficult to move.

[@steveche42]

@@thatguydiy9440 thanks! so it was screwed through the laminate flooring?

[@jeffavery9413]

Can you attach a pdf of the cad file. It’s too blurry to read

[@thatguydiy9440]

Hi Jeff. I’m building a detailed instruction plan over the next few weeks since I’ve had a lot of requests for it. I can send you an early copy and really appreciate if you give some feedback on it. I’ll send you a note when a draft is available.

[@kenbred46]

Give everyone a shock and tell them how much you payed for the microwave drawer that went into your 4K island.

[@thatguydiy9440]

@kenbred46 true, I think these normally retail for $1,000. We have a place near us that does auctions for returned e-commerce sites like Wayfair, Amazon, etc. I was able to get it for $250.

[@ELDecano1971]

With wood lumber prices today, this is unaffordable.

[@SAULMOTIONART]

What Software

[@thatguydiy9440]

Hi Saul. I used a software called sketch up for the 3D drawings.

[@Moiseslevin-vp4tf]

🛸

[@canalmjdicas7420]

Linda

[@Laura-yi3eg]

I really appreciate your video, but my ears were bleeding everytime the dissonant guitar riff started, but I didn't want to mute lest I miss out on narration... Makes it painful to rewatch video.

[@thatguydiy9440]

Thanks for the feedback, and sorry about that!… first video. I’ll improve the audio on future videos!

[@irietropicals4255]

I honestly didn’t notice the music at all. Great video man! Thanks for sharing your tips and how to.

[@abdelhamedali9596]

Video is too long...specially the painting and the repainting part

[@G2offroad]

You lost me at rta