Inspiring Ideas for Vintage Kitchen Islands

Do you want your kitchen to be truly unique? Then consider going vintage with your island. The possibilities range from rustic to finely detailed. Here are a few of my favorites.

Butcher Block

A true butcher block is completely at home in the kitchen. The most often found vintage size is roughly a square, usually around 30 inches, although larger blocks are out there. The smaller ones can fit nicely even in a small kitchen. Expect to pay between $400 and $700 on up for a small block. Often charmingly worn on the top, the uneven surface can cause problems with serving.

How to Clean and Care for Your Butch Block


Some vintage butcher blocks incorporate a bit of storage, although these are harder to find. If you want to be able to sit at the butcher block, measure carefully because they’re usually too low for knee clearance.


Work Tables

While farm tables have become popular in the kitchen, don’t overlook other working-style tables. This table looks like it might have been the bottom part of a Hoosier cabinet (note the rounded flour bin underneath).


Enamel-top tables can still be found for a relatively inexpensive amount. I have seen them at garage sales for under $30. Use yours as is, or turn it into a moveable storage cart as this homeowner did.


Console Tables

A console table can make a wonderful worktable/island, especially in a smaller kitchen. Sometimes they come with shallow drawers in the front. Bottom shelves are common and provide a place for large stock pots or baskets. Console tables can be found in just about any style and material. The style shown here can be readily found in a reproduction model, often with your choice of painted finish.


A half-round, or demilune, console, as shown here, creates an interesting end to a built-in island and provides additional storage as well.


Repurposed Buffets

A rather plentiful item at antique stores is the vintage buffet. The 1960s versions are usually rather dowdy looking in their original wood finish, but give it a coat of paint and voilà — a whole new look. If you are going to paint it, you don’t need to find a pristine piece, either, meaning the price will be lower. Because furniture is rarely finished on the back, consider how you can finish this to fit both the piece and your kitchen, and whether you’ll need a carpenter’s help.


If you happen to own an interesting piece like this, not only will it make a statement, it will also provide good storage. In this kitchen, a cabinetmaker added storage onto the back, making it even more useful. Having a countertop made to follow the lines of the piece gives it an especially nice, custom look. Prices for buffets are all over the place. You might be able to find a small one for under $100, but the bigger, more ornate pieces can go for $700 and up.


Industrial Tables

Tables and carts, originally used in manufacturing or other plants, are another interesting option for a repurposed island. The bright orange of this curvy base provides a fun spot of color.


These industrial tables can go for hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. If you are willing to do a bit of DIY, however, check local industrial auctions. A rusty base can be sanded and painted, and a new wood top can be fabricated, either by a handy homeowner or a carpenter.


Store Counters

Keep a lookout for these at antique and salvage stores. (Don’t worry; they’re hard to miss.) Because of their sheer size, they’re somewhat difficult to sell and may not cost as much as you might think. Look for one with interesting detailing on the “outside.” A carpenter can help fabricate useful storage on the working side if needed.


Create Your Own

What do you get when you combine an old wood table and a piece of Victorian flashing? A one-of-a-kind island. Any kind of old finish should be sealed for safety around food and easy cleaning.


For a very inexpensive island, this homeowner took a couple of old, worn shelves and mounted them on a new U-line shelving unit.


A wine barrel with a round slab of marble creates an instant conversation piece.


Or how about painted tin ceiling tiles?


Or reclaimed wood to finish off a more conventional island?

Your turn: Please show us your unique kitchen island!

More: How to Design a Kitchen Island

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