Replies

1. 
   CRAIGCONEY_M | Oct 21, 2002 07:44pm | #1

   Steve,

   I am assuming that you are looking for a base cabinet with a counter/worktop surface???   I am working on a kitchen now that I came up with a few designs for islands,  what type of space do you have avail, what clearances do you need?

1. 
   popsdads | Oct 21, 2002 09:43pm | #3

   Craig,

   Unfortunately I have a country kitchen so space is at a premium.

   Probably no larger than 48 inches by 30 inches. I could attempt

   to design my own, but have only worked with plans before. May have

   to branch out. I do have Tolpin's book on kitchen cabinets which

   is a great help, but I would prefer a dimensional drawing.

   Thanks for your response!

1. 
   NormInFujino | Nov 09, 2002 05:18pm | #6

   We also have a smallish kitchen and didn't have a lot of money to experiment with when building the house, so our house carpenters built an island from two relatively inexpensive off-the-shelf base cabinets fastened together, topped by a substrate base of thick MDF (I think). We had extra marble left over from the floor so topped the island with that. The exterior sides are covered with red cedar paneling left over from our living room ceiling. It's not perfect, but it didn't cost a lot and works well. Size of the tabletop (at max width) is 27x117 inches. View Image View Image

   ". . .and only the stump or fishy part of him remained."

   Green Gables: A Contemplative Companion to Fujino Township

2. 
   Jamie_Buxton | Oct 21, 2002 09:21pm | #2

   You're unlikely to find plans for kitchen cabinets.  Instead, buy a book about designing and building kitchen cabinets.   Taunton Press has published two.   Either one will tell you what you need to know.

1. 
   popsdads | Oct 21, 2002 09:44pm | #4

   Thanks Jamie. I have Tolpin's book on kitchen cabinets which

   is a great help, but dimensional drawings are what I am used

   to. Will have to become daring and create my own! Suppose

   that as long as I keep to certain accepted practices (cabinet

   height, etc.) I can't go too wrong!

1. 
   BG | Nov 09, 2002 02:09pm | #5

   Steve,

   I did design my own...thought about it for years..my wife was very skeptical with my concepts...she absolutely loved it when she saw it.

   Because i wasn't sure, i used straight grain fir (as in deck material) and 3/4" ply.  If it worked I intended to redue in a better wood. Goverening the size was the relatively small kitchen space and the fact that i had a piece of 31x31 polished granite i wanted to use for the top.  The design was kinda shakerish, with flat panels (4) on each of the two sides.  The key to my design was book shelves on one side (for cook books) and very deep shelves on the otherside for pots, pans, trays, etc.  I wanted to put in a nice draw for utensils but that may go into the redue.

   Given its over all dimension, approx. 32x32, i carefully considered how i would get it into the kitchen....no problem, front door is 36"..front hallway is wide...arch way to kitchen..no problem. However, getting it out the basement door (30") just didn't work....sigh.  I had to cut it in half with a sabre saw and reglue in the kitchen...

   As i said my wife loved it...she won't let me replace it now with something decent...good luck  

2. 
   Piffin | Nov 09, 2002 08:44pm | #7

   If this is custom work, there's no reason to have to stick to standard sizes exccept your own confidence level.

   A bakers table use would need the height to be only about 32"

   A bar type setup wopuld call for higher than standard 36" or it could be a combination of both, depending on the room you have.

   One thing to be aware of is that you must almost always have 42" clear walkway/aisle between island and other units. Be sure to plan out on paper what the necessary clearances are for openning the refer and oven doors to avoid those kind of conflicts.

   With all the above in mind and the small kitchen, you might need it to be a 20" deep instead of 24" That's one of the adavantages of designing and building your own.

   Another is the way you can pat your self on the back when you're done. Have fun.

   .

   Excellence is its own reward!

   "The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit. The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are." --Marcus Aurelius

3. 
   popsdads | Nov 12, 2002 07:44pm | #8

   BG, Norm, and Marcus,

   I thank you all for the great tips (and photos). I have

   some ideas from Tolpins book that incorporated with what this

   posting has provided to me, should hopefully amount to ####half-decent looking island. If not, I can always rebuild

   and will have gained more wordworking experience along the

   way. Again, thank you!