Build a Carey Kitchen Island

DIY Plans for a Fabulous Island for the Kitchen

A kitchen island has become a staple in most kitchens. The island is a great place to prep food while visiting with guest, and also adds extra storage. The DIY plans to build a Carey Kitchen Island feature four drawers on each side (for a total of eight drawers!), deep shelves that are open on both sides, and a cubby in between the drawers and shelves for storing your best wine! The island is also raised off of the floor (bun feet would be fabulous!) and is also counter height, with decorative trim under the top. This is a super-easy build and will look fabulous in any style with any finish!

Materials:

• 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws
• 1-1/4″ brad nails
• 1-1/2″ brad nails
• Edge banding
• 8 sets of 14″ drawer slides (the ball-bearing type that mounts on the sides of the drawer boxes)
• 8 cabinet pulls
• 4 – 4″ furniture feet with mounting plates
• Wood glue
• Sandpaper (100, 150, 220 grits)
• Finishing supplies (primer & paint, or stain, sealer)

Lumber:

• 2 – 1×2 at 6′
• 2 – 1×3 at 6′
• 1 – 4′ x 8′ sheet of 1/4″ plywood
• 4 – 4′ x 8′ sheets of 3/4″ plywood
• 2 pieces of trim at 8′ each

Cut List:

• 2 – 3/4″ plywood at 30″ x 31-1/4″ – Sides
• 1 – 3/4″ plywood at 30″ x 43-1/2″ – Bottom
• 2 – 3/4″ plywood at 30″ x 30-1/2″ – Wine Bottle Dividers
• 5 – 3/4″ plywood at 4″ x 30″ – Wine Bottle Shelves
• 2 – 1×3 at 16-5/8″ – Upper Stretchers
• 2 – 1×3 at 31-3/8″ – Upper Stretchers
• 6 – 1×2 at 16-5/8″ – Drawer Stretchers
• 3 – 3/4″ plywood at 21-3/8″ x 30″ – Shelves
• 1 – 3/4″ plywood at 33″ x 48″ – Top
• Trim (under the top) cut to fit
• 12 – 3/4″ plywood at 5″ x 12-1/2″ – Drawer Box Sides
• 12 – 3/4″ plywood at 5″ x 16-1/8″ – Drawer Box Front & Back
• 4 – 3/4″ plywood at 7″ x 12-1/2″ – Drawer Box Sides
• 4 – 3/4″ plywood at 7″ x 16-1/8″ – Drawer Box Front & Back
• 8 – 1/4″ plywood at 13″ x 15-1/8″ – Drawer Box Bottom
• 6 – 3/4″ plywood at 5-3/4″ x 16-3/8″ – Drawer Fronts
• 2 – 3/4″ plywood at 7-1/2″ x 16-3/8″ – Drawer Fronts

Click on the drawings for a larger view!

Edge banding will be applied to the exposed edges of the plywood prior to assembly.

Step One

Cut the pieces for the sides and the bottom. With the pocket hole jig set for 3/4″ material, drill pocket holes in each side edge of the bottom. Secure the bottom to the sides using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws.

Step Two

Cut the pieces for the wine holder dividers and shelves. Drill pocket holes in the lower edges of the dividers. Mark the position on the dividers (the side opposite of the pocket holes) by drawing a pencil line the entire length of each divider. Secure the wine holder shelves to one of the dividers (with the pocket holes facing out) using glue and 1-1/4″ brad nails. Attach the other divider to the opposite side of the shelves using glue and 1-1/4″ brad nails aligning the shelves with the pencil lines.

Secure the wine holder assembly to the bottom as shown using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws.

Step Three

Cut the pieces for the upper stretchers, noting that the stretchers that will be secured over the drawers will be shorter than the stretchers over the shelves. Drill pocket holes in each end then secure to the sides and dividers using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws.

Step Four

Cut the pieces for the drawer stretchers and drill pocket holes in each end. Secure the stretchers to the side and divider as shown using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws.

Step Five

Cut the pieces for the shelves and drill pocket holes in each side edge. Secure the shelves to the side and divider as shown using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws.

Step Six

Install the feet on the bottom of the island according to the manufacturer’s installation instructions.

Step Seven

Cut the piece for the top. Position the top so that it hangs over all sides by 1-1/2″. Secure in place using glue and 1-1/2″ brad nails.

Step Eight

Cut the trim to fit under the top. There are no dimensions given because it will depend on the style of trim chosen. Decorative trim such as carved moulding or narrow crown moulding (also called “bed moulding”) can be used. Secure the moulding under the top using 1-1/4″ brad nails.

Step Nine

Cut the pieces for the drawer boxes. Cut a 1/4″ deep by 1/4″ wide groove in the bottom of each drawer box side, as well as the front and back. Pocket holes will be drilled in each end of the sides on the opposite side of the groove. Secure the drawer sides to the drawer back using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws.

Step Ten

Cut the pieces for the drawer bottoms. The pieces may have to be trimmed to fit – this happens to me all the time! Slide the pieces in the grooves on the sides and back, then align the front. Secure the drawer front using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws.

Step Eleven

Install the drawer slides according to the manufacturer’s installation instructions locating the slides 3/4″ back from the front edge of the sides and dividers.

Step Twelve

Cut the pieces for the drawer fronts. Mark the position for the drawer pulls and drill the holes. Shim the drawer front in the opening – there will be a 1/8” gap around all sides – then drive screws through the holes for the drawer pulls into the drawer box. Open the drawer, and secure the drawer front using countersunk 1-1/4” screws from the inside. Remove the screws from the holes for the drawer pull then finish drilling the holes. Install the drawer pull. This easy tutorial on installing drawer fronts will be helpful.

Finish as desired, and install the cabinet pulls.

The top of this fabulous kitchen island can be left as is or it can be made “fancier” with the addition of tile or laminate. Have any questions about the DIY plans to build a Carey Kitchen Island? Leave a comment below!

Originally posted 2015-08-19 08:00:34.