How to Easily Build a Large Kitchen Island

Lay two planks of 60-inch 2-by-4 lumber parallel on a work surface on a 2-inch edge, with 22 inches between them. Insert a 22-inch piece of 2-by-4 lumber between the ends of the both 60-inch planks to make a rectangle frame, 26-by-60 inches.

Glue the ends of the 22-inch pieces to the edges of the 60-inch planks, then drill two evenly-spaced pilot holes, sized to fit 3-inch wood screws, through the 60-inch planks into the ends of the 22-inch planks. This is the apron frame of the kitchen island.

Insert two more pieces of 22-inch 2-by-4 lumber evenly spaced along the apron frame, but with the 4-inch face of the lumber flat against the work surface and flush with the bottom of the frame. There will be 2 inches between the top of these support planks and the top of the apron frame. Secure the support planks in place like you did the apron frame.

Lay a 30-by-60-inch bench top flat on the work surface, wrong side up. Center the apron frame over the underside of the bench top. The frame should be flush at the ends of the bench top, with 2 inches between the long edge of the apron frame and the long edge of the bench top.

Glue the apron frame to the underside of the bench top, then secure it with five evenly-spaced wood screws through the support planks into the underside of the bench top -- 10 screws altogether.

Lay two planks of 33-inch 2-by-6 lumber parallel on the work surface, 56 inches apart. Measure up 3 inches from the bottom of the planks and place a 56-inch plank of 1-by-2 lumber across both 2-by-6 planks, with the ends of the 1-by-2 plank flush with the outer side of the 2-by-6 planks.

Position a second 1-by-2 plank across the 2-by-6 planks 15 inches up from the first and secure in place with four 1-1/2-inch wood screws through the end of each 1-by-2 plank into the 2-by-6 plank. Repeat with another pair of 2-by-6 planks and 1-by-2 planks. The 2-by-6 planks are the legs of the kitchen island, and the 1-by-2 planks double as braces and shelf supports.

Center a pair of legs along each long side of the apron frame. The top of the legs should be flush with the underside of the bench top, with the legs standing vertically and the braces on the inside.

Clamp the legs in place, then drill four evenly-spaced pilot holes through the side of the apron frame into each leg, sized for 3-inch lag bolts. Secure the legs to the frame with 3-inch lag bolts through the pilot holes. Remove the clamps and turn the kitchen island upright, so that it is standing on the legs.

Evenly space 19-1/2-by-2 inch slats measuring 26 inches long across the braces underneath the bench top to create two shelves for the kitchen island. There should be around 1/2-inch between each slat. Secure the slats in place with a 1-inch screw through each slat end into the brace it rests on.