How to Build a Wooden Kitchen Island

Take two each of the 30-by-3 and 20-by-3 inch planks and plane a rebate into the edge two inches deep and one inch wide. You will need to go over the rebate in long, smooth sweeps with the plane to achieve the desired cut.

Miter the ends of all the 30-by-3 and 20-by-3 inch planks to a 45 degree angle using the miter saw.

Assemble the planks into a rectangular frame, the ones with the rebated edge forming one frame; rebate edge on the inside edge of the frame. The mitered ends form the corners at right-angles. Apply wood glue between the mitered ends, clamp with the corner clamps and let dry.

Drill a hole through the center of each glued joint from the 30-inch side of the frames, then screw the frames together using the pre-drilled holes. Remove the clamps.

Place the 28-inch slab into the frame with the rebated inner edge—it will fit snugly inside. Pre-drill holes every five inches through the top of the slab into the rebated edge. Lift the slab, apply wood glue along the rebate, replace the slab and screw down. This is your kitchen island shelf.

Cut a 1-inch deep and three inches wide housing into the ends of all the 33 inch planks, which are the legs. At the opposite end of the planks, cut another housing to the same dimensions, but make it 5 inches from the end of the planks, rather than flush with the end of the planks like the first housings.

Chisel out the waste-wood from between the housing cuts, so you have clean, 3-by-1 inch housings, two on each leg.

Lay the two frames on their 30-inch side, vertically. Fit the housing that is 5 inches from the end of the legs over the edge of the shelf frame. Fit the housing that is flush with the ends of the legs over the edge of the empty frame. Put two legs on in this manner, aligning them with the ends of the frames, making sure the frames are at right-angles to the legs.

Pre-drill a hole that goes between the legs and frames, then lift the legs, apply glue, and screw the legs down. Turn the whole structure over, position the other two legs and attach them as you did the first two. Stand the kitchen island upright, on its new legs.

Position the 32-by-22 slab over the top of the kitchen island, centered over the empty frame—there should be a 2-inch overhang on all sides. Pre-drill holes every 10 inches through the top of the slab into the frame, then glue and screw in place.

Fill all the screw holes with wood putty; let dry. Sand the wooden kitchen island, then apply three coats of varnish, following the manufacturer’s recommended drying times between coats.