How to add beadboard to a kitchen island
May 11, 2009
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How to cover your kitchen island with beadboard for a custom look!
I love how our kitchen island looks covered in black beadboard:
You can see the full beadboard island tutorial here!
You can see the full beadboard island tutorial here! This stuff is thin, so it's easy to install with either glue or short nails:
I used casing (made to trim out windows) around the bottom instead of baseboard or quarter round.
I realized today spray paint may work well to do at least the first coat. It would take very light sprays but I think it could work. The island took one coat of tinted primer and two coats of black. My right hand looks like a claw right now. :)
I added corbels to under the counters and love how it turned out.
They look like they are meant to be there:
I used casing (made to trim out windows) around the bottom instead of baseboard or quarter round. I loved how chunky they were and the beaded detail around the top:
Here are a few more tips I have discovered for installing beadboard around an island...
Here are a few more tips I have discovered for installing beadboard around an island...When it comes to outside corners, I use dowel rods to fill in the corners. You can get them in just about any size you need.
The skinny dowels, when painted the same as the wood, look just like the bead that runs down the beadboard. It works every time. You can't even tell where they are:
Hands down, the hardest part of installing beadboard is painting it. Obviously, there are ton of grooves you need to get filled in. I always paint a small section with a sponge roller first, then immediately use a small sponge brush to fill in the grooves.
When you use the roller, the paint will get into the grooves and puddle up, and you have to get in there with a smaller brush to get that paint smoothed out.
I realized today spray paint may work well to do at least the first coat. It would take very light sprays but I think it could work. The island took one coat of tinted primer and two coats of black. My right hand looks like a claw right now. :) Beadboard is like flooring, in that it needs to acclimate to your home. It will expand and contract if you install too soon. (I did it too fast in the laundry room and now it needs to be repainted.) To prevent this, it's ideal to leave it flat, in the space you are installing it, for a couple days.
One more tip -- don't be scared to take off the molding before you start (like I mentioned in my last post). If you have to tear up the wall a bit to get it off, don't worry. The fantastic thing about beadboard is it covers all sins.
Here's a before of the island:
Here's it is after it's first makeover, with paint and molding:
Here it is today. It's never changing again people:
Here's it is after it's first makeover, with paint and molding:
Here it is today. It's never changing again people:
Next project, upholstering the chairs...can't wait! (See how they turned out here!)
Here's my dirty little secret though -- I've never painted the cabinets on the island. I was way too sceered to do it before, but now I think I'm ready. I think the whole thing in black will look fab:
For now, my hand needs a major break. Thanks for your patience! I hope you are inspired.
For now, my hand needs a major break. Thanks for your patience! I hope you are inspired.
Looks great. All you going to redo all the kitchen cabinets to match or just the ones on the island?
ReplyDeleteIt looks fabulous!
ReplyDeleteWe're planning to put beadboard in our master bathroom sometime soon - I'm really inspired now after seeing yours.
Lisa
Looks sooooo good! I am going to try my hand at the bead board with my breakfast nook. WE couldn't afford the read bead board so bought the paneling beadboard look- I do hope it won't look too cheap but it was that or nothing!
ReplyDeleteblessings
mary
It turned out great!
ReplyDeleteGirl you did yourself proud. Wow...that looks amazing! Now can you come on over and do my kitchen island?? I'm thinking I need a redo:)
ReplyDeleteLooks great!! I would love to try that!
ReplyDeleteI am totally inspired! I thought the first re-do was great, but this is absolutely fantastic. Thanks for the tips about the small dowels and letting the bead board acclimate. I didn't know that.
ReplyDeleteSo wonderful! I have the paint thing under control... but the beadboard is intimidating! Great job!
ReplyDeleteFAB-U-LOUS! I think the cabinets will look great in black too. Can't wait to see what fabric you choose for the chairs. :)
ReplyDeleteWoohoo! Sarah it turned out gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteLove it in black with the new beadboard. The cabinets will also look good painted black as well.
Kudos!!! ~Melissa :)
Awesome!!! Great job!
ReplyDeleteInspired doesn't even begin to cover it!! You are the master! That thing looks awesome and you have every right to be very proud of yourself. I'd be milking that right claw for all it's worth--just so I could brag about how I got it!
ReplyDeleteI love it! I'm trying to talk my hubby into a black island...but where did you get the black outlet? I've never seen one before and we have a white outlet right in the middle of the back of the island. Of course, you see the back of the island from the front door, so it'll be an eye-sore when I paint the island black.
ReplyDeleteIt looks great! You should most certainly paint the cabinets black. It would look fab.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous look with the beadboard. It looks so custom now. I love it and being black is such a beautiful contrast to the wood cabinets. You did a fantastic job. Hugs, Marty
ReplyDeleteIt really looks good with the beadboard. You should paint the cabinets that are in the island. In two of the houses I have lived in, I have painted the cabinets and they turned out great. In my last house I painted them a beautiful green and it changed the whole look of the cabinets.
ReplyDeleteIt looks beautiful Sarah! I can't wait to try it out in my kitchen!
ReplyDeleteIt looks great! Beadboard (white) and painted cabinets are on my summer to-do list...I'm glad to hear that liquid nails is the way to go because that was my plan. :)
ReplyDelete~ Sarah
Very very nice! In fact I think I'm in love with it.
ReplyDeleteDi
The Blue Ridge Gal
Love the last photo...glad to know that I'm not the only cheater out there! After painting beadboard those cabinet doors will be a piece o' cake.
ReplyDeleteIt looks wonderful! You should be very proud of yourself!
ReplyDeleteFabulous! Love this!
ReplyDeleteThat looks so good! Thanks for the tip about the dowels.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely fantastic and totally worth the wait!!! I LOVE the beadboard!
ReplyDeleteI know how you feel, I just painted my whole house in a week and a half. My hands, body is killing me! Looks great though! And I love the beadboard idea. I may try it out on my nook.
ReplyDeleteCheater, Cheater pumpkin eater...paint those cabinets at once! :-) Looks great...I totally thought of doing beadbaord before I did the moulding but then decided on moulding...but know you are making me second guess myself.
ReplyDeleteLooks great! Thanks for the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteI love it too. Great job.
ReplyDeleteAhhh! I gasped! I swooned! Little hearts started popping up out of my eyes! I saved this one to the inspiration folder :o) It's lovely!
ReplyDeleteI love beadboard! Your island looks great! Thanks for the tip about using a dowel for the corners, it makes them look so seamless.
ReplyDeleteI love the transformation. I think you will like the whole thing black. I'm going to be doing my island in the bead board soon. I'll post mine too. Great job. Debbie
ReplyDeleteLooks awesome, inspired me to look at my kitchen a little differently.
ReplyDeleteAll I can so is "OH MY GOODNESS"! You did an amazing job. I am trying to get the nerve to try this in my bathroom!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely beautiful! Great job!
ReplyDeleteOh - it IS dreamy! I agree with you about the corbels too. I love the simple ones. You did a great job!
ReplyDeleteI am working up the nerve to do that in my kitchen!
XOXO
Jen
It turned out great! Love the bead board. You should definitely tackle the cupboards and paint them black to match...after your hand recovers!
ReplyDeleteLooks fantastic! I think the whole thing in black will look fab! Good job!
ReplyDeleteManuela
That last picture...killing me!!!! So often I leave a project unfinished because I am scared or a perfectionist. I figure it will bug me until I finish it so it won't stay that way TOO long...until like over a year has passed and I still have swatches of paint on the wall in my living room...trying to decide on a color!
ReplyDeleteyou did amazing!!!!! come do mine?
ReplyDeleteI cannot even believe how gorgeous this turned out! It looks just amazing. I love the tip about using the dowels to fill in the corners-genius. Thanks for sharing!!!
ReplyDeleteIt looks great!! Love the re-do of the re-do. The blacks match so much better. ;)
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree, paint those cabinets!!
Thanks for all the tips & inspiration!
It's beautiful!!!! I love it, love it, love it! It looks so expensive!
ReplyDeleteAnd you MUST paint those cabinets. It will look so fantastic when it's all the same color.
Yay you!!!!
Kimba
niiiiice! And don't be afraid of the cabinets....I'm painting ALL of mine currently - and lOVE how it's turning out!
ReplyDeletewww.1wonderwomanwannabe.blogspot.com
Wow! That looks like it was done by a professional! Nice Job!!
ReplyDeleteLooks great! Will you be painting the doors as well?
ReplyDeleteEver since I read your post about the beadboard in your laundry room, I have been wanting to do this to the penisula in my kitchen. I havent done it yet 'cause I couldnt figure out what to do with the third side with the doors n stuff. This post just confirms to me that it was a great idea and I will seriously give it some time before the end of the summer! Thanks for posting!
ReplyDeleteThe island turned out lovely! You are so crafty and creative.
ReplyDeleteYou are simply amazing!!! It looks wonderful.
ReplyDeletePeggy
LOVE IT!! That's what my procrastination project is as well...adding bead board to my island, but you did it so much better than I. Yep, that's why I haven't started...yes....just didn't want to steal your limelight....hee hee. You've inspired me. I will stop procrastinating one of these days.
ReplyDeleteLove it! I vote for painting the cabinets. I think it will tie it all together.
ReplyDeleteIt turned out great!!!
ReplyDeleteDon't be scared...paint the front! In fact...beadboard the frame part! You can do it!
It looks so, so, so good!
ReplyDeleteAmazing! You never disappoint!
ReplyDeleteYou did a wonderful job!! I love it!!! Nicole
ReplyDeleteThis looks amazing! Love it.
ReplyDeleteIt's awesome! I love it! You have to do the other side now, and you know, that is going to lead to doing ALL the cabinets lol
ReplyDeleteI love it! You are so handy! I would definetly paint the cabinets. Now I have to find myself something to cover in beadboard!
ReplyDeleteLove it, love it, love it! Will you please come to my house and HELP me?!??!!??! Lol Your ideas inspire me so much, I just wish I had some time, not with my 2.5 yr and 1.5 yr old! Someday I'll have a beautiful house like yours.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this island! The dowel rod trick is pure genius too! It looks great!!!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Stacey
It looks tremendous! Seriously...great job. It will look even better when you paint the cabinets the same color. Definitely paint the cabinets the same color!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!! I love the new chairs too. You're right, you can SO do those cabinets on the island and it will be fabulous!
ReplyDeletethat looks amazing! I love love love black and love love beadboard. great job!
ReplyDeleteI think I'm the only one, but I kind of liked the cabinets the same as the others on the kitchen side of the island. Foolish me?
ReplyDeleteI like how it ties it into the rest of the cabinets. And if you paint the others black too it may get too black with the black back splash.
Just my two cents. I'm sure whatever you do will look amazing. It always does!
Adrienne
I have been wanting to do the exact same thing to our island. Our kitchen needs some updating and a little something special. I was excited to see this post! It turns out great! Now if I could only get my husband to get it done! : )
ReplyDeleteYou totally crack me up with your "dirty little secret!" Too funny. It looks great and I think I'll do it on my wrap around bar since I'm sick of painting over the flat paint that my kids jeans mark up every time they sit down.
ReplyDeleteThe island will look great in all black, but then sit back and enjoy your new island. The color on your cabinets are great.
Thanks for sharing!
Margaret
Sarah~oh girl, it turned out gorgeous! I didn't even know there was "real" beadboard~am I a dork? Where do you buy it? The only thing I've seen is the panels, but I just love what you did. Brava!
ReplyDeleteI'm inspired! Looks really beautiful, Sarah. And those are some great tips for working with beadboard that I didn't know (or think about) before.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Love your new profile pic. Or maybe it's not new and I'm just now noticing it! :-)
That looks great, Sarah! I really want to do some beadboard in my house too.
ReplyDeleteSarah, that looks gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI came here from facebook, Julia from Hooked on Houses sent a shout out about your beadboard :)
Straight up awesome. I can always count on you to make any project seem so easy. You give great advice too. I never would have known to acclimate the bead board.
ReplyDeleteLove it, great job! And especially loved the other side, that is so me.
ReplyDeleteOhhh! I've wanted to do this for so long but my husband wasn't convinced...I showed him your pics and he said he liked it! Thansk
ReplyDeleteOr I should say "thanks" :)
ReplyDeleteI love it! It looks SOOO great!
ReplyDeleteOh I love love love it! My cabinets are slightly darker than yours and I always wondered what my island would look like in black!!!! Now I know!!!! Thanks for all the tips!!!
ReplyDeleteI love it, I love it, I LOVE it.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe that you did that all yourself. Very nice.
I am dying to cover up our nasty green tiles. Wouldn't bead board be beautiful in my bathroom? so cottagey and lovely...
Now you got me thinking.
So - i still have to catch up on Y and R. Vacation was brutal on me. I missed a whole week. I did hear about Sharon though.
My MIL reads some crazy Y & R message board where she gets all the spoilers for the show. She knew about SHaron being preggo weeks ago. She also knew about those crazy hair extensions and highlights that they gave Mackenzie to try to make her look as young as Billy looks.
Didn't work. At all.
I LOVE it Sarah!! I am totally "starring" it in my Google Reader so that I can copy you someday. Beadboard is my favorite, and I love how it looks in your kitchen. :) Genius!
ReplyDeleteCarrie
Wow girl, it looks great! You totally deserve a gold star for the dowel tip!! =)
ReplyDeleteoh, i luuuurve it too, especially the corbels! great job!
ReplyDeleteLove, Love, Love this! GREAT job. It looks Ah-mazing!
ReplyDeleteShelley Smith
I love love love your blog!!! I just found it last night and I can't stop going back to it. You have such great advice and I love all the money saving tips you give. You make the projects seem so easy to do and you've inspired me to just try things. What's the worst that can happen? Also, I love the pictures because I'm a totally visual person and they make it so much easier! I can't wait to try some of your great ideas. Thanks for this awesome site!
ReplyDeleteThank you Thank you Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI am so happy/grateful that you did this tutorial. You are so inspiring! I can't wait to start adding bead board to the walls in my house!
The island looks great!
ReplyDeleteMORE than inspired!!! Oh my goodness I love it!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great transformation!!! I LOVE it!
ReplyDeleteI love the black island! I think the 2 colors of cabinetry in the kitchen looks awwwwwesome! You are super creative!
ReplyDeleteI just love anything done in bead board! Maybe the front doors could be done in the wallpaper bead board!
ReplyDeleteWow! What a gorgeous result! Love the black w/ the brown cabinets. Thank you so much for posting this. I've been thinking about doing the same thing with my island (to cover the ultra-fakey particle board). Your post has really inspired me.
ReplyDelete