"this kitchen needs an island"

Since the day we moved into our new home
almost 15 years ago, my husband has been
suggesting that our kitchen needs an island.
I don't know why he even cares.... it's not
like he ever steps foot in it!

But, I had to agree with him.  Our U-shaped
kitchen is on the large size, at least for our
home.
When the center of the room is not being
taken up by a baby's high chair or playpen,

it's just a wasted space.
But it is not big enough for a permanent
full-size island. 
So we've been on the look out all these
years for just the right size
something-or-other to put in this vast
expanse of nothingness.

One day, not too long ago, hubby's
buddy was about to trash a
"stainless" commercial table that
had been in his garage forever.
Hubby brought it home and
expected me to be excited about it.
I hated it!
No way was I gonna
let that thing inside my home.

It sat outside for about 3 months,
being used as a catch all by the
back door, until I finally relented
and let him clean it up and bring it
into the kitchen.

I went to Home Depot and bought
some spray paint, to spruce up the
legs and bottom.
This is a specialized "hammered" finish.

 It was looking good!  And the size of it
is perfect for our kitchen....but something
was missing.
I grabbed the wooden stool we had
been using as an end table in the
livingroom.  We decided to use it next
to the island.
But, we'd have to paint it to match.

 This is as far as hubby got with it.
I waited 4 weeks, then finished painting
it myself.






Here is the finished product.  The wooden
stool now looks like it is made out of
metal.

The ugly commercial table has been
transformed into a sit-down space
in my once bare kitchen, and adds a
modern element that was missing.

I use it all the time, sitting down
to read a magazine while I'm
cooking, or eating breakfast.

 
This whole project cost us $12,
for the spray paint.