Markus Andrews

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If you have a small kitchen that could benefit from having an extra work surface in it or a place for kitchen storage, then you may like the portable kitchen island I found and how I painted and styled it to fit the decorating style of my kitchen.

Last week I shared a post with you about the new kitchen island I bought to replace a metal one I previously had.

I told you as soon as I finished customizing it in my own style I would show you what I did to it. I finished it and I couldn’t be happier with how it came out.

This is what the very solid and sturdy wood island looked like before I added my style.

There are many ways to customize this wood work table/island from simply rubbing wood conditioner on it, sealing it with a clear poly to staining it a wood tone or painting it a color.

After looking at all these options, I decided to paint the base using Sherwin Williams Dress Blues paint.

How I Painted the Table/Island Wood Base

Normally I would have chosen to use Sherwin Williams ProClassic formula of paint, since I used it to paint the kitchen cabinets, but the guy at the paint counter told me the color couldn’t be made using ProClassic in a quart and recommended I try their Emerald formula.

I decided to get it made up in a semi-gloss finish so the base would be easy to wipe clean.

Here is what the back of the island looks like. This side is parallel to the sink.

How I Sealed the Wood Top

To seal the wood top, I went back and forth on how I wanted to finish it. Two readers mentioned they liked Waterlox for sealing Butcher Block and wood. A few others liked using food safe mineral spirits that is used mostly for wood cutting boards. Both are great options.

Since I am not going to use the surface as a cutting board as I have a Boos Board Cutting Block to cut on, I decided to try a new product from Minwax called Polycrylic Max in an Ultra Flat finish.

I love Polycrylic and have shared all the projects I have used it on over the years with you on the blog so I went for it.

I LOVE how well it went on and best of all how it sealed the wood with no sheen so it looks like bare wood. I followed the directions on the label. I wanted to make sure it was properly sealed and used two coats – sanding in between the coats to make sure the second coat adhered well.

How I Styled The Wood Island

The wood worktable/island has a drawer and two shelves under the drawer. The shelves can be screwed in at a few different heights depending on what you want to store on them.

The drawer had a plain wood drawer knob. I didn’t care for that so I replaced it with a brushed chrome bin-style pull that I bought at Home Depot.

How I Organized the Drawer

If you have followed my blog for a long time then you know I like to line drawers with pretty paper. I have used everything from fabric, wallpaper, book pages and even gift wrap to add a surprise pop of color where you normally don’t expect it.

For the my new kitchen island drawer I used gift wrap and then sealed it with Mod Podge in a matte sheen that I had in my decor supply stash.

I took my time to get this new island project done. First it took me quite a few months to find a ready-made one that would fit in the small space. Next I didn’t rush into choosing the color and styling.

I made it a point to look over the images and clippings I have taken from Pinterest and magazines to make sure what I ended up doing, would be just right for my kitchen as well as my own decorating style.

More Kitchen Project and Decor You May Like

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Operation: A Place for Everything (and Everything in Its Place)

My organizing mission continues! This closet makeover is still in progress so no pretty pictures, but I thought I’d show you what I’ve been working on behind the scenes.

The Closet That Drove Me Nuts
(can you blame me?)
This closet in the Snug was one of those closets.
The “we just moved in” (…almost four years ago 😂) so let’s just stuff it in here for now kind of closet.
It became the delayed decision zone—overflowing with the things I wasn’t quite sure what to do with. Family photos, mementos, files, extra pillow covers… all important, all without a clear home.
At one point it was filled with fluffy pillows, and they would all come tumbling out when I opened the door. I don’t think I took a photo of that.
Guest Bed Details
Why We Chose a Compact Home
We live in what I call a compact home, by choice. It has smaller rooms, a smaller lot, a one car garage, no storage shed, no basement and smallish closets. After years of having more space—extra garages, basements, closets, outbuildings—I realized “extra storage space” just made it too easy to collect too much stuff.
And for someone like me (a person who likes to decorate, can be sentimental, and a recovering procrastinator 😏), fewer storage options actually “forces me” to stay on top of things. Otherwise clutter is multiplying “out of sight, out of mind” (or taunting me every time I open the door).
White photo boxes // Blue stackable bins // Navy linen file boxes // Wall-mounted essential oil organizer // Blue magazine holders
That said, even after years of decluttering and downsizing, I’m still learning important truths, such as:
Small spaces obviously need fewer things—but they also need better systems.
When we had a 5,000 square foot house, we didn’t actually need many systems. People always say a bigger house is harder to keep clean, but it is far easier to stash stuff where no one has to see it.
We had a lot of storage in that house so you could toss in just about anything to “deal with later” and forget you even owned it. Until it was time for us to move. Same situation happened at the next house. It was a smaller home but 1,000 square feet of storage under the house. I had no idea we still had canoes under the house until the day we were trying to load the Uhaul.
By the way, you can read more of my misadventures and solutions found through all of my homes in my books Love the Home You Have and Make Room for What You Love — maybe you’ll relate or just get a good laugh at my struggles ha!

On a related note, I have no idea why I still have this album. I mean, I did like Donny and Marie and had a lot of their albums, but this would not be the one I would choose to keep. Yet here it is.
And why have I moved about 13 times with this album? I have a lot of questions. Ha! Happily, these random finds are becoming more rare. I still have too much stuff, but I’m making steady progress. Let me show you what I’ve been working on!
Wall-mounted essential oil organizer
The Closet Problem (and My Simple Solution)
This closet in the snug, under the eaves, is actually one of the biggest we have, so I knew it had potential. But without stackable bins or a usable structure, it wasn’t going to work for what I needed.
We didn’t need to keep everything, so I started—as a necessity—with a ruthless edit. I’ve come a long way when it comes to letting go, and having limited space definitely helps me be more decisive.
Once the clutter was pared down, I got to the fun part: organizing.

What I Used:

White photo boxes: These hold all our loose photos until we can scan, frame, or sort them.
Blue stackable bins: These are soft-sided but sturdy with handles and spots for labels. Some are file boxes, some are just open bins. I’m not sure how these ended up being two shades of blue (I ordered one set a bit later) but that’s okay. It doesn’t have to be perfect to feel organized.
Navy linen file boxes: These are really sturdy, well-built, and a great size. They came with hanging file folders that are helping me feel so organized!
Blue magazine holders
Wall-mounted essential oil organizer: I added two of these wall shelves months ago and love how they maximize vertical space without cluttering the closet. I definitely need to pare down my oils, but I love all of them. Ha! I still need to tidy those shelves up, though. Baby steps! Side note, this closet smells LIKE A DREAM! I get my oils here.

Everything I needed now stacks neatly into the closet, and there’s still enough floor space to walk in and out comfortably. YAY!
It’s just what I wanted. An easy fix. No need to install shelves or find furniture. No permanent installations. Just a fast and functional solution that works for us now, and is flexible for the future, too.
And most importantly? I can open the door without anxiety. I keep opening the door just to remind myself of how far I’ve come!

Buy bins in larger sets if you know you’ll use them—it’s more affordable.
Look for bins with handles and label slots for easy future organizing.
Don’t buy containers for clutter. Declutter before you organize.
Simple solutions can make a big impact—especially in small spaces.

Voila! This little system saved the day…and my sanity.
One more thing….
Stay tuned for my next installment of A Place for Everything and Everything in Its Place—you won’t even believe this one! I came up with a clever idea for the closet door that solved a whole different organizing dilemma. It was a tricky one! I can’t wait to show you.

See more of my recent organizing projects here!
My Phrase Of The Year: A Place for Everything
10 Organizers We Use in Our Home
My Quick & Easy Organized Gift Wrapping Closet
My Coffee Cabinet Makeover (Removable Wallpaper, Berkey Water Filter Storage and Organization)
A Pretty Solution for Hiding Power Strips and Cords
How to Organize Under the Sink in the Kitchen (6 tips to create a place for everything!)
My Coffee Cabinet Makeover (Removable Wallpaper, Berkey Water Filter Storage and Organization)
Baskets in the Dining Room (a place for everything!)
Decorating & Organizing with Baskets (A Place for Everything!)
See a whole gallery full of organization inspiration posts on the blog here! More