Island in the stream

Not the SONG!! An actual island I constructed out of various building materials. My criteria was is couldn't be big (there was not a lot of space) storage was a MAJOR bonus and I wanted something affordable and unique. While shopping every store and home improvement center with the most "reasonable" non storage piece coming in at over 1000.00 I was at Lowes and saw a FAB unique piece. As it turns out it was various builder stock cabinets made into this custom piece. I KNEW the entire piece was too big for my space BUT was sold on the V-shaped piece (PLUS there were 2 spinning shelves inside for food storage)

THIS is the finished project....scroll down for the step by step.....

(I do need to add trim molding to the base BUT that is the least of my worries)

The space started out like this.....(yes, those are Halloween decorations....that's how LONG this project has been in the works....BUT it all fairness, the counter top took 2 weeks to come in and it was WRONG the first time, so I lost a month right there)

Once placed in the kitchen.....

Took a little getting used to manuvering around a piece of furniture that didn't exist before....


Not very pretty, right?
Here is the prep work prior to putting the granite top on (I am AMAZED I was able to install the granite top myself BUT it was so easy....although I doubt I would be able to do and entire counter area)
Here is the granite on the top......now I need to nail the oak paneling on the 3 sides (had it been MY choice, I would have done beadboard)
Just in case you didn't believe I did the actual hammering! (and yes, I know the pic is crooked...I tried a million times to straighten it out and it just wouldn't save)
TA-DA!! The paneling is in place and ready to be painted! (I know some people would have used oak stain to make the piece uniform BUT remember I wanted unique)

Lest you think I do anything the "correct" way, lemme show you what I use for a paint tray (I was TOO CHEAP I mean green so I put a garbage bag in one of those cardboard trays the bottled waters come in....had to use the garbage bag so the paint didn't leak thru)
VIOLA!! Here is the finished product!!

AND the best part is NOW I have another decorating surface!! (St. Patty's is put away BUT Easter hasn't made it's appearance yet :( )
I have linked up here http://www.shanty-2-chic.com/2011/04/i-made-it-without-my-hubby-2.html...check out all the other great projects at Shanty 2 Chic