By Cathy Dalrymple, photos by John Gaucher, illustrations by Len Churchill
Finishing Touches I sanded the entire cabinet up to the 220-grit level before finishing with Minwax dark walnut stain. Three coats were required to achieve the colour I wanted. The island top is finished with several coats of Circa 1850 Terra Nova NaturOil. The first couple of coats really soak in, so you need to repeat the process to achieve smooth protection.
I didn't attach the tabletop or the legs to the cabinet carcass until the island was in the kitchen. This project is too heavy and large to get through doorways once it's all together.
Once the island is in place, find some stools, pull them up to the counter, then share a little casual conversation (and some great food) with a friend.
