You’ve been seeing little peeks of it, but let me show you the refinished antique baker’s table and how it looks in the kitchen.
As a reminder, I found this antique baker’s table at the Lucketts Spring Market a few weeks ago. I had purchased a pine counter from a blog reader for $200 (you can see that HERE), but I wasn’t convinced it was the island. It was worth picking up, though, so I had something to use until I found just the right one and I wouldn’t feel pressured. Plus, it will make a fantastic folding counter for the laundry room or in the garage as a workbench. It was a no-lose purchase.
But, when I was at Lucketts, finding the kitchen island was still on my list. As I shared in my post about shopping at the Lucketts Spring Market, I initially looked at antique shop counters, but I found myself continually drawn to tables. After looking at several shop counters, I realized that wasn’t the look I was going for. They were maybe too visually heavy and I felt the open legs would work better with the other elements in the room. I found a couple of tables I really loved, but they were way too big for my space. And then, I spotted this one…
I was initially unsure about the height and the black paint, but the top was stunning and rich with history. The size was also perfect. I texted a picture of the antique baker’s table to Jeff and thought about it over lunch. We decided this was the one. The top sold us on it.
The black paint probably would’ve worked in our kitchen, but it wasn’t the highest-quality paint job and it felt a little sticky to the touch. I just wanted to start with a clean slate, so I stripped off the layers of paint to reveal the original pine. You can read about that process HERE.
Stripping the antique baker’s table was 100% the right thing to do to get the look I wanted. It was a lot of work, but I love all the character it revealed – knots, wormholes, and wooden dowel construction. I also noticed it had extensions put on the feet. Since those were new wood, they held onto the black paint. One of my readers, who is an antique collector, sent me a picture of an antique pine piece that had painted black feet. She sold me on the look! I applied two coats of THIS Wipe-on Poly to bring out the luster of the wood.
And here is the antique baker’s table in the kitchen…
Let me address the placement first. Several people, including my mom, said they pictured the table positioned in the other direction. It really could go either way, but I always pictured it lining up with the sink wall! I never even tried it the other way.
A couple of antique stools are tucked in on the end for people who want to sit and visit with the cook. I bought the shorter stool at the Lucketts Spring Market for $30. It is so sweet and sturdy. I’m always a sucker for an antique stool.
I thought we might need to add a little height to the baker’s table with casters or something, but the height is great. It is about 1 1/2″ shorter than the counters and I don’t mind it at all. The table is still a nice working height. I made some dough from scratch for cherry galettes just to make sure!
And the warmth of the antique baker’s table is perfect against the cabinets, white walls, and metal elements.
Since the top isn’t a nice, smooth surface, I ordered the biggest marble pastry board I could find to use as a work surface on the range end. THIS is the pastry board I bought and I’ll use it for rolling out doughs when I bake and for other food prep.
I love the contrast of the smooth marble against all of the marks and imperfections on the antique baker’s table. A tabletop with this much character might be a deterrent for some, but, to me, it is a living history I get to have in my own home. Also, there is nothing we can do to this tabletop that hasn’t already been done! I wish it could tell me stories about all of the marks, dings, dents, and cuts.
And, I am a big fan of how the pot rack looks over the antique baker’s table.
The view above is still a work in progress. I need to finish painting the doors, we’re going to make a narrow shelf with hooks to hang by the side door, and, of course, we’re still waiting for the window. It’s supposed to come next week. Once the window is in, the sconces will be installed, too.
On the shelf under the baker’s table, I put an antique French laundry basket filled with the vintage trays we use when we’re not eating at the table. I got a collection of these bamboo trays from my Oma’s attic and then found a few more last fall at a store that was going out of business, so they were $3.00 each! You can find similar ones HERE.
Next to that is an antique metal basket filled with onions and potatoes.
I decided to try keeping our paper towels in a basket under the table right behind the sink and we’ll see how that works. It works for me and so far I’m not hearing complaints from my guys, but I am open to moving them to the counter if there are protests.
And, just because they are pretty, I added a stack of ironstone plates, oversized bowls, a French cooling rack, and a gorgeous silver meat dome. I bought it years ago from another vendor in the final hour of the Lucketts Spring Market, so I got it for a great price. I think I paid $50 for it and these typically start in the $200 neighborhood. I’ve held onto it for years, but have never had a great spot for it, so it’s mostly lived in cabinets. I just never had the heart to sell it because I knew it was a special piece that I wasn’t likely to replace. Now, it has a home.
To top off the antique baker’s table turned kitchen island, I brought in this antique cast iron scale. I sold all of my other scales before our move from Minnesota, but I kept this one. I’ve had it for years, but I just wasn’t ready to part with it. When it came to mind, I was so excited about putting it on the table! I mean, it’s green, brass, antique, and European. It is perfect for this kitchen.
So, there we go! The baker’s table and you get a full view of the pot rack, too.
When we were first putting the cabinet plan together, I considered the idea of a built-in island. We never actually added it to the mock-up, though. I knew it would add several thousand dollars in cabinetry and more quartz for the countertop. It would blow the budget and I wasn’t even sure it was the look I wanted, anyway. I think it’s easy to buy into the idea that the more expensive option is always going to be the better one. Sometimes it is, but sometimes it isn’t. After seeing this gorgeous antique baker’s table in the kitchen, the budget-friendly, unconventional option ended up being the right one for this kitchen.
You can catch up on the 1970 kitchen renovation HERE.
77 Responses
The island/table looks absolutely wonderful and the kitchen is coming together beautifully. You must be thrilled every time you walk in. I’ve really enjoyed watching the whole project come together!
I love that you have went a slightly different direction in this house/kitchen. Still looks like you, but different. My favorite kitchen is Edwardian style with the beauty of UTILITARIAN ITEMS being highlighted. bowls, dishes, scrub brushes etc. Looks like a WORKING KITCHEN but is so beautiful too. The green cabinets are my favorite. I have green too- which oddly are quite neutral. Love love the natural warm island. It all is so warm and cozy and feels historical in the best way possible. ♥
That is exactly the look I was going for. I think this kitchen looks a bit different from my others because I was able to design it from scratch and I’ve never been able to do that before. I’ve always worked around existing cabinets and layout. I wanted to design a kitchen when we moved and I am thrilled that I got that chance.
Love all of your choices! Looks like a “lifetime collection”- not a “bought the set at the store”…. Did I miss where the laundry room is in this house? It is fun to be along for the ride as you bring life back to your home. Always inspires me to keep going on my own home that has been in the works for over twenty years. My house is a large scale house with large rooms and high ceilings- built in 1895, so every project takes a long time and is more expensive. It has been a struggle to make it feel cozy and warm. I enjoy the smaller scale of your new home. ♥
Nailed it – but we knew you would!❤️
GORGEOUS! Love that table.
I have enjoyed the renovation of this room so much , I almost hate to see it conclude.
Oh, thank you! I know…I’m happy it’s almost done and also a little sad because it has been a fun project. There is a lot more work to be done in this house, though!
Perfection continues! I love the whole picture.
I love everything you have done. Also, you inspire me to love and appreciate my own kitchen and the things I have collected over 50+ years of marriage. I’m loving the animal paintings too!
I love how everything is coming together. I think one of your beautiful paintings would look perfect on your range hood.
My mom was trying to convince me to hang one of my newest rabbits there! We tried a few other things, but I decided to leave it alone until I had the pot rack and rail up. I don’t want things to get too busy. I have some vintage frames in a stash, so I might see if one looks like the right proportions and do a painting specifically for that space.
Questions please, the marble slab would you put hot pots on it or cut on it?
Thanks!
I wouldn’t put hot pots directly on it, but with a 48″ range, I don’t see that I’ll ever need to put a hot pot on the counter or island. I would just move it to a cool burner and/or turn the fire off (since it’s propane.) I have trivets by the stove, too, in case I need them. I have had laminate, wood, and stone counters, so I’ve always used trivets.
I would prefer to use a wooden cutting board for chopping, but it’ll be fine if people cut on the marble since it’s a piece that we could replace every dew years if we really needed to. I don’t feel like I need to be previous about it getting stained or marred.
I eagerly await each post revealing the latest component of your kitchen tranformation. It is like slowly opening a present! The island looks great and looks better with its sealer coat vs. freshly stripped and sanded. Almost all your pieces are in place now!
Oh, definitely! It’s brings out the warmth and luster of the wood.
I see 2 BFF s. right away. The colors and textures shared between the knobby old sweet stools and the very tip ends of the table legs. Scooted up close side by side, a match meant to be. But the friends asked me to tell you: ” could we please banish the white paper towels and the white bowl on top of the scales? “. Your kitchen is dreamy.. I hear a Bach fugue !
Yeah, if it was just me in this house, I would put the paper towels out of sight under the sink, but I’ll compromise and leave them out just not on the counter. As far as the bowl with the nuts, I just sort of tried it out. I’ll likely rotate what’s on the scales.
If I had a kitchen like yours i’d make space for a small cot/daybed. So I could just live in there.
Such a beautiful blending of the old and the new…and I have to add…paper towels are a fact of life, which need to be handy. They definitely belong.
Love the table! But curious as to why you used poly as a topcoat instead of hemp oil?
I had a little debate with myself about it, but the sellers I bought the table from had used poly on the top (it was rougher and splintered in places), so I decided to use poly for consistency. It also had some worm holes and channels that I wanted to really seal. I recently used Hemp Oil on some antique pieces in my dining room and I’ll share a post about that.
So much character! I love the table as island…much more personality than a built in.
So you will still be using some sort of cutting board on top of the table for food prep, right? Understand the marble for dough prep but regular food prep won’t happen directly on the table/island will it. Love the idea of the table versus a built in island. Do you think you will miss the handle electrical outlets that would have provided?
If you look at the sink area, you can see Marion placed a wooden cutting board next to the sink, which is practical because you can wash and rinse your items and not have to take them dripping to the table to cut – that’s how I have my set up for the cutting board!
Yep, exactly. We’re on the same wavelength. And, my knife drawer is right under the cutting board, so it works out well.
That table just makes me downright giddy.
Holy baby goats! This is fantastic!! I’ve always wanted a house that I could use an old farm table as an island, this is even better with the shelf on the bottom. I always envisioned it placed as you have. It’s perfection.
So will you still be using another cutting board on top of the table for food prep/cutting? Understand the marble piece is for dough prep but food prep doesn’t happen right on the table does it? Love the look of a table versus a built in cabinet. Wonder if you think you will miss the handle electric outlet it likely would have had.
Your kitchen is really shaping up. If those bamboo trays are vintage, then I guess I know how old I am! I do love that scale and your metal potato/onion basket and, of course, your wonderful table.
Well, they are at least from the 80s! We have been using them since I was a little kid. We used them in our house until they fell apart and I was so happy when I found a stash of practically brand new ones in my Oma’s attic and the more recently. They are more nostalgic for me than anything.
I grew up with those bamboo trays, too, and still have some. Love every bit of this kitchen. Thank you for sharing!
Wow what a transformation of the kitchen and the island. I love the island matching up with the window. Have you ever thought about adding kitchen design to your business? Question, do you know the origin of the silver domed piece on your table? I recently purchased the exact piece at a yard sale and can’t seem to find anything about its history. Thanks in advance for your time.
After doing this kitchen reno, I have had fleeting thoughts about looking into a kitchen design certification or something, but I don’t know if I would enjoy the nuts and bolts of working with clients, most of whom would likely want a more contemporary kitchen. I would have to be very niche. I’m enjoying working on my house, my art, writing, etc. for now, but who knows what the future holds. I like knowing there are a lot of different paths…
Oh. and the dome… They were usually used in hotels, restaurants or kitchens of larger homes to cover food in transit from the kitchen to the table. They are often called “meat domes” because they would cover a roast, chicken, turkey, etc. I believe this dome is English, but I haven’t checked it for marks in years…
I love, love, love this kitchen! I also have that Pastry Board my mom bought it for me as a Christmas gift a few years ago along with the rolling pin. I love it and know I will keep it forever. It also serves as a great Charcuterie board and helps keeps meat and cheese cold.
Oh, Marian, I just love it! I like the way you have made it be a productive work horse with the marble slab and embraced the age and timelessness of the stories it might be able to tell. I also love how you have put the lower shelf to work in such a practical and beautiful way. I’m a bit envious of your kitchen at this point!
I think your well loved table is amazing. We love old wood so much that we took down the family barn in Michigan and had it shipped to California (after it was fumigated) and used the timber for our cabin/lake house on Donner Lake. The old barn floors are now the ceiling in our kitchen and living area, as well as all the window trim. What could be better than giving new life to the timber from 1840. Your kitchen remodel is wonderful.
That is so cool! We’ve been hauling around old timber from my great-grandparent’s barn and I just can’t part with it! We really need to do something with it.
I have seen a few people put their paper towels in pretty antique looking crocks to hide them. Not sure how it works for them but having them hidden is nice. I finally bought a paper towel holder that goes under my cabinet. It matches my cabinet hardware. Some are mounting the holder underneath the kitchen sink. I could not find another convenient place in my kitchen that works for me. So, I gave in to under the top cabinets. It is out of the way, not an eyesore, and convenient. And I can always take it down.
I kept mine in a metal locker basket for years, but that didn’t look right in that kitchen. I do have a 2 gallon crock that I considered, but that also didn’t feel quite right. I know there are lots of good options and it’s just the matter of finding the right one. So far, it’s working to have a couple of rolls in an old clothes pin basket on the table shelf, but we’ll see.
I found an old, peeling red paint paper towel holder and mounted it inside a lower cabinet door next to my kitchen sink. Works great and vary handy.
Perfection
Your kitchen is perfection!!!
Absolutely gorgeous!
I am wondering if this was a butcher’s table? I love all the dings and nicks and gouges in the top, too, but that would have been some really seriously angry baking to have caused this! I have a butcher block top on a not-antique table, and I never cut directly on it. I found a good butcher block conditioner which is food safe to keep the wood conditioned so it will not split. I had a client some years ago who had inherited a real butcher’s block from her late mother in San Francisco, and it looked much more like this top.
I was actually going to guess at that in the post, but I didn’t go there. I am admittedly using “baker’s table” as a bit of a generic term and it has a better ring than butcher’s table or fish monger’s table, but I agree that it was certainly used for extensive cutting/chopping at some point in its life. Maybe veggies, even? It’s fun to wonder about it…
Ab-so-lute PERFECTION!!! Your kitchen is one for the ages, Marian. I want that window installed. BADLY!
Oh my, me too!
Love watching your kitchen (and the house!) coming together since I will never be able to design one for myself. Beautiful! Just one note: onions and potatoes should actually be stored far away from one another because onions produce and emit ethylene gas, which speeds up the ripening process which causes nearby potatoes to rot and spoil more quickly. Maybe your family uses spuds fairly rapidly, so it may not matter.
I didn’t know that and have never really noticed an issue, but keeping produce longer is always a good thing. Well, they’ll have to each get their own basket from now on!
Beautiful! Mrs. Patmore would feel right at home!
Lol!! Good one!
Ha! I was definitely inspired by kitchens of that era.
Your kitchen table is perfect there! It is a beautiful table and it’s great that it’s height is also just right. This has been such fun for us to participate in your kitchen renovation!
Your pot rack looks even better in this kitchen than in your last two kitchens!
I think so, too!
So gorgeous! That table is just the touch the kitchen needed to give it the European look you (and I) love. I can’t wait to see the rest!
O my! that table, drool!
I am in love with it all. Your courage to follow through with your dream shines. I have followed you for years. You just keep me fascinated. Love to watch what is up your sleeve for the next project and then the next. It breaks my heart when people tell you they don’t like something. I know you take it well. But I think we are all different. If they were standing in the room, they might see it like you do. I love having a kitchen full of what I use. Most of us need all the space we have to be useful. I like our useful tools to be the decor. It is all beautiful. Thank you for sharing who you are.
Thank you so much! I used to get more offended by some feedback, but I’ve learned over the years that if there is a comment section, I need to be open to hear what people want to say and it’s okay if it’s not all glowing. That’s a part of sharing online. 💙 But, it is nice getting glowing comments!
It’s absolutely beautiful. I love the piece that serves as your island, and it adds so much to the character of the kitchen. Great job, Marian.
Karen B.
So glad the table worked out for you. It looks amazing in your beautiful new kitchen!
Literal perfection! That table is the perfect choice for the island and I love how you have accessorized it! The patina had me swooning big time.
Wow wee! What an amazing table in such beautiful kitchen. And the pot rack full of lovelies looks gorgeous above it. Each post is so exciting to see and read. Thankful you found THE table. 💙
Absolutely gorgeous!
But do you know that onions and potatoes should not be kept near each other?
Really?! You are changing my world. I’ve always stored them together and have seen them stored together often! I’ll have to look that up…
I love your kitchen, it is so beautiful, cozy and collected. I have been following along with all your posts and have enjoyed reading about your decision making process with each aspect of the renovation. I can imagine all the lovely meals, breads and treats you will be making here. The kitchen is truly the heart of the home and this one is full of love.
OK – I stand corrected. I was one who wasn’t super thrilled with the stripping of the black on the bakers table
but per usual, Marian, you knew better. It looks AMAZING and so so perfect in your beautiful kitchen. Well done,
ma’am. Bravo. Love it.
I didn’t think there was ANY way you could create a kitchen I would love more than your last one, but WOW! You did it big-time! That baker’s table is perfect for the island and I love everything you’ve displayed on it. Looks convenient and functional, yet has SO much character and is such a great contrast to the new cabinets and stove. I’m loving the whole house so far and can’t wait to see what else you have in store for us!
The island is perfect in this space! Love the addition and old and worn with all of your beautiful new cabinets And, of course, that stove! I am still is awe over its beauty.
I love the table! Can you tell me what you use to clean the top?
Ok Marian you did it again. Kudo’s everything is fabulous I just love it. Do you have 8′ ceilings here? I think I saw you say they were. So glad were able to move the staircase that sure made all the difference. Great job.
Yes, they are 8′ ceilings.
Well, Marion, I just can’t stop myself! Hope you don’t get tired of me! While reading your latest post I clicked on the link for the vintage bamboo trays. Lo and behold, these are the same trays my husband and I used as a dining table when we first were married waaay back in 1976. We were both college students with less than no money and I bought these at the convenience store for a dollar each. I didn’t even buy paper towels back then because that was a luxury! We had no dining table in our little apartment so we sat on the sofa with these trays in our lap for meals. We’ve come a long way but I still don’t use a lot of paper towels!
Everything in the kitchen is looking fabulous and I’m looking forward to seeing everything else.
The cherry on top!
LOVE~LOVE~LOVE it all!!!! I’ve been out of town and have to catch up!!!