This is my own kitchen, made from reclaimed spalted white ash and assorted tropical pallets. The countertops are concrete. Total investment for both was about $1000 (not including planer blades!).
I still need to install the toe kicks. I realize it is not perfect. I was on a very tight budget and had a limited supply of the ash, so I had to incorporate a few mistakes that I would like to have thrown out. I had to go down to 5/8" on the doors - I would have preferred to go with 3/4" - and as such I've had a bit of racking. Other than that I am pleased. But, I would be interested to know if anyone has used pallet wood for something of this scale.
Viewer Comments:
I always love a challenge involving making something from nothing......You did an awesome job on such a tight budget. WOW! Congrats!
Your kitchen is very clean and beautifull, you must have done a lot of efforts. I like it very much
wow - I'm impressed. All made from scraps - thats very cool!
A fine example of the most underappreciated segment of the "green" movement.
I also made my kitchen from reclaimed timber, karri pine in my case. I feel that the joy of recycling timber far out ways the cost in time and money.
Wow - that contrast between the two woods really "pops". I like it.
When you mention the planer knives I'm guessing that you're talking about hitting metal? I bought a medium-price-range metal detector from Radio Shack years ago for use in my sawmill business. If you're dinging planer blades then perhaps a metal detector would be a good investment. Especially if you intend to use more recycled wood.
Just a thought.
WOW does not give you a great sense of accomplishment from not letting some great wood go to waste.
I did hit a couple of missed nails, but I did some reading and found that a lot of tropical wood contains silica. If I were ever to get into to dimensioning a lot of it I think I'd save up and buy a drum sander.
Thanks for all the comments! I'd like to get into to furniture and cabinet making full time - I just need to streamline my process.
What a great looking job!! I have never heard of a concrete countertop. did you purchase the countertop from a place that sells granite countertops? Do you have anymore pictures of your kitchen too?
They are soooo beautiful. Congratulations on a job perfectly done!!!
RE: edcole
I made the countertop too, it is included in the sub-$1000 price tag. It worked out to about $16.sq. ft. (versus $65-$100, installed, for granite). This included the cost of the mould and diamond grinding discs (from eBay). It took me about 2 days labour, plus a week's curing time, but this was my first attempt so it could be streamlined. There is a fair amount of info online about fabrication techniques.
Wow! Impressive! Marvellous creativity! It's in the genes.
concrete tops are available in a lot of areas...
You are truly resourceful individual. Folks it's people like this who really inspire us all!
