I was in the shop last weekend surfacing lumber for the Roubo bench-style kitchen island I planned (lo these many months ago). But as I was surfacing the walnut, it started talking to me. It whispered “Please don’t rip then reglue me into a thick benchtop. I’m too pretty.”
OK. I’m listening. But now it’s back to the drawing board. Or really, to the sketchbook (napkins) then to SketchUp.
So now, thanks in part to a couple comments resulting from my chalk drawings posted on the PWM blog, I’m thinking of something inspired by a library table. I still have strict requirements for this piece: counter height, hold a microwave on a shelf underneath the top, no wider than about 22″, no longer than about 52″, has to clear an air vent, must have room at the end for two stools…and four knees. But a thinner top will bring the microwave shelf a few inches higher, and, because it will weigh significantly less, I won’t have as much concern about tippiness* at the end where the stools (and knees) will go.
I’ve spent some time over the last couple days poring over Internet images. Below, I’ve posted three inspirations pieces that I’ll use as a (re)starting point. (The first two are unattributed pieces; the last is by Frank Lloyd Wright.)
Time to sharpen my pencils. I have to get this thing (re)designed and built…so I can move onto the next thing. (I’m tired of thinking about islands that involve no beaches or umbrella drinks.) More to come…and soon.
*Fun with neologisms.
Rude Mechanicals Press Blog 
I’ve always liked that FLW table. I think it’s an early example of his ‘fun with plywood’ phase.
That walnut does look too nice to rip and reglue. I think you are making a wise choice.
Yes, Too pretty to rip and re-glue. I particularly like the first of the possible choices of design. Great for the purposes you mention
The shelf will need to match the top for depth to make it practical to open and close the microwave door, but the second one has the most life to it to my eyes, and lots of opportunity for routing cable without cutting a hole.
I agree that the second one has the most life, but it really depends on the style you prefer. The FLW piece opens up an entirely different venue for development but the table would be more tippy (I can’t speak to the state of the guests but at least they’d be seated!). BTW, I did a search on Pinterest for tables and table design for a natural edge walnut table base, but these examples beat anything I found.
The FLW may be THTC (too hard to clean) for me… signed “no cleaning lady”
Well then it would go with the rest of my house…
I know you want the lower shelf, but since you are ( or were) planning on eating at the end of the table/ island (per your chalk drawings), why not build a standard trestle and plop the microwave at the end you don’t eat at?
Bending over to use the microwave will get old real fast. Just something to ponder in your new design phase.
Ah — because I hate the way a microwave looks on a counter, table…whatever. And I use it -very- rarely.
Maybe the solution to you design problem is to dump the microwave.
That would, of course, be the logical answer. (But it does come in handy just after Thanksgiving – the only time I really cook a lot – to heat up leftovers)
Well then, I’m hoping you do the FLW for my own selfish reason of hoping it ends up in PW.
(It would also hide the microwave nicely in the lower cabinet.)
Whatever I do, it’s too user-specific for a mag article (but I’ll be sharing my cutlist, drawings etc online.
You might like to take a look at Leon Sadubin’s Refectory Table…
I’d not seen that before — thanks! (Very nice…but far too important-looking to hold my microwave and cereal!)
Its a starting point – the end is up to you… The problem is wondering where to stop – like putting mitred dovetail on the workbench apron – that’s not too much, is it?