The Antique Kitchen Island Cupboard

I've been looking for an antique counter for as long as I've been living in this house- which is ever so slightly more than five years. They're rare, and they're expensive, but it's been at the top of my wish list for so long, I'd just about given up hope. Then lightening struck. Two weeks ago I drove over to Newington and picked up the most wonderful fabulous perfect piece of furniture for my kitchen, a giant antique counter. It had seen better days, the original top had been covered with asphalt like linoleum, the paint was chipping everywhere, and someone had lined the counter top edge with metal stripping.

First I flipped the counter over (which wasn't easy, it's the heaviest piece of furniture I've ever worked on, and that's saying a lot). I worked on the structure of the underside, and created a framework that elevated the counter from 32 inches to 34 inches- making it better to sit at. I hid this new structure with elaborate base molding, which also dressed the piece up a bit. I then flipped the counter back over, removed all the awfulness glued and nailed to the top, and added a chunky pine board top. The top was then sanded, stained English Chestnut, and sealed. Finally, I painted the counter in a custom mixed color that's an earthy but light shade of spring green. Since I mixed the color myself, I felt entitled to name it- Shire Green. The brass drawer pulls are original to the piece and one of my favorite aspects. I left them exactly as is, with a fabulous warm patina. 

Before and afters below. What do you think?