Kitchen island EasyVJ panelling

Easycraft EasyVJ panelling enlivened this kitchen island with a bold colour choice of British Paints Mossy Road.

The project

I made good use of some time off and got a few things done around my own home, which tends to be more of a rarity these days with everything else going on. Soon my little man will be born and I don't want to be burdened with unfinished projects while I'm spending every moment with him.

Both my wife and I are really happy with how this facelift turned out. We flipped back and forth on the style of panelling as well as the colour.

We were originally sticking with white so the timber cabinetry and dark splashback remained the feature, but if Darren Palmer has taught me anything on The Block it's to "be bold". We found the perfect green to tie in with some of our other decor and went for a more simplistic panelling rather than batten style.

Materials

Panelling: Easycraft EasyVJ 63mm profile (made to order)

Paint colour: British Paints Mossy Road

Paint used: Dulux Wash and Wear

More panelling projects

Pete also transformed a plain brick wall in his living room into a gorgeous feature wall using EasyVJ panels.

Workshop member craftyhopper created a nib wall and cladded with VJ panelling in a fresh Porter's Paints colour called Yacht Race.

Bunnings Workshop member kingj11 used three 1m wall panels painted in Dulux Paris Green Matte to create this stunning feature wall and finished it with a Tasmanian Oak trim.

Find more posts tagged with

Renovation

Building and Construction

Decorating

Painting

Kitchen

Accepted answers

All comments

Michael-jones08

Hi,

we’re currently renovating our kitchen and I like the style of vj panels, do they go onto flat pack cabinets? Looking to put it on the back of an island bench and potentially the doors also

MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Michael-jones08. It's brilliant to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about EasyVJ panelling.

You could use this panelling on an island bench built from flat pack cabinetry. The only issue I can see is that on @ProjectPete's island, he has waterfall ends. This makes it super simple to just cut and fix the panelling in place as you can't see the sheet ends. On a standard island, you'll be able to see the ends, so you might need to do some filling work to blend the sheeting in convincingly. With some work, I can't see any reason why you couldn't also use the V-groove panels on cabinet doors. We have the Kaboodle 450mm Nougat Truffle Country Cabinet Door, and if you liked that style, it could be an alternative option.

It might be worth considering if it would be easier to purchase Kaboodle 450mm Raw Board Modern Cabinet Doors and routing the V-grooves into them with an Ultra 6.4mm V Groove Router Bit yourself. That might be less work than cutting and adhering the panelling.

Hopefully, Pete might be able to give us his thoughts on your project as well.

Please let me know if you have further questions.

Mitchell

ProjectPete

Quick colour change for a new look and feel

BoeingFan

Fantastic, I love it.

helsbren

Project Pete, I don’t find that a bold colour at all, it really adds a cool gesture to your space. I love those panels and have used them in two houses now, they always look trending.

Love your work. Might borrow that mint colour too!

EricL

Hello @helsbren

Let me tag @ProjectPete to make them aware of your kind words. I find the mint colour to be very relaxing, we had this colour on our walls in our last property. If you do use this colour in any of your projects, please make sure to post an update. I'm sure our members will be keen to see how you've applied it.

Eric

NatashaPhillimo

Hi, amateur DIY-er here. I recently bought two panels of the Laminex Surround Demiround in 20 to refresh our kitchen island bench.... but have freaked out about the project now. I guess i was hoping we could just glue it in place? Also, how does one finish the edges? Our bench has an overhang so we'd have two exposed edges. You make it look so easy...

EricL

Hello @NatashaPhillimo

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about your kitchen island.

You'll notice ProjectPete's EasyVJ panel only goes at the front and does not surround the entire island. I propose doing the same thing for your island. I've placed a sample image below to give you an idea of what it might look like with the panel attached.

But if you are keen to cover the entire area, I propose covering the exposed edge with 18 x 8mm 5.4m Moulding Pine FJ D Mould Clear and painting it in the same colour as your Laminex panel. The top edge can be trimmed to a 45-degree angle and sanded down so that it does not stand out too much.

Let me call on our experienced members @Dave-1, @Nailbag and @JoeAzza for their recommendations.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

Dave-1

Afternoon @NatashaPhillimo

Is it just the end pieces you want to cover up with the paneling?

If it is then yes you can use liquid nails (not sure about how it would go removing it down the track if you changed your mind tho) The reason I say that is I have used liquid nails to glue plaster sheets to brickwork and its still hanging in there.

I like @EricL's idea but id actually go a little fancier with Porta 18x11mm 2.4m Insert Mould Clear Pine for the edges of the end panels (either side). Just something to add to the look.

Im not sure about the 19mm edge of your existing kitchen island, to make it match you could cover it with trim but would suggest to do that only after you have doen all the large areas first. That way the 19mm stone waterfall part plus the width of the demiround and again on the other side can be covered with a "face" piece of timber trim. You do have a little bit of an overhang on the top so it would hide the top of the "face"

Dave

Nailbag

Hi @NatashaPhillimo If your wanting to cover all panels of the island, then that will be very challenging for a newbie DIY'r, especially when it comes to the corners in particular the front extended edge that will be 18mm at best.

I would recommend following @EricL suggestion to simply fill the front panel of the island bench. You will be able to use liquid nails over the two new laminate panels you have fitted and use a silicone cap filler around the edges to conceal any imperfections in the fitment.

Regards, Nailbag

ChloeCreates

I’ve wanted to do this project for ages but I’ve always been unsure because the front of my kitchen island has cabinets (18mm). Is this even possible to add another panel (e.g VJ) on top? They’d end up 36mm thick. How would I do this? Special hinges needed too?

Dave-1

Afternoon @ChloeCreates

Welcome to the Bunnings Community pages 🙂 Definently a good place to start with this type of question 🙂

So first up, is there any chance of a photo of your kitchen Island? It would make it much easier for us to picture it and offer some suggestions.

Going over your description I think you are saying that you would like to add the paneling to your kitchen island doors. It would make them heavier for sure and may need an added hinge (doable) to help carry the wight of the door and the paneling. 🙂

Dave

JacobZ

Hi @ChloeCreates,

A warm welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It is fantastic to have you with us.

The one thing that I can see having a slight effect on this project is the type of hinges that were used and the relative location of the doors to the cabinet carcass.

As @Dave-1 has said, it should be doable, but seeing the kitchen island will help us give the best advice we can.

If you need a hand uploading images, please let me know and I'll happily assist. Please make sure the images show the location of the hinges when the doors are open

Once you've uploaded some images, I will happily assist you further.

Jacob

NorIlyanaK

Hi Pete, just looking through as me and my partner are having some thoughts on doing a simple kitchen refresh.

Would you recommend using glue vs nails into the laminated kitchen island?

MitchellMc

Hi @NorIlyanaK,

Let me mention @ProjectPete so he is alerted to your question.

Glueing the panel should be sufficient, but it's often beneficial to also physically nail it, especially until the glue cures.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

SOSCantCallDad

I’ve been looking at past posts and how-to videos but can’t quite determine the best way to do this so wanting to ask here if that’s okay. I am wanting to add some VJ Panelling to our island bench and think it should be easy enough as there are 2 ends so no need to worry about visibility at the ends.

My questions:

How do you chose the width of the panels? Is it personal choice? I saw Pete used 63mm but I was looking at the VJ100…

I don’t own a nail gun. I’m willing to buy one but I was also wondering if liquid nails would work? Best brand/type for this job?

Lastly what would be the best paint type to keep it fresh and clean when my young kids sit up at the bench with no doubt dirty feet and flinging food around like it’s a Wild West party…I want to be able to wipe it down easily or magic eraser marks off.

Thank you endlessly for your help (in advance) I think this workshop group could be my saviour, I love experimenting and DIY but I am a novice and following the passing of my dad not sure where to turn for all those nitty gritty questions he would once answer.

SOSCantCallDad

865mm H x 1815mm W

glossy 2pac

EricL

Hello @SOSCantCallDad

Welcome to the Bunnings workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us.

It's a matter of personal choice when it comes to which size to install. The panels with smaller gaps will have more lines making it look busier and the ones that have larger gaps give the impression that each panel was installed separately. For painting, I recommend Dulux Vivid White Low Sheen Wash&Wear +PLUS Anti-Scuff Interior Paint. This should provide you with adequate defence against rough use and food particles. If it is heavily soiled, I suggest repainting the panel every two years.

It is possible to install the panel using Selleys 350g Heavy Duty Liquid Nails in combination with ordinary nails. The purpose of the nails is to hold the panel in place while the adhesive cures. Once the adhesive is totally dry it will take on the role of holding the panel in place. But if you wish to purchase a nailer and use it for future projects, I suggest looking at the OZITO 18V Cordless 18GA Brad Finishing Nailer PXNGS-218 or the Ryobi 18V ONE+ 18GA Brad Nailer.

Let me call on our experienced members @Dave-1 and @Nailbag for their recommendations.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

Dave-1

Good Morning @SOSCantCallDad

I can so picture hands and feet trolling all over the underside of the bench 🙂 lol

Liquid Nails, Ive generally gone for

Selleys 320g Liquid Nails Construction Adhesive

but there is also a super strength one

Selleys 350g Heavy Duty Liquid Nails.

The first one I have found very solid.

You could either place a wedge under the board you are installing to support it off the floor or a few nails tacked into the panel. I wouldnt be using a nailgun for a small job like this (unless you have it) and even then just a hammer is what I would be using. Its only to hold the panel in place as it dries.

Larger width between lines on the panels, mainly less chance of grime building up 🙂 With the painting mmmm Pretty much your choice but something hard wearing for the feet that may tap against it.

Lastly, consider timber trim for either end of the panel. Just to give a clean look. Square, rectangular, rounded or even concave. Pretty much your choice on the style 🙂

Would love to see a pic of the project afterwards 🙂

Dave

Nailbag

Hi @SOSCantCallDad

I would agree on a plan of attack the same as with @Dave-1 using standard liquid nails and then hand-nailing brads to secure the panel to the back wall while the glue dries. Cut the board about 3-5mm smaller than required to make it easier to fit. But just first the bench opening is actually rectangular. Placing small spacers he suggested on the ground before fitting will allow for any movement in either the floor or VJ. These can be removed once the VJ is fitted.

I would mark out 30mm in and every 300mm around the panel and then corner to corner lines and mark again every 300mm. To make nailing easier drill 2mm pilot holes. Then use a nail punch to position the heads just below the surface and fill the tops in. Give a light sand once dried. I would use a flexible white gap sealer around all four sides.

These mini Monarch products are very easy to use over the full size cartridge systems.

Monarch Caulking Gun

Monarch mini Easy Nails

Monarch mini gap filler

Looking forward to seeing the finished photos

Nailbag

Screenshot 2025-03-13 at 8.25.51 am.png

georgia-s

Hi,

I have been reading through lots of post regarding vj panelling in preparation for our upcoming kitchen reno. I will attach a photo of our kitchen bench for where we are wanting to apply the panelling. I would like some advice for how to finish the exposed corner where the two panels will join.

Thanks for any assistance provided!

Dave-1

Good Evening @georgia-s

I would suggest to have a look through Bunnings stock for something along this Porta 20 x 20mm 2.4m Clear Pine External Corner Rounded Edging There are a few different types, styles and colours. Whether you want to paint or a timber/metal look that is how I would approach the corners. For the side that finishes inside the kitchen area, you could go for the same or square end it with some straight trim the same width as a corner but at the end of the VJ paneling.

Dave

JacobZ

Hi @georgia-s,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fantastic to have you with us.

@Dave-1 has hit the nail on the head here.

Your best option is an external angle such as the Porta 20 x 20mm 2.4m Clear Pine External Corner Rounded Edging or Porta 30 x 30mm 2.4m Clear Pine External Corner Rounded Edging.

There are also PVC options such as this Brutus 19 x 19 x 2.5mm 2.4m PVC Building Moulding which are a bit lower profile, but they would not be as solid as a timber corner.

Let me know what you think.

Jacob

DIY4Knuckleheds

Brilliant use of the VJ and l'm loving that Mossy Road Green. Well done ProjectPete 👍😁🇦🇺

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