Strip that and with better skill. Applying junk to that won’t improve that poor quality one bit. Not unless the skill level greatly increases. Follow the Guides in this gtoup. https://www.facebook.com/groups/PaintingKitchenCabinetsforProfit/

Looks like the entire island needs repainting, with a more durable paint that is easier to wipe down and keep clean. Without seeing the rest of your space, not sure if a thin beadboard would look right as your fill in before repainting?

Definitely fix that electrical outlet before worrying about paint and finishes! It appears there is at least one small child in the house, and that open outlet and dangling appliance cord are on contrast to the security device on the cupboard. As I recommend to anyone who will (or will not 😉) ask for advice, empty everthing off your counters and evaluate what you use most and the safest way to use, then what needs to be fixed, and finally what needs to look pretty. Good luck and follow the painting advice previously offered.

Great real life example of why painting cabinetry is a poor choice in a kitchen.

Ok

IMO the first order of business is some decluttering and more storage if you can't get rid of all the stuff on the counter . As for the island I need to see the island not just one side so post a pic here of the whole space

Ok, tough love I guess. The clutter is true but not on topic. I could have spend 10 minutes cleaning before taking the pic but.. whatever. There are definitely some useful feedback in the comments so I’ll just say, thanks! Probably not a good idea to add boards, lesson learned.

Peter, I can tell this has been fun for ya... so for a retro idea that might be coming back, how about peel and stick in a style you like... can be a solid.

La Luna - Display Home - 15 Greenlink Boulevard, Harrisdale · More Info

There is always a lot of noise in these posts so don't get discouraged, you can find some good advice still.

Could you please post some more pictures of the entire island first?

Can you tell us how the island side panel is constructed and painted?

Are you trying to add stiles in order to make the side appear to be a series of doors or are you wanting to completely cover it?

Thanks Everdebz, I’ll look into peel and stick.

We can’t see much of the island, but from what we see, i would add a strip or two of batten to the flat panel area and then have it professionally painted. are you opposed to getting a professional to do it?

I agree with other posters. Adding anything to the sides of the island won't entirely cover up a bad paint job. The sides at the least need to be sanded well enough to accept paint and the paint needs to be applied in a method that will provide a smooth and acceptable finish.

Have you considered installing a fluted detail in to the space? A product called pole wrap is available at most home supply shops. Have a look at the images below for inspiration.

Don’t be discouraged by the negative chatter, please. You will receive plenty of excellent advice here.
Please post what you decide.

Thank you all—I really do appreciate the great input I have gotten! Here are a few more pics that may help give you a design/style context—still messy, 4 kids 6 and under!

If you sand what you have and install two verticle boards the same width as your side pieces evenly spaced and then repaint it would add some interest without a lot of effort.

A bad paint job like that cannot be a basis for more layers on top of it. You need to strip and start over. Or remove the attached trim, cover the back and sides with 1/4 MDF, and attach new trim, then sand, prime, and paint. Properly. With better quality materials all the way around.

Love the colorful plastic glasses on your island!

With four kids under six I am impressed that you even have the bandwidth to think about how the island looks. :-) Good luck!

Is it just the sides that need something? I'm not fully oriented here.

The island parts shown in the first photos I think look good. Sand 'em and repaint. The style--simple framed Shaker--is appropriate with the cabinetry. There is a lot going on in here already so adding a new element might be risky.

I wouldn't put anything extra/special/fancy on the sides because (I think?) they aren't highly visible. But if you need something for the side that faces the living area, I could see that. And if any place is getting kicked, sure...

Got any more of that backsplash tile?

if those spots are patches, it wasnt primed before painted. could also be oily spots. If you decide to repaint, sand to degloss, clean/wipe with denatured alcohol, apply a good shellac based primer/sealer, then a good quality paint (not a matte sheen).

I have no idea if this is easy to clean up after the little ones. ;)

there are other colors.

First, a bad paint job can be the basis for a good paint job. Adhesion and appearance are different issues and a coating with solid adhesion can be recoated. Furthermore, the solution needs to match the job. Some people here would advise that you spend $10,000 painting a 1996 Toyota Corolla. Finally, I don't think the OP is asking about paint, it seems they are asking about non-coating coverings.

Personally, I wouldn't bother painting it unless you want to paint the entire island. What I would suggest doing depends on how that side panel was constructed and I don't/can't know that. We do know that the OP doesn't have access to that panel from the inside of the cabinet which seriously limits the options. If that is a 2x4 wall and that panel feels solid, I second using the backsplash tile there. If you don't have or can't use the backsplash tile, I would personally get a peel and stick whiteboard, cut it to size and stick it on there. Hand your kids some dry erase markers and tell them to be creative.

Good luck

I tiled my island with ceramic tile. But since I didnt want to destroy my island when I changed it out down the road, I tiled a piece of plywood and attached it from the inside so only a few screw holes

Wow, flygirl!