DIY Network

Building a Tall Storage Cabinet Stow awkward items easily. From "Wasted Spaces" episode DWSP-306

This custom cabinet stores the tall and the tiny.

When Jack and Jody tore out the wall between their kitchen and dining room, they also tore out the tall cabinet where Jody stored brooms and other awkward items. Instead of propping up the broom or hanging it on the wall – neither of which was very appetizing – Karl helps them build a tall cabinet that will stow brooms, mops and other essentials discreetly.

This cabinet is a great companion piece to the kitchen bar that partially replaces the old wall. Together, the two pieces add a huge amount of storage without taking up a lot of space.

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Building a Tall Storage Cabinet

Tools: carpenter's pencil safety glasses measuring tape chop saw circular saw finish nailer nail gun screw gun orbital sander level 1-3/8" Forstner bit paint trays, brushes, rollers

Materials: birch plywood trim for Shaker door wood glue finish nails screws primer and paint European inset hinges door handles

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D

• Sketch out the plan. The tall cabinet is essentially a tall box, built to tuck into a narrow corner. The cabinet in this project measures 7' tall, 27" long and 12" deep. It include a recessed cubby to hold small items (figure A).

• Cut the plywood. Use a table saw to cut 3/4" plywood for the cabinet pieces. To cut the rectangular opening in one of the side pieces, measure and mark the desired opening, then make plunge cuts with a circular saw to create the opening (figure B).

  Safety Alert: Always wear safety glasses and use caution when working with power saws or any other power tool.

• Build the box. Use wood glue and a finish nailer to assemble sides, top and bottom of the cabinet. Lay the structure on its face and nail the back panel into place

• Build the cubby. Use glue and a finish nailer to assemble the small box that will become the cubby. Fit the cubby over the opening in the side of the cabinet and secure it using glue and nails (figure C).

• Add the toe kick. Use glue and finish nails to attach a toe kick to the bottom of the cabinet front.

• Build the doors. Cut two equal pieces of plywood to create double doors for the front of the cabinet. Trim out the doors to match the rest of the room; Karl used plain wood trim that echoes the Shaker styling of the rest of the kitchen. Use glue and finish nails to attach the trim to the doors, making sure the trim matches on both. Set the doors aside.

• Sand and finish. Sand the cabinet and doors. Finish with either stain or paint, as desired.

• Install the cabinet. Slip the cabinet into place, level it and use screws to attach it to the wall studs.

• Install the doors. Lay the doors out face down and determine the positions for the hinges. Use a 1-3/8" Forstner bit to drill wide, deep holes to accommodate the European inset hinges. Use screws to attach the hinges to the door (figure D). Attach the handles to the doors, then mount the doors on the cabinet.