Kitchen Cabinets

The kitchen cabinets have been a big planning issue, as I wanted to make use of the space as efficiently as I could. I started by drawing some sketches to visualize what it could look like. Once the sketches were done and I had figured out some measurements I got started on the drawer chest part.

This is the initial frame, set in place to see how it will fit. I used 5/8 good one side fir plywood. It is slightly lighter and uses less space the the traditional 3/4 inch stock used for cabinets. It's also cheaper than the $80.00 a sheet plus for birch cabinet grade stock, and easier to work with than melamine, which I don't like very much. It does have a tendency to warp fairly easily though, so needs to be well supported.

I coated the sides of the uprights and bottom with Varathane diamond coat. Much nicer to use and less smelly than the Saicos!

The drawer slides are of the full extension ball bearing sort. They have a nice smooth glide to them. I surely have a lot of drawers to make though!

Once the drawer cabinet was roughed in I started adding in the other components. This picture shows the frame for the sink cabinet and a bit of the corner.

Access to the corner cupboard was a problem because there was very little space and it is an important access point to pipes and to the back of the hot water heater. With my father's help, I decided on a plan to cut away part of the separation between sink and corner cupboards and to swing both doors open from front left to right. The corner door is still in planning, but will probably be a double hinge using a piano hinge and will open to the inside. There will also be a lazy susan in the corner.

The gas stove/oven sits in the box on the left of the picture and there will be a drawer underneath it.

I was struggling with the doors - how to make them, how to attach them, what kinds of hinges, etc. My father (who has been working with me pretty much full time lately and to whom I owe a great many thanks) came to my rescue and made the doors.

Here's a view of the whole thing from above.

There is still quite a lot to do here, so I'll add to this post later as things progress.