Alright, so let me tell you about this kitchen project I tackled – building a 12-inch wide cabinet with drawers. My kitchen, bless its heart, had this ridiculously narrow, totally useless space right next to the oven. It was just begging for something better than collecting dust and lost spoons.
Figuring It All Out (Sort Of)
First things first, I had to figure out what I was even doing. That 12-inch gap was tight, man. I measured it about fifty times, just to be sure. I knew I wanted drawers, lots of ’em, for all those little kitchen bits and bobs that never seem to have a home. I didn’t get too fancy with detailed plans, just a rough sketch on some scrap paper. My main thought was: maximum drawer capacity!
The Big Hardware Store Adventure
Then it was off to the hardware store. You know how it is, you go in for three things, you come out with twenty. I grabbed some decent plywood for the main cabinet box, and some nicer wood for the drawer fronts – wanted it to look somewhat presentable, you know? The drawer slides were a whole other story. So many options! I just picked some full-extension ones that looked sturdy enough and seemed like they’d fit the shallow depth I was working with. Probably should’ve done more homework on those, but hey, learning by doing, right?
Putting the Box Together
Back home, it was time to make some sawdust. Cutting the plywood for the cabinet carcass was… an experience. Let’s just say my cuts weren’t always perfectly straight, but good enough for government work, or in this case, my kitchen. Glued and screwed the pieces together to form the main box. Checked it with a square – it was, well, squarish. Close enough!
Tackling the Drawers
Building the actual drawers was next. I figured I could squeeze in three, maybe four, decent-sized ones. More cutting, more gluing, more screwing. Just making a bunch of little boxes, really. The tricky part was getting them all the same size. One of them definitely came out a little… unique. But hey, it adds character, or so I tell myself.
Those Darn Drawer Slides
Then came the drawer slides. Oh. My. Goodness. This was the part where I nearly threw in the towel. Trying to install those things perfectly level and parallel inside a super narrow 12-inch cabinet? It’s a special kind of torture. There’s just no room to maneuver your hands, or see what you’re doing. I swear I spent an entire afternoon cussing at the first set of slides. My neighbors probably thought I was losing it.
Making it Look Half-Decent
Once the drawers were finally in and sliding – more or less smoothly – it was time for the drawer fronts. I really wanted these to line up nicely and look like I knew what I was doing. More careful measuring and cutting. Attaching them from the inside of the drawers with more screws, trying to get the gaps all even. It took a lot of fiddling, let me tell you.
The Finishing Touches
After all the construction, I gave the whole thing a good sanding to smooth out my… enthusiastic assembly. Then, a couple of coats of paint. Tried to match it to the existing kitchen cabinets. It’s not a perfect match, but from a distance, in low light, you can barely tell. Ha!
The Grand Finale: Installation!
Finally, the moment of truth. Getting that cabinet into the gap. It was a snug fit, which I guess is what you want. Slid it in, secured it, and stepped back. And you know what? It actually looked pretty good! And those drawers! So much new storage space for all my spices and gadgets. No more awkward, dusty void!
So, Was It Worth It?
Look, it’s not a masterpiece of woodworking. There are definitely a few imperfections if you look close. And if I ever do this again, I’m watching a hundred YouTube videos on installing drawer slides before I start. But I built it myself. It works, it fits, and it solved a real problem in my kitchen. Plus, I definitely saved some cash compared to buying something custom. So yeah, I’d say it was worth the sweat and the swearing. If you’ve got a similar annoying gap, give it a shot! Just, you know, maybe have a bit more patience than I did with those slides.
