Creating a Cabinet Where There Wasn't One!

Having a small kitchen creates a storage problem.

Sam and I have been trying to figure out 

how to get just a bit more storage space 

into this kitchen.

When we had our counters 

replaced in 2018,

we found some unused space 

that was worth checking into.

See that space at the far right?

It's empty!  

Totally unused!

Black Gold, Texas Tea...Well, 

valuable real estate at least.  

What a waste.

We asked my coworker Tina's boyfriend, Carpenter John,

If it would be possible to 

create a cabinet in that space.

He said "Sure"!!!

He estimates his cost would be 

about $100 to $150.

So fast forward to this May during the Pandemic of 2020.

Everyone has lots of time on their hands.

Sam decides to paint our kitchen and family room.

From a 21 year old builder's basic off white

 to a Frittata yellow...

get some here

Frittata M290-2 From Behr at
The Home Depot to be exact. 

She also creates an accent wall 

in the family room.

get some here

It's 5001-3C Blue Arrow by 

Valspar Signature from Lowes.

She also feels now would be the perfect time 

to ask John if he is available to create a cabinet.

He says "sure"!

I show him a physical photo of the pony wall I had taken 

when the house was being built in 1998. 

I point out that the ice maker water supply line, 

a few electrical wires, 

and some studs will have to be 

"adjusted" to create the cabinet.

Understandably, he does increase 

his estimate another $100.

I also talk Sam into making it a hidden cabinet 

behind bead board wainscoting, just push in and

magic, I mean, a magnet pushes the door open.

There's going to be a shelf,

and quite a bit of storage room added.

A dream come true for Sam.

John worked and worked.

It was hard to create infrastructure 

where there was none before.

He installed the last bit of wainscoting 

with the outlet hole.

He added a finished edge to the shelf board.

This is the finished result.

But John and Sam were not happy 

with the finished look

Not exactly invisible, and John didn't think the 

concealed hinges were going to work on the 

long term.  They would eventually work their 

way loose and no longer keep the door centered.

We all agreed it would be better to have 

a standard cabinet door.

So John created one.

He also used standard, strong, exposed hinges

The door can also open much wider now.

Sam loves that part.

When John was done Sam got in there 

and painted everything white.

We then picked up some Pioneer Women 

shelf paper and I installed that. 

Overall Sam loves it and that's what matters.

I'm a little disappointed I didn't get a secret panel.  

But it looks really good and will last.

Thanks for stopping by and stay safe.

Happy hunting.