How I Built All of My Kitchen Cabinets!

3 Materials
$500
5 Days
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The kitchen cabinets turned into my own little project, it was something I was equally stressed and terrified about and, don’t get me wrong, they are NOT perfect, but I’m very happy with them. The main cabinet boxes themselves I built out of 2x4s and 3 inch long screws, they would not be going anywhere. I ended up with a enormous amount of 1×4 scrap leftover from my floor and trim so I used the scrap to cover the bottom of all of the cabinets and build all of the shelves. (Of course normally I would have just used plywood!)

I covered all of the 2x4s in 1x4s and/or bead board and moved on to paint!

Everyone questioned my choice to build my kitchen cabinets.

I would normally have leaned to buying something used but I already knew that trying to make something premade work here would probably be far more work than just building the cabinets. On top of all of that, I had my heart set on using three old windows for cabinet doors.

I started all of my upper cabinets one board at a time screwed into the ceiling and then I worked down (or out) from there.

It was VERY simple. I just built the frame as I went, used long screws, always made sure I was in studs or ceiling rafters and leveled ever single boards.

Like with the majority of the house I did it alone so there was no "building the cabinet" and then putting it up on the wall.

Like with everything if I could figure out a way to do it alone (which I had little choice in the matter) that's how I did it.

I am SO proud that I built my entire kitchen by myself! A perk of this though meant I didn't actually build cabinet boxes and saved myself a TON of material. Where there was already a wall I didn't see the need to add more wood to it lol

Suggested materials:
  • 2x4s
  • 1x4s
  • Beadboard Plywood
GrandmasHouseDIY
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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  • Pat Gregor Pat Gregor on Mar 19, 2019

    So looking at your pictures, what height did you make your base cabinets? Also what did you use for your glass doors? This gives me lots of ideas but not details. Sorry anal compulsive

  • Karen Karen on Jun 14, 2020

    Wow, Truly inspiring for me. I am home during the pandemic with little to no work and little to no money. I would love to build my own cabinets. I will try and follow you to see if there is more information. Where did you get the wood? what tools did you use? Looks straight forward , so no jig saw? super exited that I may be able to do this.

  • StacyR StacyR on Dec 16, 2020

    Do you have a diagram or explanation of how you framed in the cabinets? I see that you have toe kicks and I’m struggling to figure my framing plan! Thanks so much for posting your beautiful work.

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  • Carol Cole Carol Cole on Mar 21, 2018

    WOW is right, I think it is great when a woman can step up and show that she is capable of doing things on her own. It is wonderful. You are a NUMBER 1 carpenter.

  • Carie Carie on Dec 30, 2019

    So amazingly beautiful!!!! I am about to jump into remodeling my kitchen and I keep looking at cabinets to buy but oh the funny look on my husband's face when I said "well heck, this awesome lady did it so will I. I am building my cabinets! (With my hands on my hips and my chest puffed out making this announcement to my family)". With all the funny looks I can't wait to finish! Thank you for your post it has given me the encouragement.

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