How to Make Open Kitchen Shelves

The open shelf on the right complements the kitchen nicely.

Among the storage units in a kitchen, open shelving is an option for showing off your decorating talents. While they can be installed over the coffee maker for easy access to creamer and sugar, they can also display items to complement the kitchen decor. If you're not certain what might work for your kitchen, search images on the Internet or browse the pictures and articles in a woodworking magazine.

Things You'll Need

• 2 pieces 11-by-30-by-3/4-inch plywood
• Framing square
• Variable speed drill
• 1/16-inch drill bit
• Countersink drill bit
• 3 pieces 11-by-28 1/2-by- 3/4-inch plywood
• Wood glue
• 3 pieces 28 1/2-by-2-by-3/4-inch plywood
• 4d finish nails
• Phillips head screw tip
• 1 1/2-inch drywall screws
• 2 8-foot pieces of screen mold
• Electric miter saw
• 3/4-inch brads
• Tack hammer

Instructions

1. Place the 11-by-30-by-3/4-inch plywood on a worktable. These are the end panels. Measure from one end and make marks at 1 1/2 inches and 14 5/8 inches. Repeat this from the other end of the plywood.

2. Next, measure in from the ends and make a mark at 3/4 inches. Place the framing square on the marks and draw a line across the width of the end panels.

3. Drill three pilot holes between the lines. Drill one 2 inches from each edge and one in the center with the 1/16-inch drill bit. Next, drill countersink holes in the pilot holes 1/4-inch deep with the countersink bit.

4. Place the 11-by-28 1/2-by-3/4-inch plywood on the worktable along with the 28 1/2-by-2-by-3/4-inch plywood. These are the shelves and support/nailing strips.

5. Apply glue to the 28 1/2-inch edge of the nailing strips. Secure them to the long edge of the shelves by driving 4d finish nails through the shelf into the nailing strip.

6. Apply glue to the ends of the shelves, including the nailing strips. Secure them to the end panels on the lines drawn in Step 2 with the 1 1/2-inch drywall screws. The top and middle shelf nailing strips should be on the bottom of the shelf and the bottom shelf nailing strip is on the top of the shelf.

7. Cut four pieces of the screen mold 30 inches long. Cut a 45-degree angle on the ends of each one. Apply glue to the front edges of the open kitchen shelves and secure the screen mold with the 3/4-inch brads.

8. Cut one piece of screen mold 28 1/2 inches long. Apply glue to the front edge of the middle shelf and secure the screen mold to the shelf with the 3/4-inch brads and the tack hammer.

Tips & Warnings

• Clean excess glue immediately with a damp cloth. 1-by-2-inch solid lumber can be substituted for the screen mold. Cut it the same way you would the screen mold, just use the 4d finish nails to secure them to the shelf unit. To make the open kitchen shelf unit wider, cut the shelves to the width desired. Keep in mind that the shelves are 1 1/2 inches narrower than the desired width. The 30-inch wide shelf units have 28 1/2-inch shelves.

• Do not leave power tools unattended in the presence of children. Do not stain or paint the open kitchen shelves without proper ventilation.

References

• Storage Made Simple: Desk & Cabinets Woodworking Plan

Resources

• How to Build Shelves