Part 3 – Building My Walk-In Closet Island (And A Pretty Big Setback)

So let me again up a bit. After I final shared my progress, the island appeared like this…

The essential construct appeared completed at that time, however I nonetheless wanted to take away the highest and add a couple of extra items to the bottom construction. I lower items of 1×2’s to suit on the high of every opening. I drilled pocket holes in every finish of every piece utilizing my Kreg pocket gap jig, after which used these pocket holes to screw the items into the perimeters of every part.

Right here’s a take a look at the place each items screw into the center divider piece of plywood.

And right here’s a better take a look at the place it’s screwed into the top piece, lined up with the plywood.

With all of these 1×2’s connected, it appeared like this…

Right here’s one other look from the aspect of the island…

I had already created a body for the doorways and drawer entrance on the perimeters with the aspect trim, and on the underside with the underside trim, so now I wanted to create a body on the highest in order that the doorways and drawer fronts would look inset on all sides as soon as they’re connected. So I lower one other strip of three/4″ sq. trim by ripping down a 1×3 utilizing my desk noticed, and I connected it going all the best way throughout the highest of the 1×2 stretchers I had simply connected.

And with that piece connected, now you can see that the doorways and drawer fronts will sit inside that body giving them an inset look as soon as they’re on.

With that achieved, I might truly connect the highest. After measuring fastidiously to verify it was even all the best way round, I simply nailed proper by the highest and into the body of the bottom to safe the highest. You possibly can see the place I used wooden filler to fill these nail holes.

I additionally added wooden filler the place the aspect trim met the plywood high in order that when it’s sanded, it’ll be as completely easy as attainable with no little cracks between these items.

Right here’s a take a look at it with the highest on. You possibly can see that that high body piece is about 1/4″ under the countertop.

Then I used to be able to construct the drawer packing containers. I began by measuring the width of the opening, which was 34 7/8 inches.

These are the drawer slides I take advantage of. I’m not explicit in regards to the model so long as they’re ball bearing drawer slides with gentle shut. You may get them at House Depot and Lowe’s, and so they’re all just about the identical, no matter model.

The drawer slides are 1/2 inch thick.

That ought to make it simple, proper? You are taking the width of the opening, subtract an inch, and that’s the width you construct the drawer field. Simple peasy. Or no less than, it needs to be.

So I spent hours slicing and sanding the entire items for the drawer packing containers. For these, I made a decision to maintain it simple and construct absolutely the easiest type of drawer field attainable. I lower one backside piece for every drawer. Then I lower two items to go on the back and front, lower to the identical width as the underside piece. After which I lower two items for the ends, lower to 1 inch greater than the underside piece in order that the aspect items would cowl the underside piece plus the perimeters of the back and front items. Nail all of them collectively, and you’ve got probably the most fundamental drawer field attainable. No fancy cuts or fancy instruments wanted.

So I received all the things lower, received the primary drawer field nailed collectively, after which realized that I had forgotten to subtract that inch for the drawer slides when slicing the entire backside, entrance, and again items. UGH!!!! Such a rookie mistake!!!

Y’all, I used to be so pissed off. Thank goodness I had solely put collectively one drawer field and determined to check it for match earlier than placing the remaining collectively. I’d have ugly cried had I gotten all ten drawer packing containers put collectively earlier than realizing that I had lower all of them the improper dimension.

It’s no huge deal. I simply need to spend time at present recutting all of these items (all aside from the aspect items) to the fitting lengths (one inch shorter than they’re) and doing slightly extra sanding, after which I can get them constructed. At the very least I lower them too lengthy as a substitute of too brief! Had I lower them too brief, all of that plywood would have been wasted. So this can be a very easy repair, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a ache.

By the point I spotted my mistake, I didn’t have it in me to return out and repair these items. So as a substitute, I received the entire wooden filler on the bottom and received it prepared for sanding in order that I can get it primed and painted.

I additionally tried to determine simply precisely how I’m going to make the drawer fronts and doorways. I used to be waffling between two totally different designs, however I believe I’m going to maintain it easy. I purchased these pulls from Lowe’s.

So I believe I’m simply going to chop the drawer fronts out of 1/2″ plywood after which put some fairly trim across the edges. I’m nonetheless unsure if I’m going to make use of one pull per drawer…

Or two pulls per drawer like this…

I’m leaning in the direction of two for the reason that drawers are so broad (virtually 36 inches broad). And as soon as the trim is connected, I’ll simply end up the perimeters with some wooden veneer edge banding.