Kitchen cabinets are the highest-value DIY woodworking project in existence. Custom cabinets cost $500–$1,500 per linear foot installed. Building your own costs $80–$150 per linear foot. Here is the process.
The Three-Part System
Every kitchen cabinet is a box + face frame + door. Build these three components separately and you can build any kitchen layout.
The Box
3/4″ cabinet-grade plywood. Base cabinets: 24″ deep x 34.5″ tall. Wall cabinets: 12″ deep x 30–42″ tall (your choice). Use pocket screws for all joints.
The Face Frame
1×2 and 1×3 solid hardwood (poplar or maple) screwed to the front of the box with pocket holes. The face frame covers all plywood edges and gives the cabinet its finished look.
Shaker Doors
A Shaker door is a simple frame-and-panel construction: four pieces of 2.25″ wide stock with a flat panel in the centre. Cut on a table saw with a dado blade or router. The most satisfying part of the build.
