I am going nuts. Here is what I want for storage in my office craft room space:
- Base cabinets with open shelving that are 24″ front-to-back (like kitchen cabinets), so that I can add a 25″ deep work surface counter on top.
- The overall installation needs to be 36″ high – also just like a kitchen.
- On legs.
- The inside sides need to have those little pegs on the side to you can adjust shelf sizes. I’ll add brass grommets.
- In my dreams, chunky natural wood frame, with white shelves.
- In my dreams and here’s where it gets really complicated: I’d like the design to allow me to adjust the width of the shelves and back and therefore, the width of the cabinet to fit the exact dimensions of my space. Like: The legs and side pieces would be a fixed depth and height (24″ deep, 36″ high with the legs and counter). The width of the shelves and back (if you wanted a back) could be adjusted easily by cutting down the shelves or using different sizes of shelves.
- Affordable — considering I am talking about a simple wood frame, and am fine with piney legs and MDF shelves.
Kinda sorta like the Ikea Varde freestanding kitchen cabinet unit (above) — but my design need to be shelves only and needs to be infinitely adjustable in width. Haha, that’s all I need: “infinitely.” Does anyone know of something available to suit my needs?? I have already spent, like, 30 hours online looking, and I am finding it’s constitutionally impossible for me to “settle“.
So far, the closest I am coming is the idea of using Ikea Akurums (1) in plain white (2) without the doors (3) put onto natural wood legs and (4) somehow, further framed by me in some kind of wood, to get the white-within-wood effect. However, this does not allow infinite flexiblity, as the Ikea Akurum shelf-only cabinets go only up to 24″. Also, I am not too keen on going the Ikea route. Ingredients of these pieces include and I quote: “Particleboard, Polypropylene, Melamine foil, Fiberboard, Acrylic paint”. I an not anti-plastic, just anti-plastic in this particular room quest. And third, even at “just” $70, this Ikea cabinets strikes me as overpriced compared to other items on their site. I think that because it’s called a “kitchen cabinet” the price is about $30 too high. For plastic, and those legs are even extra…
Meanwhile, I am doodling a design of my own — one that tries to use stock lumber and woodworking pieces — even though I have never tried to design furniture before.
Build your own. Take a look at all the plans Ana White has compiled on her website of the same name. Affordable, do-able for the first time DIY’r and custom-able to whatever your whims desire. We’re going to use several of her plans to do a custom storage wall in our walk-out basement.
I think you might be in a “it doesn’t exist so you have to build it” situation. You can do it Pam! Otherwise, maybe a local carpenter could build it for you?
kinda sorta. Essentially. you are building a book case. I think you need to have a carpenter build in the supports and counter top and have multiple holes in your vertical supports so that you can adjust the vertical spacing between the shelves. The width of the space across the front is determined by the overall length of the shelving. There is a limit to the width based on the thickness of your shelves and the linear feet run of shelving you want. A good carpenter should be able to build what you want and it will look much nicer.
yes, I want 24″ deep bookcases on legs that sit like a kitchen base cabinet! YES
yeah, i think you’re talking custom. but while you are looking for something very specific, you are not looking for something complicated, which helps.
i’d love to help, but i’m afraid i’m a bit far (oh, and my wife would kill me if i started working on other people’s projects with all ours unfinished)! but, if you’re interested in trying it yourself, i’d highly recommend ana white for an intro to woodwork and some simple plans. a few that seemed along the right lines:
http://ana-white.com/2011/02/easy-kitchen-island-plans (fancier than what you’re after, but the right general shape)
similar to that – http://ana-white.com/2010/03/plans-michaelas-kitchen-island.html
more enclosed, and with drawers – http://ana-white.com/2011/07/cyndi-console-table
but as jay said, basically what you want is a bookshelf, so something much simpler than the above would work. good luck, however you decide to do it!
i was going to say book case too. to me it’s not really a cabinet if it doesn’t have doors.
needs to be 24″ deep – base cabinet
The problem w/trying to find something with 1) a particular design sensibility; 2) exact measurements; and 3) that isn’t made of particleboard (read: not very well made/sturdy/etc.) is that it’s near impossible, as you’ve found.
I’m on the carpenter bandwagon – you might be surprised at how affordable it is. We had a handyman completely outfit our kitchen with open shelving and cabinets for specific applicances/pots/etc. in our tiny space. There’s NO WAY we could have purchased anything out of the box like that. Cost us virtually nothing because I designed and prepped/painted everything myself. Sometimes a designer in High Point/Stockholm/Chengdu can’t figure out exactly what your space needs.
Maybe, if you come across a cheap kitchen island on Craigslist, you could modify it in depth and add shelves. I think the legs and heighth would be great but adjusting the depth may be a pain. You might even end up with a couple of drawers on top. My friend did something similar but she did not need to adjust the depth.
I say get a carpenter too. In the end, it might not cost tons more than buying what you need – and it will be *exactly* what you want. And if you did go with an IKEA piece, you’d probably be so insane before you got it put together that you’d wish that you’d just paid someone to make your dreams come true. Says the person who helped put together IKEA cabinets for my own studio and had to keep sending back and reordering pieces because they kept arriving chipped and cracked.
Another idea would be a rectangular bar table, just cut down legs and add shelves.
Pam, have you considered just mounting counter top lengths on the wall at your 36″ height? Then, having the adjustable shelving underneath, with the adjusting brackets also mounted on the back wall. (Menards sells laminated shelving at VERY good prices, all with varied depths and widths.) Personally, I would prefer my shelves to be above the counter. The older I get, the easier it is to reach up for my stuff than to bend down. You could space the shelving at any interval you chose, giving you leg room.
You could also possibly get an unfinished base cabinet or two for under the counter top as well. 18 or 24″ ones. That would give you some drawer and concealed storage. It would look kind of like a long L shaped desk in the corner of your room. Almost a built in look, I think.
If you chose to go the Ikea route, which I did in my laundry room, check out the BESTA line. I have a 15″ deep , 48″ long, 2 door cabinet mounted on the wall. Then, I have the LAK floating shelves mounted above that. If I could figure out how to put a picture in this post, I would!
I concur- hire a trim carpenter… one that specializes in finish work. Will be totally worth it as much use as you will get out of your creation.
Hello Pam – you are usually so spot on and clear, but you lost me here:
In my dreams and here’s where it gets really complicated: I’d like the design to allow me to adjust the width of the shelves and back and therefore, the width of the cabinet to fit the exact dimensions of my space. Like: The legs and side pieces would be a fixed depth and height (24? deep, 36? high with the legs and counter). The width of the shelves and back (if you wanted a back) could be adjusted easily by cutting down the shelves or using different sizes of shelves.
Oh, and you used the word “infinitely” yikes! “Infinitely” and “exact dimensions of my space” do not appear to go hand in hand.
What are the measurements of the space where you are trying to locate this? You *must* have some maximum width you can use, right? What is that measurement?
I only ask, because you can have highly adjustable shelves all day long, but that still doesn’t require the back and ends of the cabinet to move – in my mind the back and ends should be built (or bought) with the total available width to start with.
I think Ikea has the option you need, but let me know what width of space you are trying to fill…!
U-shaped. this is too hard to explain.
I would go with at least getting estimates from a cabinet shop. In my experience, they do tend to be less money than you would think. Not so cheap as Ikea but not totally budget busting either. It comes down to choice of materials and how much knicky-knacky detailing. Plus, you should add in the value of your time, i.e.; spent in assembly of the cabinets, to your cost calculations. I would take my plans and go see a local. They might even have some awesome base cabinet from which to work. Retro gods love you and you do love to reuse so chances are probably high for a result like that!
What if you built a custom faux “base” (counter top and cabinet surround) which inclosed an “infinitely adjustable” shelving system like this–http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2020063/18933/20-Supported-Shelf-Bracket.aspx with white painted boards/wire baskets.
yup, you’re getting my idea… here is link live i hope: http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2020063/18933/20-Supported-Shelf-Bracket.aspx
U shaped isn’t that hard, now you just have corners to deal with. I was looking at this cabinet on IKEA – just delete the doors and the center upright, and add another cross support in the top for the countertop of your choice….get more than one and stick side by side if you need more width. You could actually cut the doors in half and use them for shelves also if you wanted so they don’t go to waste.
Then you could put vertical shelf supports in so you can vary height and width of the shelving to suit.
You can see how it goes together here:
http://www.ikea.com/assembly_instructions/varde-sink-cabinet-146×90-cm__MNC07_PUB.PDF
Shelf supports like this:
http://www.knapeandvogt.com/standard__~~~__bracket_shelving.html?page=products.18.81
Otherwise, I vote with the masses and say consult a carpenter!
You know, T3, I had never looked at the install instructions for the Varde. It does appear it might be infinitely adjustable as to width — if you cut down the bottom and back. And may what I see are holes there to add more shelves? There is one of these at my coffee shop and I am good friends with the owners. I will go inspect! They know I am nuts…
Yes, go inspect Pam – it pays sometimes to think outside the box, using stock items. I’ve kinda become an expert in that since I have my kitchen cabinets already, and have remodeled and re-purposed them to suit, a jillion times over (in my head). As a result, I never look at cabinets like I used to…anything is possible!
Let us know what you find out – at $169 a cabinet, you’d probably be hard pressed to get the birch wood, on legs, and everything else you wanted from a carpenter for the same price
That Varde is $349. Too much.
Can you just take the doors off kitchen cabinets? They have shelves. They come in many configurations.
Are you talking about the Akurums? They only go up to 24″ wide. Strangely, price now shows as $46 online; I coulda swore it was $70 yesterday. I am losing my mind.
Most of the expense is for the doors or drawers – if you look up the components & just price the box itself, they are way cheaper than complete cabinets.
If you want a kitchen, could you get an actual kitchen, perhaps the white one down the street from your house and get the inside framed out in birch? Remove the doors and drawers. Didn’t you feature a kitchen in which the vintage cabinets were put on legs. Not sure it will work or if this is getting into crazy custom land, but it sounds like you want a kitchen.
trying to avoid more steel kitchen cabinets in the house. basement is cold. steel is cold.
What about vintage wood cabinets without doors. You could be the reverse of all those folks that put their old metal cabinets in their basements when they updated their kitchens to wood. You would still have to frame out the inside of the drawers. But I think a kitchen is the only thing that will easily adapt to the built in u shape you are looking for.
I like those wood cabinets — a lot — but for a kitchen. I need on legs… don’t want big block o’ wood.
Pam, see if the above the refrigerator wall cabinets from Ikea might work. They are 24 inches deep and since they are wall cabinets they just attach to the wall. Then you could use a standard butcher block or other countertop for the top. I think the cabinets come in 30 and 36″ widths and a couple of different heights. You could add legs or leave them floating. You could leave the backs off, if you wanted. Also you can leave spaces between two cabinets and just add shelves to span the space and the counter could cover the whole length. You could add legs, or leave the cabinets floating. Remember the cabinet prices include the doors and hinges and shelves. If you get cabinet boxes only it is far cheaper. You could use the maple butcher block to cover the sides too and use wood shelves instead of the melamine.
http://afloridagirl.com/2012/02/20/denny-for-the-den/ this is a 12″ floating storage unit, but you get the idea. You can also think how you might use 12″ by 36″ wall cabinets on their side to create open shelves above the 24″ deep cabinets. There are sites on the net about how to use Ikea cabinets in interesting ways.
hmmm.i did not see these. yes, they are 24″ deep. 30″ and 36″ wide, and offer heights 15″, 18″ and 24″ tall. (while the base cabinets with shelves is 30″ high). same idea, i think — just more heights, which certainly provides more alternatives. CAN you order without the doors and save $$? does Ikea let you do something “custom” like that???
Pam, this Varde is only $169 – no drawers, and no top so you can use whatever counter you want………..the one you originally posted on is $349.
link broken
oh, okay, i’ll look again!!!! thank you!!!!
Well, look what I found, pretty much what I want — deep bookcases that I can combine into units, put on legs and add a countertop: http://www.thegrovefurniture.com/23024-aw.html
However, not cheap. ugh
Pam, are you looking at the kitchen brochure on the Ikea site? It is hard to find, but click on brochures on the bottom left and then click on the one for the kitchen. Scroll through the pages until you come to the cabinet drawings. On the top row is the cheapest melamine cabinet, go to the bottom line and it says frame only. that would be the price for the frame. Also, base cabinets go to 36″ wide, if you decided to use them.
You can put anything you want into the frame–no doors, two doors, all drawers, etc. they are showing you the different types of cabinets so you can plan a kitchen. Many years ago they sold just the frames and you added what you wanted. I think people got confused so they now show the cabinets like most people would want to buy them. I have even used the 24″ deep refrigerator cabinets to make a window seat. The kitchen designers at the store are a little helpful, but sometimes not really creative. The corner cabinet, which you will need is not as handy as some of the other kitchen cabinet companies. Did you see the turquoise door on the door selection page? Another tip, check the as is section of the store. You might be able to find a wood countertop that could be cut into shelves. (or other useful items!)
alas, i cannot find the kitchen catalog you refer to… when i click there i get to an annoying 8-page marketing brochure (they asked for my zip and connected me to the new haven flyer….)
ah, gotcha.
grr that was supposed to be in response to you up above ^
See if this link takes you to the Ikea Kitchen. I agree that the Ikea site can be confusing. The brochure takes a bit of time to open.
http://onlinecatalog.ikea-usa.com/US/en/2012/Range_Brochure_Kitchen/
Thank you, perfect!!!! I really appreciate it. Yes: The price is right(er) with the doors taken off. I can see how this really might work out — I could add countertops (cheap birch one) below and above, set on legs. and be in business pretty cheap. Need to sleep on this and agonize some more.
legs like this stained to match countertop / cabinet base http://www.waddellmfg.com/Default.aspx?tabid=63&CategoryID=54&List=1&SortField=ProductName%2cProductName&Level=1&ProductID=115
or something silly and opposite like this: http://www.waddellmfg.com/Default.aspx?tabid=63&CategoryID=54&List=1&SortField=ProductName%2cProductName&catpageindex=13&Level=1&ProductID=762
I agree… Ana White is outta sight!
I’m sure you’re handy enough to be able to follow her directions!
For interest, you could use some of the taller refrigerator cabinets and some of the lower ones. As long as every other one is a 24″ high one, the counter could go over the whole length. That would save a little money and maybe add interest. I just draw everything on graph paper to see how it will look. You could use the metal Ikea legs and then just cover them with birch strips to match your counter. I bet HD or Lowes would have birch 1″ thick wood. Also, I think this would work with a little planning–maybe your corners could be empty, but you could put a bottom on the empty space and make the counter in the corner a lift out with finger holes or a knob. Then you could store supplies like fabrics or something in the created corner bins. I have no idea if you understand this!
Some birch legs– http://www.extremekitchen.net/store/post.html
great ideas! thank you!!!!
Yep, they do. For the Akurem line, at least.
Have you looked at Gothic Cabinets? Similar concept to the Grove- but possibly cheaper.
Thanks for the tip, I will take a look!
If it were my project, I’d draw it on paper and get estimates from locals who could construct it for me. You’d get exactly what you want and can make changes during construction if need be.
We’ve been having the same problem with our bathroom vanity, and have been down the Ikea road (and back). Finally found a basic vanity at the ReStore (for about $10, I think), and we put retro furniture legs on it (from Ace Hardware), and Cane added some shelves to the side of it. Don’t have the whole project ready to post yet, but we wrote about all the things that didn’t work. Like you, we got to a place where we were pretty particular about what we wanted. I think the ideas about finding an existing piece and modifying it are good ways to go.
The doors are sold separately, because IKEA sells one set of base cabinets and offers a bunch of different door choices. I’ve never ordered online, but I know that in the store, you can just not have the doors added to the order.