I have volunteered my labor to build cabinets for a Biloxi, MS, Katrina victim. The lady owns an older home in the historical district and lost everything from the ceiling down. Everything has to be replaced, including furnishings, and was not covered by insurance. She received a FEMA grant that is not nearly enough, but will have to do.
I need help designing a kitchen cook island. I am not experienced in making kitchen cabinets but have almost finished the rest of the cabinets with tutoring by Mapleman.
My problem is that I can’t seem to get a plan for the kitchen island. The lady will have a JennAire downdraft range/oven. I plan to make matching cabinet cases that will fit on each side of the oven/range which is a slide in type.
What I am having a problem with is designing the elevated top at the back. The biggest problem is how to join the back to the two cabinets. I will be making panels at each side using stile & rail with maple beadboard panel (s) . On the back, I will have three panels in one frame or if reommended otherwise will make three separate panels and join them. The top will be granite and I have already milled the (4) decorative support braces.
I have looked for a thread on the subject but can’t find one. I would appreciate any help in locating a plan. If some cabinetmaker has a plan they would share, that also would be appreciated.
Replies
hello coolbreeze try the guys at Ecabinetsystems forum
http://www.ecabinetsystems.com/
Woodshaver, Thanks for your reply. I went to the link and read their forum rules. I would not be in compliance with two of five rules for participation.
You are a good man Cool.
I am having a little trouble following some of what you are asking in this sentence.
What I am having a problem with is designing the elevated top at the back. The biggest problem is how to join the back to the two cabinets. I will be making panels at each side using stile & rail with maple breadboard panel (s) . On the back, I will have three panels in one frame or if recommended otherwise will make three separate panels and join them. The top will be granite and I have already milled the (4) decorative support braces.
It sounds as if there will be a stand-up or bar-stool side away from the cook-top. I have seen plenty of plans where architects drew in a little 2x4 wall between the cabinet boxes, and the back side. I think this is wasteful of space, and is not needed really.
What I normally do is just screw the cabinet boxes on each side onto a 3/4" sheet of plywood running across the back, with the 8' running across, and ripped to about 41" high, if the owner wants the tall side to be about 42 after the granite goes on.
I usually then plan for the eating top to extend back over the work-top about 2~3", unless this will be a problem with the jenair. On the other side, you can then build out as much detail as you want for your braces. I would suggest that they may need to attach onto some little short box like columns, which give a wire chase up so and electrician can put a receptacle above the work-top on each end.
I like to give about 11" of overhang for the top on that side for knee-room on that side, so the raised bar-top ends up being about 15" across, if you have added some panels onto the back for looks, plus the overhang on the work side. This is plenty of room for a place setting, yet close enough to the work side, to get yourself another helping of something off of your mama's stove top without her catching you. Ha.
I didn't follow where the breadboards go unless that was the work-surface beside the stove?
Kieth, Thanks for your reply.
I didn't follow where the breadboards go unless that was the work-surface beside the stove?
Did look like breadboard. I was actually talking about using 1/4 beadboard ply for the panels.
What I am searching for is a way to construct the 6d X 41h X 70w riser. The face of the riser will be three beadboard panels constructed with stile and rail frames. The side(s) of the cook island cabinet will be a single beadboard panel. What I am thinking at the moment is that the back of the cooktop/cabinets will be 3/4 ply and the 6" riser will be built somewhat like a torsion box and screwed onto the plywood. My problem in design is how to join the riser to the back of the island cabinets and get a fit so that the seams can be hidden by a little "catwork".
If I could find a plan for a cabinet such as I have described, I could easily modify it to my specs.
I can build an 18th century Pennsylvania secretary, yet building a box is giving me trouble:-)
Edited 1/1/2008 11:45 am ET by coolbreeze
cool ,
If you build a 2x4 wall you can place bracing for the corbel supports in the right places as well as run any electric or in some cases plumbing.
On the other hand depending on design and desire you can create the high back and panelize the ends and finished back for an all wood Island .
I think the foot print and base depth Inc the back wall or assembly should be deeper then a 24" cabinet base provides . Think about the cantilever sometimes Granite tops up there and trust me you need to brace them .
Depending on the design on an Island I typically build a loose toe kick and screw it down level then screw the cabinet down to the toe .
This works best if you run the top over the wall .
dusty
Hiya Cool ,
Just curious if you got things worked out , hoping you found the solution simple and workable .
It is a wonderful thing you are doing
dusty
Dusty,
I have received enough info to allow me to build. It may be a little different than some would personally build, but I am confident that it will serve th lady well. My effort would be greatly simplified if someone had a CAD like plan that could be emailed to me. I am one of those who can do many things woodworking. I am very weak, however in plan and design. I probably do not have enough years remaining to overcome that limitation. When I finish this project, I am going to start building the lowboy featured in Woodsmith. It has a plan.
The additional information I received from you was quite helpful.
Let it be known to all that olddusty is a good man!
Cool
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled