The Story Behind My 9-Foot Cabinet with 16 Drawers
Early this year, I started our hallway renovation, which began with removing and relocating a small partition wall. This wall divides the kitchen and living area, extending and connecting to our hallway wall. Initially, I wanted to move this wall to add more kitchen space and character by putting an arch to it.
But eventually, it turned into a full-blown hallway update. I moved the wall about 10 inches and added the arch. It turned out so good. Then I moved an outlet, added wall sconces in the hallway, patched the wall back up, painted the walls a good lime wash paint (which I love), and replaced and painted the baseboards and door trims. Whew!
Our hallway wasn't just a passageway; it was a potential storage haven waiting to happen. At about 6 by 19 feet, it's practically a runway! But it was underutilized and in need of some love. We realized we could incorporate a few shelves and a storage cabinet. Because, let's face it, who couldn't use a little extra storage? Making our hallway more functional wasn't just a good idea—it was a necessity.
So I started sketching the cabinet and the shelves and decided we had enough space for a 9-foot-long storage cabinet with 16 drawers (12 primary, plus 4 hidden) and a center cabinet with floating shelves above.
Adding 16 drawers sounds exciting, right? Just think of all the games, pens, and sunglasses currently floating around the house, finally having a home. But let's be real—building 16 drawers myself seemed daunting and time-consuming. I could've gone the DIY route and ended up with basic drawers, but I wanted something more substantial and sturdy. So, I decided to save time and order custom drawers from the Cabinet Door Store instead.
Why Cabinet Door Store?
In a few words, Cabinet Door Store provides most of the custom cabinet components except the cabinet box, cabinet fronts, drawer fronts, drawer boxes, and hardware. It's a great, DIY-friendly way to put together a custom cabinet without the custom cabinetry prices.
I've used their custom unfinished dovetail drawer boxes in our kitchen as hidden toe-kicks, and they store a lot in our small kitchen. These drawers offer unparalleled strength and a touch of artistry. The interlocking "tails" and "pins" create a sturdy and aesthetically pleasing connection that elevates your project.
They've got options:
The Cabinet Door Store understands the importance of having options, so they offer:
Prefinished Baltic Birch Drawer Box (the best value and easy to assemble)
Baltic Birch Plywood Drawer Box (unfinished dovetail drawer boxes)
Hardwood Dovetail Drawer Box (the highest-quality hardwood dovetail drawer boxes).
I went with the unfinished, unassembled Baltic Birch Plywood drawer boxes in the size I needed.
How to order your drawers.
I started by planning and sketching a relatively simple design with all the measurements. This step helps me jot down all the sizes—width, depth, and height—and figure out how many drawer boxes I'd need in the cabinet. Plus, depending on your drawer slides, you've got to add the slides' width to the drawers' width. For example, if the inside width of your cabinet is 20 inches, plus 1/2 inch for each slide for either side of your drawer, your drawer width would be 19 inches. Simple math, right? At least, that's the theory!
I used these soft-close drawer slides, adding an inch to my drawers' width, and they worked great for us.
Once you know all the measurements of your drawer boxes, head over to the Cabinet Door Store and select from the drawer box options. Then, insert all the dimensions of your drawer boxes, choose the assembly option, and choose the finish option. There is an option for a rear notch, which you can select if you plan to install Blum Undermount Drawer Slides.
If you have questions about any of their product or need help with your order, they're super helpful and will guide you through the process.
Let's assemble!
I usually order mine unassembled and unfinished to save on cost. Assembling it is pretty simple and satisfying. Here are the steps I took from start to finish.
What you'll need.
Tapping Block (scrap wood)
Sanding Block (optional)
Slightly moist rag
When you receive your drawer parts, you'll notice that the drawer has front and back panels with pins, two sides with tails, and a bottom panel.
Before I start assembling, I lightly sand all the parts with 220-grit sandpaper to smooth all surfaces.
Start by applying glue to the front and back panels with the pins. Squeeze a pea-sized amount of glue between the pins. Be sure to add glue on the opposite sides of the panels so that when you tap in the tail panel, the glued pins will be on the same side for the tail panel.
Gently push in the panels with tails on both sides. Hold up the panels, forming an upside-down U-shape, gently tap them with a tapping block. Alternate tapping on either side until the panels are securely locked together. Using a tapping block helps protect your panels from getting dented during the tapping. Use a moist towel to wipe away any excess glue during assembly to minimize cleanup. Trust me, you want to avoid dealing with dried glue later on.
Next, add enough glue to the bottom panel groove and slide the bottom panel in.
Then, add glue between the pins on the other side and the groove of the last tail piece.
Gently tap the last piece in, and you will have a beautiful dovetail drawer!
I finished my drawers with this wax oil to seal and protect. It is my go-to finishing oil for easy, safe, natural protection.
And just like that, the drawers that were once only in my imagination are now part of my family's daily life. Every home is unique, so it was amazing to partner with Cabinet Door Store to find our perfect fit.
Head over to check out my progress on my daily Stories. I’ll be sure to answer any questions here or DM me on my IG.
Happy organizing!