How to Build An Open Kitchen Cabinet

Friends, today I’m sharing How to Build an Open Kitchen Cabinet with no doors made from pine boards for a budget-friendly tiny 1940s beach cottage kitchen renovation.

The beach cottage kitchen is only 84 sq. ft. and I wanted to open the space to create a larger feel for the tiny room.

The existing kitchen cabinet and countertop were only 79 inches long. Therefore, an open kitchen cabinet with no doors would be a budget friendly option.

Warning Note: Disclaimer: We are not professional cabinet builders. These instructions are our amateur attempt at saving money by building our kitchen cabinet. The cabinet feels very sturdy. However, it may need to be built to building codes in your area. If you are involved in a kitchen renovation, you should check with your city or county building codes before attempting a project of this nature.

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1940’s Beach Cottage Kitchen Before

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Materials for an Open Kitchen Cabinet

We decided to use simple pine boards to build the new kitchen cabinet on a limited budget.

We initially used 2-inch thick pine boards when we built our DIY Kitchen Island for our farmhouse and loved the durability of the wooden top.

We purchased a combination of 2-inch thick pine boards in various widths for this project.

To construct the countertop, we used a combination of two 10-inch and one 8-inch wide board to make the countertop the appropriate depth.

Next, the legs and shelving support boards were made from basic 2 x 4 boards. Each end leg had two adjoining boards, and the two center legs were just one board each.

Then one board, the depth of the cabinet, was attached to each leg and to the back wall to serve as shelving support.

In addition, we used four 12-inch wide boards for the shelving to be placed under the countertop. There were two boards for each shelf, which were not connected. They were placed side by side and rested on the support 2 x 4 board.

Finally, you will need three 2 x 3 boards the length of your open cabinet, which will be attached to the back wall for the cabinet side shelving support boards to be attached to.

Wood screws and 2-inch L brackets were used to assemble the legs and secure the cabinet to the floor.

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Additional Tools and Materials for Assembly

• Miter Saw
• Biscuit Joiner
• Joining Biscuits
• Clamps
• Rotary Tool by Ryobi
• Ryobi Cordless Drill
• Ryobi Cordless Jig Saw
• Screws for wood
• L brackets
• Glue for wood
• Wood Filler
• Gray Stain
• Pine Stain
• Food Grade Matt Sealer
• 220 grit sanding block
• Safety glasses
• Ear Protection

How to Assemble the Open Kitchen Cabinet

My husband assembled most of the components for the Open Kitchen Cabinet in his workshop at home because the beach cottage has minimal space.

To begin, he assembled the 79-inch wooden countertop. He used a biscuit joiner, wooden biscuits, wood glue, and clamps to connect the 10 and 8-inch boards.

In addition, we stained all the pieces before transporting them to the beach. I wanted an old wood feel, so we used this technique to make the wood look like reclaimed barn wood.

We had carefully measured the space for the cabinet on our last beach trip, which allowed most of the construction to take place off-site.

We built the cabinet with four front legs and a countertop with two lower shelves.

All pieces were assembled and ready to install once we transported them to the beach cottage.

Installation begins

You can see more details if you missed the sneak peek of the kitchen renovation.

Here is a little recap to get you caught up. As you can see, at the point of installation, the windows, walls, and flooring had already been replaced.

In addition, we had painted the walls and trim work before we installed the open kitchen cabinet.

We couldn’t assemble the back support pieces before arriving at the beach cottage.

Instead of building back legs, we directly attached the side support pieces to the wall via three 2 x 3 support boards. We temporally put the two end-leg pieces in position to ensure they’re correctly placed.

The shelving support side pieces rest upon the support beams and are attached securely with L brackets screwed into both pieces.

Sink Installation

Brad cut the countertop using a Ryobi Cordless Jig Saw to install the farmhouse-style stainless steel apron front sink. It was a simple process to follow the template provided with the sink.

We then installed the sink following the simple manufacturer’s instructions. We choose a budget-minded sink from Amazon.

Next, the countertop was secured to the support legs with wood screws. The screws were counter-sunk, and the Ryobi rotary tool was used to smooth the ruffed edges.

Then the holes were filled using wood filler and sanded smooth with a 220-grit sanding block when the wood filler was dry.

Finally, a touch of stain was added to conceal the holes.

Secure Cabinet in place

To secure the cabinet to the floor, 2 Inch long L brackets were attached to the backside of each leg and the floor.

Once all the legs were attached, we had to adjust the shelving. We didn’t realize how close the sink would be to the shelf, so we cut a section from the middle of the shelving to allow for the sink.

In addition, some adjustments to the lower shelves were made to allow for the plumbing pipes.

Faucet Installation

After drilling a hole in the countertop for the Pfister Faucet, it was easily installed within approx. 5 minutes.

Finally, the new Open Kitchen Cabinet with no doors was almost finished.

The final step was the seal the cabinet countertop with a food-grade sealer.

You can begin by applying a thin coat of sealer with a sponge roller. Then lightly sand with 220 grit sanding block once it is dry.

Then apply a second light coat, and a third coat may be applied within the next few weeks.

Be extra careful to apply a good coat of the sealer around the edge of the sink, up against the sealant applied to the sink during installation.

You may also want to reapply the sealer approx. once a year if needed.

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Open Kitchen Cabinet No Doors

The new open kitchen cabinet with no doors makes the room feel much larger, and I love seeing all the bowls and kitchen tools. The white backdrop makes everything very visible and easy to find.

Since the cottage is for vacation purposes only, minimal kitchen supplies are needed, and the open cabinet is a perfect choice.

In addition, if you missed the kitchen’s faucet installation and in-process demo, you can see it here.

I’m beginning to start decorating and have added a few touches already. I added the rug by Boutique Rugs, and these Copper Measuring Scoops are so fun.

Don’t miss How To Decorate with Open Shelves and Ideas for Decorating Above Kitchen Cabinets for more kitchen decorating ideas.

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We also transformed the wall across from the new kitchen cabinet, and I will reveal that area soon.

More Kitchen Ideas

Looking for more Kitchen inspiration? Here are some other articles you may enjoy.

• How To Decorate Above Kitchen Cabinets
• 11 Ways To Add Vintage Charm To a Modern Farmhouse
• Christmas Ideas for a Farmhouse Kitchen
• Best Modern Farmhouse Kitchen Ideas
• How To Add Open Shelving
• How To Build A Kitchen Island

More Beach Cottage Remodeling Ideas

Links To Beach Cottage Renovation and DIY Projects

• Tiny House Ideas for Beach Cottage Before & After
• 7 Creative Small Bedroom Ideas
• How To Add A Wood Accent Wall
• How To Build An Open Kitchen Cabinet
• Thrifted Coastal Farmhouse Decor on a Budget
• How to Make A DIY Nautical Mirror
• How To Use Wall Stencil To Create Faux Wallpaper
• Budget-Friendly Small Bathroom Remodel for under $500
• Clever Ways To Add Lighting Without Wiring

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I look forward to sharing more adventures with you soon.

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