Introduction
Create an attractive display shelf for the empty space above your kitchen cabinets. This project requires only basic carpentry skills, and you can build it in a day.Project overview
If you have empty space above your kitchen cabinets, you already know how difficult it is to keep it clean. And if you’ve ever tried to display anything above them, you also know the surface isn’t flat, so objects sink out of view. Why not solve both problems with an attractive display shelf you can easily build in a day?
This project only requires basic carpentry tools and skills. Even the miter joints can be cut with a simple handsaw miter box. We used an 18-gauge finish nailer to make the job go faster, but you can just as easily predrill and hand-nail. And don’t worry about trying to match your cabinet’s finish or wood type. The shelf will look great if you paint it to match another accent color in the room.
Figure A: Shelf details
Cutting List
A 3/4′ x 1-1/4′ board cut 1-1/2′ shorter than the cabinet face width
B 3/4′ x 1-1/4′ board cut the same as cabinet depth
C 3/4′ plywood cut 3′ longer than the cabinet face width and 1-1/2′ deeper than the cabinet depth
D 1/4′ x 3/4′ molding cut and mitered to cover exposed plywood
E Filler piece to fill void between the face frame and the wall
F 2-1/4′ crown molding cut and mitered to fit over cabinet face and under shelf
