Vintage Kitchen – Reconfiguring the Cabinets – Week 2

It is Week 2 of the One Room Challenge and I am excited to show you my progress. If you missed Week 1, you can find it here…Vintage Kitchen ORC – Week 1.

So ya’ll may not think this is the most exciting post, but I’ve been dreaming about the day I could move my microwave from above my cooktop for YEARS!!! I know it is convenient, cost effective, space saving, and whatever to put the microwave above the cooktop. However, I always hated the fact that my microwave seemed to be the focal point in my kitchen. Does anybody else feel this way??

Since I’d been thinking about this for quite some time, I knew the perfect place to put it…above the double ovens.

In order to do that, I would have to reconfigure the cabinets. Which meant:

• Removing the drawer below the ovens(not shown in picture)
• Changing the shelf above the ovens to fit the new microwave
• Adding an electrical outlet for the new microwave
• Shortening the old cabinet doors

No big deal right?! Let me show you how I did it.

STEP 1: Demo

The first thing I needed to do was remove the double ovens and the lower drawer. I also needed to carefully remove the face frame because I planned to reuse it.

The lower and upper shelves came out easily with my favorite oscillating saw. And the electrician installed a new outlet for the microwave. He had to cut a bunch of holes in the drywall to run the wires.

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Step 2: Rebuild

After getting the measurements for my new ovens and microwave, I rebuilt the shelves(melamine) according to the manufacturers specifications. Then I shortened the old face frame to the new dimensions and reinstalled it. And I the cabinet was finally ready for the ovens to be installed.

Note: Without the bottom drawer, the new ovens are about 8 inches lower than the old ovens. This adjustment made it possible to install the new microwave at a convenient height.

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Finally, I built a new shelf(melamine) and face frame for the microwave(MDF). I knew I was going to paint the cabinets, so I didn’t need to use real wood for the frame. And Ta-Da…my microwave is no longer above my cooktop. Hooray!!!!

STEP 3: Shortening the cabinet doors

The last piece of this cabinet reconfiguration called for shortening the cabinet doors that will go above the new microwave.

After figuring out my sizing, I found the middle of the cabinet(dashed line) and then marked the amount of cabinet(solid lines) that I would need to remove with my miter saw.

Then I used a pocket hole jig, wood glue, and a couple of clamps to attach the two sides of my new cabinet door. When it was time to paint the doors, I filled the holes and cut line with some wood filler and sanded them smooth. Now you would never know they were once two pieces.

Well I was hoping to show you a finished picture of the new microwave and ovens, but the knobs and pulls have yet to arrive…and the picture would just look incomplete without the cabinet doors on. So this picture of me without my old ugly microwave will have to suffice. See you next week!