[stacylu]

After many requests I've finally guilted DH into sitting down and helping me write our HowTo on our broom closet. It was completely designed by him after seeing these pictures



along with jsgearls's take on it.


I built the broom cabinet around 2 Ikea pieces, cover panels (2- 24x88) and a plinth as the “door” and trim. The rest is all pieces of wood from other sources. The total width is 5-1/4" due to the two coverpanels. The "door" is 4"

Cabinet Frame:
I used a 2x4, a 1x2 and some sheetrock shims to create a base 21-7/8” deep. The base is 1/16” wider on both sides than the piece of plinth. The same sandwiched configuration was used to create the top and the back of the cabinet structure.



The 2 cover panels were screwed directly this U shaped cabinet base. This leaves you with a 5 sided box with about a 4” opening in front (Plinth width). ((Don’t screw in one of the cover panels until you’ve attached the drawer glides.))

** Optional step
I took plinth and “lined” the U shaped 2x4 sandwiched pieces so that the Adel MB shows instead of 2x4 wood. I did this before attaching the cover panels to the sides. You can see the "lining" in this photo



The Pullout Door

• 5-22” Drawer glides purchased from Lee Valley
• 22-1/16” wide x 83” piece of silver finished pegboard
• 22-1/16” wide x 83” piece of wood grained paneling (1/8” thick)

An Oak frame was created for stability – 22-1/16” wide and 83” tall rectangle with 4 cross braces, each 19” made from 3/4” x 1.5” oak (1x2)
Mount the silver pegboard to the oak frame, predrilling the oak to avoid any splitting. Mount a piece of 2-1/2 x ¾” oak to the front edge of the door to create a mounting point for the plinth door front. In the picture below, you can see the screws mounted to the 4 cross braces as well as the piece of oak for the door cover.



Then mount the wood paneling to the back followed by the drawer glides mounted first to the door, taking precaution to make sure everything is lined up exactly. Then mount to the cabinet frame. We put one drawer glide at the top to help stabilize it and four on the back of the wood grain paneling. Attach the cover panel and rock the door into place on the drawer glides


I've created an Album in the Galleries with all the pictures we have of the process and I'm sure there will be questions but at least we have a start!

	DH definition DH usually means Dear Husband (or, pick your own adjective starting with D).

[zomigi]

I love this and am trying to find a way to include it in my plan. But I'm not sure how much space I need to allow for it. Do the widths of the two cover panels mentioned need to be added on to the 4" door width (so, 5 1/4", right?), or are they behind the door and thus the total width is only 4"? Or is it something else entirely? I'm sorry that I can't tell from your pictures or description -- I'm not a handy person. Thanks in advance for your help!

[stacylu]

Yes - you need to add the width of the 2 cover panels to the 4" plinth width - so total space needed is 5-1/4". The cover panels cover the edges of the plinth when the door is closed.

[livinwell]

I did a search earlier and found your broom closet and kept looking at it for reference. It is exactly what I am looking for to fill a small amount of unused space in my plan. I knew there had to be someone who though about just a little cubby. Thanks for nudging DH to post the details. Thank him for us.

	DH definition DH usually means Dear Husband (or, pick your own adjective starting with D).

[zomigi]

Thanks stacylu! I understand where the cover panels go now. So I guess the drawer glides are screwed on to one of them as well?

[stacylu]

Originally Posted by zomigi

Thanks stacylu! I understand where the cover panels go now. So I guess the drawer glides are screwed on to one of them as well?

Yep - here you can see the door pulled out and the back of the coverpanel with the drawer glides attached.

[kmcg]

Folks, take it from one who has seen it in person, stacylu's broom closet is one of the coolest things ever! Her DH is soooo clever!

Kathy

	DH definition DH usually means Dear Husband (or, pick your own adjective starting with D).

[zomigi]

Ah ha! I think I am finally figuring out how it goes together. Thanks again! P.S. Love the pegboard too!

[cbinkowski]

My broom closet is going to have a wall on one side and the refridge on the other side, so do I need to use cover panels, since they are 99.00 a piece, or can I just use plywood and do edgebanding on the side?

[stacylu]

You can definitely use plywood with edgebanding. It's entirely up to you!