The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California

Built In Cabinets And Storage Walls

Kitchen Divider

MANY MODERN HOUSES AND APARTMENTS ARE BEING BUILT WITHOUT A PARTITION BETWEEN THE KITCHEN AND DINING AREAS. A ROOM DIVIDER SUCH AS THIS NOT ONLY AVOIDS THE feeling of always eating in the kitchen, but also provides a pass-through with working surface and storage cupboards. The swing-out table makes a cantilever board in either the kitchen or the dining area. It will seat three for breakfast or lunch, or give additional worktable space. The length of six feet shown in the drawings will suit most house plans, but it can be expanded or contracted to fit any layout.

Plywood can be used throughout, or it can be combined with solid lumber. The large parts such as the ends of both the upper and lower sections, as well as the tops and bottoms, are easiest made of plywood as no gluing up is necessary; but for other parts such as the base, the slotted sides, bearing members and lamp skirting, solid lumber might be indicated.

The sliding panels in the base can be of plywood to match the rest of the cabinet, or they can be of solid or perforated hardboard if they are to be painted. Unless the top is expected to get very severe usage, wood alone protected by good varnish will make a durable and attractive surface. Otherwise linoleum, Micarta, Formica or other laminated plastic can be used.

Use glue and 2" No. 8 flathead screws rather than nails in fastening the parts of the upper section, for if a considerable weight is loaded on the bottom, nails might not prove sufficient. Glue and nail the ends to the top and bottom and finally glue and nail the side members into their rabbets. Plane off the edges of the side members flush with the top and bottom of the ends. Install channels for the sliding doors. The sliding panels themselves can be the same as those for the base or they can be of corrugated, translucent Fiberglas, which comes in many colors and has the advantage of suggesting the contents. The corrugations provide finger grips.