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

Built In Cabinets And Storage Walls

This is for a door about 30" wide, and this stacked thickness, of course, must be subtracted from the clear opening. As in the sliding door, the back is not available for additional accessories. These doors come in different sizes. Intermediate variations can be accomplished by cutting off at the bottom. All of the hardware, including latches, is included with the doors. They come in many natural woods and painted and fabric finishes.

UNIT DEPTH IS IMPORTANT. Shelf depth is not flexible so this dimension should be carefully considered in your design. Don't guess at the sizes of articles to be stored. Measure them. If you want to provide accommodation for equipment that you may buy in the future, there are two pages of measured drawings showing the sizes of things from automatic toasters to zippered clothing bags. Shelves that are too deep waste space and articles that fall in the back can remain "lost" for a long time. Shelves that are too narrow can hold articles that might extend beyond them, but doors cannot be used to enclose them.

PULL-OUT SHELVES USEFUL. A pull-out shelf at counter height — 30" from the floor — is a very convenient accessory that might be considered for addition to certain types of built-ins. In the kitchen it can be used to hold the mixing bowl and other articles while measuring out ingredients. In book stacks it can be used for resting a book being used for reference. In the entertainment room it might hold an album of records while you are playing the phonograph. The width of the shelf can be variable, but about one-quarter to one-third of the shelf should be used to provide cantilever support and there should be a stop to prevent the shelf from being pulled out too far.