Kitchen Cabinet Organizers – DIY Pots and Pans Storage

Let me tell ya, I searched long and hard for ideas for kitchen cabinet organization ideas when I was putting the kitchen island together. The island is 5′ wide and 23″ deep, so it added a lot of cabinet space to the kitchen and I wanted to use it all as efficiently as possible. We used to have a pots and pans drawer in our previous house and liked the convenience. After installing the Rev-a-Shelf garbage and recycling pullout  in one side of the island, I figured I could rig up something similar for the pots & pans on the other side. There are a ton of pots and pans storage drawers, but you usually have to open the cabinet door all the way before extending the drawer.

No more!

With this DIY Pots and Pans Storage solution, the bottom drawer is attached directly to the cabinet door for quick, easy access. And the lids  just hang out in their own drawer right on top!

I think it’s one of my favorite parts of the entire house remodel so far.

 

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Enjoy the free plans!

Tools & Supplies:

• Miter Saw
• Drill
• Kreg Pocket Hole Jig
• 1 1/4″ Pocket Hole Screws
• Clear Polycrylic Spray
• Corner Brackets
• Right Angle Corner Brace (or find them at Home Depot)
• 2 Pairs of Drawer Slides

 

Lumber:

• 1  |   Half Sheet of 3/4″ Plywood (2′ x 4′)
• 1  |   1 x 4 @ 8′
• 1  |   1 x 6 @ 8′

 

Cuts:

• 2  |   3/4″ Plywood @ 21 1/2″ x 15 1/2″ (drawer bottom)
• 2  |   1 x 4 @ 23″ (lid drawer sides)
• 2  |   1 x 4 @ 15 1/2″ (lid drawer front & back)
• 2  |   1 x 6 @ 23″ (pan drawer sides)
• 2  |   1 x 6 @ 15 1/2″ (pan drawer front & back)

 

 

The following drawer dimensions are set for my cabinet, which is 16 1/2″w x 23″ d. The total dimensions of the drawers are 15 1/2″ w x 23″ d.

To determine the size for your drawers, measure the cabinet opening and depth. You can build the drawer to the full depth of the cabinet (minus the face frame), or as short as you want. For width: subtract 1″ from the width of the cabinet opening to account for the width of the drawer slides (double check your drawer slide width just in case).

 

Step 1.

Starting with the lid drawer, attach the drawer back to the sides with 1 1/4″ pocket hole screws and wood glue. Place pocket holes along the back of the drawer to best hide them.

 

 

Step 2.

Insert the 3/4″ drawer bottom into place and attach with 1 1/4″ pocket hole screws and wood glue. I drilled four pocket holes along the bottom of the drawer bottom (two along each side) for a strong joint. You won’t be able to see them when the drawer is installed since they’re along the bottom of the drawer bottom.

 

 

Step 3.

Attach the drawer front with 1 1/4″ pocket hole screws and wood glue. The circles on the drawing mark the position for the pocket holes. Use the same pattern for the back of the drawer in Step 1 to ensure a solid joint.

 

 

Repeat the same process to build the second drawer for pots & pans.

 

Step 4.

Once you’ve built both drawers, sand and finish as desire. I simply sealed them with polycrylic spray in case they come in contact with water … which is known to happen in a kitchen 😉

 

Step 5.

Remove the cabinet door where you’re installing the new pots and pans storage. Install the drawer slides inside the cabinet. Position the drawer slides so that the front of the drawer is flush with the cabinet face frame when you close the drawer.

I placed the bottom drawer juuuuust above the bottom of the cabinet and placed the lid drawer 16″ above the bottom of the cabinet. Adjust as necessary to fit your cabinet, as well as your pots and pans.

After you’ve got the drawers installed and ready to go, it’s time to attach the door.

 

Step 6.

Hold the cabinet door over the new drawers in it’s desired location. Mark the position of the bottom drawer on the cabinet.

Remove the bottom drawer from the cabinet. I found it easiest to lay the cabinet door on the floor and put the drawer in place (according to your marks).

 

 

Attach the long right angle corner brace to the side of the drawer and then to the cabinet.

 

 

Repeat on the other side.

I could only find 4″ braces at Home Depot so I put 2 together to support the drawer and door. You want long enough braces to prevent any torque on the cabinet door when you slide it in and out.

Finally, add small corner brackets along the bottom of the drawer to prevent the cabinet door from pivoting back and forth.

 

 

 

Put the drawer/cabinet door combo back onto the drawer slides and make sure everything is sliding nicely.

Finally, add drawer pull hardware to the door.

 

 

I used Franklin Brass soft iron pulls for all the cabinets and love how the contrast with the blue and wood and whites – not too harsh and not too subtle.

 

 

Please let me know if you have any questions and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible!

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!

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