How to Build Corner Kitchen Cabinets

House One editor and DIY expert Jenn Largesse builds and installs corner kitchen cabinets during a full kitchen renovation.

by Jenn Largesse, This Old House DIY Expert & Editor, House One

Skill

Moderate

Cost

$45

Estimated Label

3 Hours

We’re in the middle of a kitchen remodel, and one detail I can’t wait to add is a corner shelf at the end of our existing upper cabinets. By extending the countertop, we’ll be able to include an overhang for seating and extend our upper cabinets up to the ceiling. So it’s the perfect time to add some visual interest to this area to create a more custom look.

The cabinet will consist of two boards that will make up the back walls. I’ll rip their front edges at 45 degrees to set against the face frame, which will have outside edges also ripped at 45 degrees to set against the existing cabinet and wall. Lastly, I’ll add some shelves and cap their front edge to finish the look before I add crown molding to all the new upper cabinets.

Steps for Building Corner Kitchen Cabinets

Corner Cabinet Illustration — Just remember that the back wall will be ¾ inch short than the side wall so it can butt up against it and still create the triangle. I use a little wider board for the upright stiles and then mirrored my other cabinets with 1×2 rails across the bottom and shelves. At the top I ended up using a wider board to again mirror my other cabinets and give myself a nailer for the crown molding. | Jenn Largesse

The first step was to rip and cut all the boards with a table saw.
Note: You could also do this with a circular saw with the bevel set to 45 degrees, but it would be a more challenging cut.
Next, I drilled pocket holes along the edge of the back wall using glue and pocket hole screws to connect it to the side wall.
Then, I glued and positioned the shelves, first tacking them in place with a nailer and then screwing through the backboards and into their edges for added strength.
Once I repeated the above steps with the rest of the shelves, it was time to screw the face frame together. I like to do with pocket-hole-joinery so the joints don’t separate as the wood expands and contracts.
When it was time for installation, I padded out the side of my existing cabinet with ¼-inch plywood, so the side was flush with the edge of the face frame.
Next, I screwed through the corner shelf walls and into the cabinet and studs in the wall. From there, I installed the face frame with glue and finish nails.
After installing the crown molding, the entire kitchen was ready for a fresh coat of paint and a few decorative elements.

Materials

Tools

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