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Building a Room Divider
click on image to enlarge
An overhanging countertop gives this room divider an added dimension as a convenient dining surface located near the food preparation area of the kitchen. The cabinets on the kitchen side of the room divider also provide accessible storage space for pots, pans, and kitchenware. The open shelves in the upper half of the room divider are ideal for displaying glassware or collectibles.

A room divider, like a partition wall, separates one large room into two usable spaces, each with its own specific function. But unlike a partition wall, a room divider adds storage space to your home, while letting you retain the open feeling of a larger room.

Room dividers commonly are used to separate a large kitchen/dining area into two different "rooms." Adding a pass-through and overhanging countertop, as in the project shown here, creates a casual dining area.

In the design featured here, the room divider is built in two main sections: the base cabinet with countertop, and the upper shelf unit. The two sections are joined by a floor-to-ceiling plywood framework to create one attractive unit.

A room divider lends itself to personal touches, like mounting a wine rack and stemware racks on the underside of the shelf unit to make a convenient dry bar.

 
Everything You Need:
Tools:
stepladder
pencil
level
tape measure
plumb bob
framing square
router with 3/4" straight bit
circular saw or table saw
handscrew clamps
bar clamps
drill and bits
screwdriver
hammer
nail set
putty knife
Materials:
countertop trim
wood glue
finish nails (1", 1 1/4", 2")
power-driver screws (1", 1 1/4", 2", 2 1/2", 3")
shims
3/4" hardwood strips
shelf-edge trim
pin-style shelf supports
finishing materials
door hardware
 
Room Divider Project Details
 
click on image to enlarge

Project as Shown
Key Part Material Pieces Size
A Top and sole plates 2 × 4 4 71 1/4'
B Sole plate cross braces 2 × 4 4 15'
C Outer end panel 3/4' oak plywood 1 95 1/2' x 15'
D Inner end panel 3/4' oak plywood 1 91' × 15'
E Base panels 3/4'oak plywood 3 22' × 14 3/4'
F Cabinet shelves 3/4'oak plywood 3 21 3/4' x 14 3/4'
G Cabinet risers 3/4' oak plywood 6 30' × 14 3/4'
H Cabinet back panel 1/4' oak plywood 1 32' × 70'
I Countertop panels 3/4' oak plywood 2 70 1/2' × 24'
J Shelf unit supports 3/4' oak plywood 2 33' × 15'
K Top, bottom shelf panels 3/4' oak plywood 2 70 1/2' x15'
L Center shelf panel 3/4' oak plywood 1 69 3/4' × 15'
M Shelf unit sides 3/4' oak plywood 2 25 1/2' × 15'
N Shelf unit risers 3/4' oak plywood 5 12 1/2' x 15'
O Face frame rails 1 × 4 oak 33 linear ft.
P Face frame stiles 1 × 2 oak 26 linear ft.
Q Face frame stiles 1 × 3 oak 12 linear ft.
R Overlay doors

click on image to enlarge

Cabinet risers, cut from 3/4" plywood, have holes for pin-style shelf supports drilled at 4" intervals, 2" in from edges of each riser face. Holes start 9" from top and bottom.

click on image to enlarge

Shelf-unit panels, cut from 3/4" plywood, have 3/4"-wide by 3/8"-deep dadoes to hold the shelf risers. The center shelf panel is dadoed on both the top and the bottom faces, and the top and bottom shelf panels are dadoed on one face only.

Next Steps and Related Projects:
 
 
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