Storage Ideas
Install a Recessed Cabinet


BLACK+DECKER B+D Contributor 189 Projects
If you’ve got a recessed wall area that you’re not sure how to use, then a built-in cabinet might be a perfect fit. For example, the set-back space created on one or both sides of a bumped-out fireplace is a perfect spot to install a built-in bookshelf or cabinet.
Building a recessed cabinet is very similar to building a freestanding cabinet. The key difference is that a recessed cabinet must fit perfectly between the side walls. The easiest way to make a cabinet that will fit is to make a basic interior cabinet case that’s slightly smaller than the available space and then build a face frame and top cover that will cover the edges of the cabinet and fit snuggly against the walls. The secret to achieving a perfect fit is to make the face frame and top slightly oversized and then scribe them to fit against the walls.
You can build a recessed cabinet with or without doors. in the version seen here, glass panel doors were built, but you can also use solid, natural wood veneer or painted plywood panels to conceal the cabinet interior. it is important to purchase tempered glass when you are building glass panel doors. Tempered glass is treated with heat so that if it is broken, it will shatter into small pieces that are less likely to cause serious cuts. it’s also stronger. You can’t cut it yourself, so be sure to get the size correct when you order it cut-to-fit.
Building this cabinet requires intermediate woodworking skills and a few woodworking power tools, including a table saw, miter saw, and router table.