How to add drawers to open cabinets?

[pirorin]

Hi,

I am a complete DIY beginner, and I would like to add either a shelf or drawers above the first shelf to utilise my cabinet space better.
I had a look at this post https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/t5/How-To/How-to-add-drawers-to-a-kitchen-cabinet/ba-p/166846 but because my cabinet shelving stretches 3 doors, I don't have a side to mount the drawer rails to. 

Could I please get some advice on how I might achieve this?

Thanks

[JacobZ]

Hi @pirorin,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is wonderful to have you with us.
 

Unfortunately, I am not aware of a way that you could install drawers above the existing shelves without a middle divider, so the only way I see that you could do this is to add a middle divider.

This could be done by installing two pieces of melamine. One to sit behind the middle divider underneath the existing shelf, and one that sits behind the middle divider on top of the existing shelf. 

By stacking them in this way, any weight applied to the top divider will be transferred down into the support beneath and down into the base of the cabinet.

They could be attached to the existing shelves and the cabinet top using angle brackets and chipboard screws.

Once these dividers are in place, you can attach drawer slides to them in the same way as in How to add drawers to a kitchen cabinet.

Allow me to tag @Dave-1, @Noyade and @AlanM52 to see if they have any ideas.

Let me know what you think and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob

[Dave-1]

Good Afternoon @pirorin 

I was going along with the same idea as @JacobZ and running into teh same issues.

How about flat drawer slides, mounted underneath? Ive just been looking them up and they are called "Bottom Mount drawer slides"

Instead of the drawer having the slides mounted on the side of the shelves, how about having the drawer slide mount underneath, I am sure I have seen slides that can be mounted flat. So one side screwed into the base of the drawer and one side screwed to the base of the shelf.

Note -

* Make the draws that are on the same side as the hinge of your doors a little smaller in width to accomodate the door potentially being in the way as you slide the draw forward.

Goliath 450mm Bottom Mount Drawer Slide Pair these are mounted on the bottom edge of the drawer. I am not 100% sure if the can be mounted to the floor of the cupboard so Id have a look at them instore just to be sure.

Dave

[AlanM52]

Hi @pirorin,

I have a question, are those corner cavities?

From my perch over here looks like you have three sections; Left door, Right door and Corner cavities.

I propose your only option for shelves/drawers in the first section (Left door) because if you go any further (Right door) you will lose all that cavity space in the corners. With 'DIY beginner' in mind I suggest you do shelves, top and bottom with a side on the right... and continue to use those trays.

BTW: Can you tell me where you got that bottom right expanding tray 🙂

Having said all that if you really want to do the drawer thing cut out the First door shelf and make a freestanding drawer unit that slides in there. Also do some searching and hopefully you will find a drawer flat pack that will fit that opening.

Twenty years ago when did our kitchen.

  

I went for the corner bi-fold doors.

More options:

Heavy-Duty Pull Out Shelf 

Cheers

[pirorin]

@JacobZ @Dave-1 Thank you so much for your replies and expertise, I will borrow a circular saw from a friend to cut the melamine for the dividers.

@AlanM52 Thank you for your comment, I've attached a better photo that shows more of my kitchen bench area to clear up any confusion.

As you can see below the set of 3 doors all share the same cavity, the divider between the doors is just a facade. The corner is in a separate section and has it's own divider. Like you said if I try to add a side wall to the corner I'll lose cavity space so I'm going to leave that one alone.

Thanks for the DIY beginner suggestion! Constructing a drawer from scratch does feel intimidating, so thanks for letting me know that flat pack is an option. I'll have a look to see if there's one that suits my space.

Could I install a shelf in the same way I attach the side wall? E.g. angle brackets and chipboard screws?

I got the expandable pull out shelf from Kmart https://www.kmart.com.au/product/expandable-white-pull-out-cabinet-drawer-43475667/

[AlanM52]

Hi @pirorin,

That's a good illustrated picture.

Re: Could I install a shelf in the same way I attach the side wall.

Yes you can... and you could also use shelf pins.

https://www.bunnings.com.au/search/products?page=1&q=shelf+pins&sort=BoostOrder

Measure, mark and drill the pin holes on one side.

Insert the pins and lay the shelf on top.

Using a spirit level lift the other end of the shelf so it's level and mark the pin holes.

Cheers