Melanie Heinrich Artist
Melanie Heinrich, Artist
Furniture Designs

Cupboard

I spent several months looking for the perfectly sized cupboard or dresser to use in the sun room. I could find nothing, so out of necessity I designed this cupboard. I was looking for a simple design like an old-fashioned jelly cupboard (like the one below left). These cupboards would be used in the kitchen to hold jams or pies. They were short, only around 5 feet tall.

The cupboard that I designed is 7 feet tall, allowing it to hold a great deal more. Since I had high ceilings in the room I was putting it into, I was not constrained when building a bigger cupboard. I built it out of poplar wood and used antique hinges and latches for the hardware. In order to conserve space at the sides, I did not add the large crown molding but instead chose to router my own more simple design to embellish the top. The entire piece was put together using biscuits.

I have included images of my construction process below.

I built the sides first, joining two 12-inch by 7-foot-long pieces of poplar. I added the braces for the shelving. This gave me a stronger connection between the two boards as well as support for the shelves. The fascia for the cupboard was created next. I made specially shaped cuts on the bottom of the sides and the front to give the appearance of feet.

Using long clamps, I glued the cupboard together using biscuits. Squaring the piece is critical, especially when you have a door that has to close properly. I am sure to make straight and parallel cuts before putting anything together.

 

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