How to Make a Stand for Kitchen Dishes

Sketch out the stand in advance using graph paper to keep the sketch to scale. Measure the dimensions of the space where you will display or hang your stand. Measure the diameter of the dishes you will put in your stand and make the shelves of the stand at least that height plus a half-inch or so. Indicate the location of wooden dowels 4 1/2 inches above each shelf.

Cut two 1-by-4 wooden boards to the height that you want your stand minus 2 inches. These are the two sides of the frame. Cut another 1-by-4 to the width you want your stand. This is the bottom frame piece. Cut another 1-by-4 board to the width you want your stand plus 2 inches. This is the top of the frame. Cut one or more additional boards to the width you want your stand minus 2 inches. These are the shelf pieces. The number of shelf pieces you need depends on the overall height of the finished stand and the size of the dishes you want to display. Cut 3/8-inch wooden dowels to the shelf length plus 3/4 inches. The number of dowels is the number of shelves plus one for the bottom frame piece.

Begin 4 1/2 inches from one end of the bottom frame piece on one of the 4-inch faces. Carve a 1/4-inch groove with a router down the length of one side and stop 4 1/2 inches from the other end. Locate the groove 1 1/4 inches from the edge. Carve a groove in each of the shelf pieces using the same specifications. The edges of the dishes will rest in these grooves. The edge nearest the groove is the front of each shelf.

Saw a piece of quarter-round trim molding for each groove the same length as the groove. These are retaining strips for the dishes. Nail a retaining strip every few inches with 3/4–inch brads to each shelf so that the exposed flat edge of the strip is flush with the front edge of the groove. The strip will be between the groove and the front edge of the shelf.

Clamp the side pieces of the frame together with the ends even. Mark them with the locations of the shelves and dowels. Drill three evenly spaced pilot holes through both boards at the places where the shelves will be. Unclamp the side pieces. Screw one end of each shelf piece to one of the side pieces using the pilot holes. The groove in each shelf must be on top and toward the front of the stand.

Drill a hole 3/8 inches deep on the side pieces where the dowels will go. The holes should be close to the inside front edges of the boards. Dab some wood glue in each hole on the side piece with the shelves attached and insert a wooden dowel.

Attach the second side piece to the shelves and dowels. Drill pilot holes and attach the bottom frame piece to the bottom of the side pieces with two evenly spaced 6d nails on each end. Keep the groove on top of the bottom frame piece, which becomes the lowest shelf. Center the top frame piece on the top of the side pieces, drill pilot holes and attach it with two nails on each side.

Saw a piece of plywood or MDF to the outer dimensions of the stand. Drill pilot holes and nail it to the back of the stand every 6 inches around the frame.

Prime and paint the stand. Let it dry. Attach it to the wall.