Building a Hutch From Stock Cabinets

Dimensions

• Hutch dimensions depend on what you plan on putting inside them. There's no standard, but an average hutch base is about 22 inches deep, 36 inches wide, and between 32 and 36 inches tall. The bottom section typically has two or three doors, or a combination of doors and drawers. The top section usually is about 12 inches deep, with glass doors or no doors at all. The dimensions of stock kitchen cabinets are very similar. Stock kitchen cabinet bases also typically are 22 inches deep, and range anywhere from 18 and 48 inches wide, and between 30 and 36 inches tall. Stock kitchen upper cabinets usually are 12 inches deep, range between 18 and 48 inches wide, and between 24 and 42 inches tall. Assemble almost any combination of the bases and uppers together to build a hutch just about any size you desire.

Base

• Assemble the hutch base using stock cabinets that are all the same width and depth. For a simple hutch, choose a left- and right-side base cabinet and screw them together in the middle. For a more complicated hutch, place a stack of drawers in the middle between the two ends; it's that simple. The style of all three pieces should match. The only thing you need to build yourself is the top. Use a single piece of 3/4-inch hardwood plywood that hangs over the front and both sides of the pieces at least 3/4 inch. Add decorative molding to the front and both sides. Sand, stain and lacquer the top, then screw it to the top of the bases from the inside, and it's ready for the upper cabinets.

Upper Section

• Assemble the upper section like the bases. Use either two or three pieces, with one left- and one right-hand side, with the style being a design the same as the bases. For best results, use upper cabinets no shorter than about 42 inches -- but it's your choice. For a taller hutch, use taller uppers. Stock cabinets are made to screw together this way, and fit each other like a glove. Upper cabinets usually have 1/4-inch hardboard backs on them. Leave them as is, or if you plan on putting glass doors on the hutch, remove the 1/4-inch backs and replace them with finished, 1/4-inch hardwood plywood or mirrors. In most cases, you can remove the backs and glue the mirror to the back of the cabinet using silicone glue. The tops of the upper cabinets will not be finished. Screw 1/4-inch plywood to the tops, or leave it as is. The finishing touch is accomplished by attaching decorative molding around the perimeter at the top. When you finish assembling the top section, place it on top of the base and screw it on from the inside of the base.

Doors

• Glass doors complete the hutch. Most upper cabinets do not have glass doors. This is the only thing that might take a bit more effort to accomplish. When selecting the door style, choose an inset, or shaker-style door. This type of door has a 1/4-inch panel inside a frame. If the panel is installed from the back, then pull out the brads or screws and remove it. Order glass the same size as the panels, and glue the glass into the frame using silicone glue, which is how professionals do it. If the panel won't come out from the back, cut the panel out with a jigsaw, but leave a 1/4-inch lip of the panel inside the frame to support the glass. Glue the glass to the lip using silicone glue. Hang the doors to complete the cabinet-to-hutch conversion.