cut cabinet center stile to allow wide pull-out shelves

12 years ago

Happy New Year! I have seen several photos online of cabinets where the center stile was sawed off, and attached to one of the two doors, thus allowing the installation of a wide pull-out shelf spanning what was previously 2 separate partitions.

I just can't find any pictures of what such a stile conversion looks like with the cabinet doors CLOSED. I would be interested in any opinions on this. Has anyone been disappointed w/the visible gaps? With my cabinet doors closed, there are about 2 inches width of visible stile. Thanks!

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Comments (9)

CEFreeman
12 years ago
It's going to depend upon your doors.

If you're going with your original doors, which sound like a standard overlay (means you can see the rails and stiles around your doors) you will probably have to attach that center piece to one of the doors to block the space. It'd look pretty bad, IMHO, if you just had them hanging there, not meeting.

If you get new doors, full overlay, butt doors, you won't see the space. It's less expensive to buy doors than it is to buy whole new cabinets.

I recently asked people who have the butt doors if they can see in the spaces. The answer was no.

I am considering removing some of those center pieces myself. I dislike the constriction of access. But my evil plan is to buy some doors from the Door Stop that I really, really like.

We'll see! :)
Christine
macybaby
12 years ago
one way to deal with this is to put the center stile peice attached to one of the doors, so when closed it sort of looks like the stile is still there.

You do have to open the overlap door before the other one, but since you'd need to open both before you slide out the shelves, that is not a big deal.

My bathroom cabinet is done this way, but the gap is very narrow as we planned it that way when we made the doors.

This picture does not show the gap well, but I'm at work so can't go take one.
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CEFreeman
12 years ago
Since I don't want the removed piece attached to a door, and I plan to buy doors someday, anyway, I posted in the Woodworking forum asking about shelf strength.

There's a "sag" factor I didn't want to fail.

I asked what wood and thickness would prevent them from failing or dipping.

The response was clear and do-able, as usual.
3/4" maple or pine shelves are the strongest. Create a cleat (or support) at the back of the shelf, and perhaps supports on the inside of the face frame.

So now I'm gonna cut those babies out and start sanding, priming and painting! :)

Macybaby! Love your bathroom. :)
Christine
carybk
12 years ago
Total newbie question-- the cabinets don't need the center stile for structural strength?
Christina Lawrence
6 years ago
Center stiles were originally created because homeowners didn't like the space left between two doors when they were shut. There is always a little gap necessary to allow the doors to shut properly. Also, it's cheaper to build the cabinets as doors are usually made of thicker wood with details and cost more to manufacture. Bottom line, is they are not there for structural strength.
PRO
Anglophilia
6 years ago
In some RTA cabinets, it IS there for structural strength and to hold up the shelf. Ask me how I know this...
Maria Millas
last year
Want to cut the centre stile in my bathroom vanity but am worried it will sag. What do I do to prevent this?
millworkman
last year
" What do I do to prevent this? "

Do not cut it, it is there for a reason typically. Post up a picture and maybe we can offer a different answer.
bry911
last year
last modified: last year
There is typically nothing to sag in a bathroom vanity, as they typically don’t have shelves.

cut cabinet center stile to allow wide pull-out shelves

Comments (9)

CEFreeman

macybaby

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