Hi Leslie,

Built-in dishwashers don't have finished sides and also won't support the countertop, so you will need to have a panel of some sort between DW and stove. It doesn't have to be the panel that's there now, though. Standard dishwashers are built for a 24" opening. What is the horizontal dimension between the left end of the counter and the vertical frame piece between the 2 drawers? The end panel should be something like 3/4". So, where (in relation to the verical stile) does 24 3/4" from the end of the counter fall?

The panel there now is 3/4" finished plywood, so it makes sense to just leave that in place. But 24" from the inside of that (or 24 3/4" from the outside) puts me just about 3/4" from the edge of the door of the next cabinet -- just enough room for the hinges to be mounted.

Is that cutting it too close? It would work out ok from the inside - I could move the dividing panel so that it's basically flush with the cabinet opening, which is actually how it is for the cabinet I'm taking out (instead of being centered between them). But I'm in trouble if that's too close for some reason.

If that could work to cut at that location, what's the best tool/process to use to try and get the cleanest/straightest cut possible, if we have to leave that piece in place to cut it? I'm willing to buy something new if I don't have it (any excuse for more and better power tools!). From what I see of the joins, it's not likely that I'll be able to remove the piece without dismantling everything which kind of defeats the purpuse of trying to leave these custom cabinets intact. I'll post a pic of those joins if it will make sense to anyone to help me figure out if I can just take out this center piece to cut it, then put it back in place.

I'm hoping I can figure out how to get this to work under the existing counter. In terms of just the cabinets, I have room to expand out because the stove can be moved over a bit, but then I'd have to replace the couner, and I'm REALLY not wanting to do that (and re-install the sink, etc.) unless absolutely necessary, especially for lack of an extra 1/2" or so.

It sounds doable. A couple of interior pics would be helpful, since the ways such cabinets are built can vary. Also, what cutting tools do you have at your disposal -- router, cirular saw, reciprocating saw (Sawzall)?

Also, can you tell how the interior divider is attatched? Is it sitting on the bottom of the cabinets or are the cabinet bottoms attatched to the sides of the vertical pieces? Can you see nail holes or pocket screws that attatch the face frame members together?

You asked: "what cutting tools do you have at your disposal -- router, cirular saw, reciprocating saw (Sawzall)?"

Don't have a router but I would be able to borrow one if that's my best option. I do have a large circular saw, and I would love the excuse to get a small one if that would be a better choice. I'd also totally go for buying a sawzall if that's my best choice. Basically if you can give me an idea as to what is my best option, I'll make it happen.

Here are the pics I just took. As you can see, we've repainted the cabinets since the first pics were taken. Also I didn't realize until I took these pics just how much dust and sawdust ended up in the cabinets from the big bathroom remodel we just did (shared wall and back of cabinets is not closed).

Here is a front view just for orientation. The cut would need to go between the two sets of hinges, close to the outer edge of the right hinges:

{{!gwi}}

There is one solid piece of wood that goes horizontally across the top - you can see the line marking the bottom of that strip at just about the top of the drawer. Then the vertical piece between the two cabinets, where the hinges are located, is one solid piece down to the "floor" of the cabinets. Finally, there is another horizontal piece, which is mounted so that top of that piece is even with the "floor" of the cabinets.

This next picture shows the detail of the inside of the cabinet we're removing:

{{!gwi}}

It appears as if the floor of the cabinets are one solid piece of plywood, and the wall between them is just one piece of plywood that is sitting on the floor/bottom. I can't see any screws/nails, but if I reach under the cabinets where that piece is located, I can feel what is probably a screw. I'm kinda presuming that I'll not be able to get this out without destroying it, so I'm prepared to put in a new "wall" here.

It's not super clear in the pic (my camera doesn't take the best closeup) but there is an angled groove in the bottom front piece to either side of the verticle dividing piece. I know NOTHING of cabinetmaking, so I presume that's a chanel of some sort for some kind of connector (screw, whatever).

Just for reference, here is the same basic area but from the opposite direction -- looking at it from the side of the cabinet that we'll be keeping (under the sink).

{{!gwi}}

Note that the board that divides the two cabinets is even with the one that we're taking out, and so will definitely be lost (or need to be moved) when we cut that cabinet out.

I'm not clear on something. Why are you planning to take out the divider between the cabinets?

Are you planning to replace the counter top? If so, the best solution would be to remove the end cabinet, leaving the divider wall intact and build a supporting wall for the DW leaving 24 inches of open space. The end wall of the run, past the DW, in addition to supporting the counters is part of the DW sound barrier.

The frame and wall between the cabinets is a big part of the structure of the next cabinet. It would not be simple to move it over a bit. In addition, you need the full width of the upright for esthetic reasons. It will also look best if you use a frame piece on the front of the DW support panel that is of equal width.

As for the deconstruction: Try to take out as many nails and screws as you can before cutting. A sawsall type saw will allow you to make cuts flush to the cabinet wall. A circular saw won't do that. Also, sawsall type blades are a lot cheaper to replace if you saw through a nail or screw.

Tanama, I was out of town for the weekend. To some degree you're going to have to feel your way through this one. For splitting that stile neatly I'd probably use a circular saw with a sharp blade and simple jig to guide it. This will cut cleanly, but will not make it all the way to the top because of the counter overhang. For the last few inches you can use a sawzall or a small hand saw, cutting slightly left of the line and cleaning up afterwards with hand tools -- chisels, files, or sandpaper depending on your proficiencies. It may be impossible to just leave the panel between DW & stove in place because it's almost certainly attatched to and supported by pieces of structure that you will be removing; you will very likely have to take it out and then devise a new way of attatching it. It's the nature of this kind of work that you don't get to know ahead of time exactly how it will go. Do your best to avoid cutting through metal fasteners. Protect the paint as best you can. Cut conservatively and, if you screw up, fix it. Watch your fingers, and enjoy the learning curve.