Building drawers for the kitchen

January 7, 2023

After successfully completing the bathroom, I turned my attention back to the kitchen, where I aimed to create drawers that were not only appealing but also well-ventilated and lightweight. During my search for materials, I came across Vienna straw matting, which seemed like the perfect choice for the drawer fronts due to its blend of style and durability.

Every project begins with a plan. I started by sketching out the design for the kitchen drawers to ensure everything would fit well.

Initial sketch for the drawers in the kitchen

It was freezing cold outside, which made working in an unheated workshop challenging.

Freezing temperatures

To prevent the glue from freezing, I had to assemble the wooden pieces of the drawers inside the cabin of my truck. Thanks to the wood stove and the cabin’s good insulation, it provided perfect conditions for gluing the pieces together.

Gluing drawer boxes together inside the warm cabin

With the boxes glued, I prepared the drawer fronts,

Preparing the drawer front pieces.

and chiseled out the necessary cutouts for the locks.

Chiseling out the cutouts for the drawer locks

I then attached Vienna straw matting to the front covers of the drawers.

Attaching the Vienna straw matting

This material was ideal for adding a touch of elegance to the front panels and ensuring proper ventilation, while the rest of the drawer was made from birch plywood and spruce wood, providing both strength and lightness.

Drawer parts ready to be assembled and installed

With everything ready, I installed the drawers.

Drawer boxes with assembled front covers

Finally, the drawers were finished by installing pull-locks to ensure they don’t open while driving.

Finished drawers with installed locks

The new kitchen drawers, featuring Vienna straw matting on the front covers turned out both functional and stylish. I was quite happy with the outcome of the project and really liked the design.