How to build pistachio wine cabinet — twelve bottles and accessory drawer

Cut list

Step by step

1. Shape dados and miters

   Shape the shelf housings, trim miters and knob mounting recess before assembly.

   • Clamp each side flat to a sacrificial work surface.
   • Route four 3/4"-wide dados, each 1/4" deep, against a clamped guide.
   • Miter the marked top edging and plinth corners at 45°.
   • Drill the 3/16" knob hole against a backing block.
   • Route the 1/4"-deep knob screw recess with a clamped template.

2. Prepare the black interior

   Sand and precoat the interior while keeping every glue surface bare.

   • Sand the faces and exposed drawer edges with 180-grit paper.
   • Mask dados, divider contacts and other glue surfaces.
   • Prime the interior faces.
   • Brush black enamel onto the exposed interior faces.
   • Allow the coating to cure before assembly.

3. Attach the top cleats

   Attach the top fixing cleats while the side panels are still accessible.

   • Clamp each cleat flush with its side panel's upper edge.
   • Set the cleats 3/4" behind the cabinet front.
   • Drill clearance holes through the cleats and pilots into the sides.
   • Drive three 2" screws through each cleat.

4. Glue the cabinet carcass

   Glue the four housed shelves and the two plinth rails between the sides.

   • Dry-fit all four shelves into their matching dados.
   • Spread glue on the bare shelf housings and plinth rail contacts.
   • Seat the front and rear plinth rails beneath the bottom shelf.
   • Clamp the sides across the shelves.
   • Square the carcass using equal diagonal measurements.
   • Leave the assembly clamped for the glue's stated cure time.

5. Square and secure the back

   Use the full back to retain the cabinet's square shape.

   • Place the cabinet face down on padded supports.
   • Align the back flush with the side edges.
   • Check both diagonals before fastening.
   • Drill pilot holes at the marked side and shelf centers.
   • Drive the twenty 1" back screws.

6. Install twelve bottle cubbies

   Glue three dividers into each of the three bottle rows.

   • Place 4" spacer blocks beside each divider.
   • Apply glue to each divider's top, bottom and rear edge.
   • Slide the dividers into their bare contact strips.
   • Clamp the divider joints with protective pads.
   • Remove the spacer blocks after the glue cures.

7. Apply edging and plinth trim

   Cover the exposed plywood front edges and wrap the plinth across the front and sides.

   • Dry-fit the edging and all three plinth pieces.
   • Shave any open plinth miter with a sanding block.
   • Glue the solid edging and plinth pieces onto bare wood.
   • Pin the solid edging and plinth with 1" brads.
   • Pin each screen molding strip with two 3/4" brads.

8. Assemble the drawer box

   Build a square drawer box with a full bottom fixed beneath its sides.

   • Clamp the front and back between the drawer sides.
   • Drill pilot and clearance holes at the indicated screw positions.
   • Drive two 1" screws through each side into each end.
   • Glue the bottom onto the lower box edges.
   • Fasten the bottom with twelve 1" screws.
   • Compare the drawer's diagonals before the glue cures.

9. Fit the drawer face

   Fit the knob first, then screw the solid drawer face to the box from inside.

   • Insert the knob screw into the recessed hole behind the face.
   • Tighten the matte-black knob onto its screw.
   • Center the face with a 3/8" overhang below the drawer bottom.
   • Clamp the face against the drawer box.
   • Drive four 1" screws from inside the box.

10. Edge and attach the top

    Glue the mitered perimeter edging, then fasten the top from beneath its cleats.

    • Dry-fit the four mitered edging pieces around the top.
    • Shave any gapped miter with a sanding block.
    • Glue the edging onto the plywood edges.
    • Pin the edging horizontally with 1" brads.
    • Center the top over the carcass.
    • Drive four 1 1/4" screws upward through the cleats.

11. Paint pistachio green and black

    Finish the exterior pistachio green and retain a black interior and bottle grid.

    • Fill the brad holes and minor surface defects.
    • Caulk fine plinth seams sparingly.
    • Sand the filler and exposed edges with 180-grit paper.
    • Prime the remaining bare wood.
    • Paint the exterior, top and drawer face pistachio green.
    • Touch up the bottle grid and drawer interior with black enamel.

12. Fit slides and test storage

    Fit the drawer slides and test the finished cabinet before loading twelve bottles.

    • Mark level slide centerlines 22 1/4" above the cabinet bottom.
    • Set each cabinet slide 7/8" behind the finished front edging.
    • Screw each drawer member flush with its box front at matching heights.
    • Slide the drawer into the cabinet.
    • Adjust the slotted holes for even face reveals.
    • Drive the remaining slide screws.