This project was built and designed by Stan Sullivan. It’s a smart and accessible storage upgrade that puts unused cabinet door space to work—ideal for organizing baking pans and clearing out clutter from your oven or kitchen shelves.
With a straightforward design and simple joinery, this project is easy to tackle, even for beginners. Stan’s approach emphasizes functionality and flexibility, helping improve kitchen efficiency without adding bulk or complexity.
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A Practical Storage Solution for Everyday Kitchens
Many families store baking pans in the oven because there’s simply no other space available. Stan and his wife ran into this issue themselves and wanted a better way to manage their kitchen storage.
By turning the inside of a cabinet door into usable space, Stan created a dedicated shelf that keeps pans accessible and out of the way. It’s a simple modification with big benefits—no more unloading the oven just to cook dinner.
Tools and Materials for the Project
While Stan doesn’t list exact measurements in the video, the project uses basic materials like solid wood, glue, and common fasteners. You’ll also need a few standard tools: a table saw or circular saw, clamps, wood glue, and a drill.
What makes this build appealing is its flexibility. You can adjust the dimensions and finish to match your existing cabinets or kitchen setup. The build is compact, functional, and tailored to fit your specific space and needs.
Preparing and Cutting the Wood
The build begins with milling the wood to get straight, flat surfaces. If the stock has any twist or bow, running it through a planer helps create consistent thickness and improves the final fit.
Each board is cut to length using a miter saw or table saw, and Stan recommends having a cut list ready to keep things organized. He provides one on his website, simplyeasydiy.com, making it easy to follow along without printing anything out.
After crosscutting, the boards are ripped to width. Clean, accurate cuts at this stage lay the groundwork for a neat final assembly.
Assembling the Shelf
The design relies on basic butt joints for simplicity. This makes the assembly process beginner-friendly while still providing enough strength for storing lightweight kitchen items like baking sheets and pans.
Stan uses wood glue and clamps to join the sides and back. If you want added durability, dowels or pocket screws can be included, though they aren’t required for this light-duty application.
Once glued, the frame is clamped and left to dry completely. Taking the time here ensures a solid structure and prevents shifting when it comes time to mount the shelf.
Sanding and Finishing
Once the glue has cured, Stan sands all surfaces to remove rough edges and splinters. This step is especially important for kitchen projects, where comfort and safety are key.
Sanding also prepares the wood for finishing. Depending on your kitchen decor, you might choose to stain, paint, or leave the wood natural. A protective topcoat is a good idea to guard against moisture and wear.
Mounting the Shelf to the Cabinet Door
To install the shelf, countersunk pilot holes are drilled into the back panel. This helps keep screw heads flush and avoids damaging the cabinet face. Stan emphasizes aligning the shelf carefully so that the cabinet door still closes smoothly.
The finished unit is lightweight but strong enough to hold pans, trays, or baking sheets upright. It’s a clean solution that adds real function without taking up more cabinet space.
Real-World Use and Durability
Stan shares that he’s built a similar unit in the past that’s held up well through everyday use. It’s a small project, but it makes a noticeable difference in how the kitchen functions day to day.
This type of project is a great example of woodworking that directly improves home life. It doesn’t take long to build, but the impact is lasting—especially in a busy household where cabinet space is limited.
Customization and Additional Tips
One of the strengths of this project is its adaptability. You can resize the frame for larger or smaller pans, or even use the same design to store cutting boards, lids, or cleaning supplies.
Think about where your bottlenecks are in the kitchen and consider applying this same strategy to other cabinet doors. The principle is simple: use vertical space that’s normally wasted and build to fit your daily routine.
Get Stan’s plans here: https://www.simplyeasydiy.com/2017/04/diy-cutting-board-storage-solution.html.