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A console cabinet that fakes the classic apothecary look: two hinged doors, each faced with a grid of small boards and topped with rows of little knobs so it reads as a wall of tiny drawers. There are no real drawers — behind the doors is open shelving — which is what makes an intimidating-looking piece actually buildable in a weekend.
Build the carcass first from 1x12 sides, top, bottom, and a center divider, with 1x10 shelves inside spaced to suit what you'll store (about 10" apart is a good default). A 1/4" back nailed into the fixed shelves squares and stiffens the box. The 1x3 decorative top pieces dress the crown.
The doors are where the apothecary illusion lives. Each door is a 1/2" plywood panel faced with twenty small 1/4"-thick boards (hobby stock, or 1/4" plywood ripped from your back panel), arranged in a grid with a knob on each. Cut the plywood doors to fit the openings with about a 1/8" gap all around, sitting inset, and hang them on euro-style inset hinges. Twenty knobs is a lot of drilling — lay out a template so every one lands identically.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| 1x3, 8 ftDecorative top. | 3 each |
| 1x2, 4 ftFooter. | 1 each |
| 1x10, 8 ftShelves. | 1 each |
| 1x12, 6 ftSides. | 2 each |
| 1x12, 4 ftCenter/top/bottom. | 1 each |
| Plywood, 1/4", half sheetBack (grab a full sheet if using it for door faces too). | 1 each |
| Plywood, 1/2" hardwood, half sheetDoor panels. | 1 each |
| Hobby stock, 1/4" thick x 5-1/2" wide, 12 ftFaux-drawer facing (or 1/4" plywood ripped to 5-1/2"). | 12 foot |
| Knobs or handles | 20 each |
| Euro inset hinges (sets) | 2 each |
| Pocket-hole screws / finish nails, 1-1/4" | 50 each |
| Wood glue | 8 oz |
Overall cost: $$$. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| Sides1x12 | 2 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 35 1/4" |
| Top/bottom1x12 | 2 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 35 1/2" |
| Center1x12 | 1 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 32 1/4" |
| Shelves1x10 | 4 | 3/4" × 9 1/4" × 17 3/8" |
| Footer1x2 | 1 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 35 1/2" |
| Decorative top1x3 | 5 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 35 1/2" |
| Back1/4" plywood | 1 | 1/4" × 35 1/4" × 37" |
| Door panels1/2" plywood | 2 | 1/2" × 17 1/8" × 32" |
| Faux-drawer facingsHobby stock or 1/4" plywood | 20 | 1/4" × 5 1/2" × 8 1/8" |
Buy 12 boards at 8 ft.
3 boards
1 board
3 boards
1 board
1 board
1 board
2 boards
Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →
Build the box from the 1x12 sides, top, bottom, and center divider. Pocket holes are included in the plan, but glue and screws or a finish nailer build it just as well — this design predates the jig. Keep it square.
Add the 1x10 shelves inside the box. The diagram spaces them 10" apart, but space them to suit what you'll store. Fixed shelves also give the back something to nail into later.
Add the 1x2 footer across the bottom, and the 1x3 decorative top pieces across the crown to dress the piece.
Attach the 1/4" back with nails and glue, keeping the box square and nailing into the fixed shelves for strength.
Cut the 1/2" plywood doors to fit the openings — about a 1/8" gap all around, sitting inset. Face each with a grid of the 1/4" facing boards to create the faux-drawer look, glued and bradded on. Lay out the twenty knob holes with a template so every knob lands identically.
Hang the doors on euro-style inset hinges, following the hinge instructions to set the reveal even. Sand and finish. The knobs are decorative on the faux drawers, functional for opening the doors — mount the working ones where the door actually opens.
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