Small Kitchen Island with Slide-Out Double Trash Cans

Drill 3/4" pocket holes on both ends of the 1x2 side trim pieces and attach to the 2x2 legs, flush on the back side, with 1-1/4" pocket hole screws.

Check that a plywood side panel fits inside the assembled 2x2 legs. Drill 3/4" pocket holes along the panel's long edges, about every 8", glue the back side of the 1x2 trim, then nail the panel down with 1-1/4" brad nails and screw it to the legs. Repeat to build a second, identical side panel.

Drill 3/4" pocket holes on both ends of the remaining 1x2 back trim and attach to the back of the cabinet with 1-1/4" pocket hole screws. Set the pocket-hole jig to the 1-1/2" setting, drill two pocket holes on each end of the 2x2 front trim, and attach it at the front of the cabinet.

Fit the back plywood panel inside the back opening, drill pocket holes along its side edges, and attach the same way as the side panels — this completes the carcass.

Draw a level line 8-1/2" up from the base on the inside of both side panels. Separate each drawer slide into its cabinet and drawer members. Position the cabinet member so the line is centered on its screw holes, set in 3/4" from the front leg, and screw it in. Repeat on the opposite side.

Draw a level line 1-1/2" down from the top edge of each 1x4 drawer tray side. Attach the drawer member of each slide with the line centered in its screw holes — remember the second slide installs as a mirror image of the first.

Slide the tray sides into the cabinet and measure the actual gap between them — it should land close to 16", but cut the back panel to your real measurement rather than the cut list number. Attach it inside the tray with pocket hole screws.

Measure the tray's actual bottom opening, cut the plywood bottom panel to fit, drill 3/4" pocket holes on all four edges, and screw it into place.

Build the drawer face frame from the stiles and rails with 3/4" pocket holes and 1-1/4" pocket hole screws, keeping pocket holes off the parts of the frame that stay visible once it's installed.

Center the face on the tray with an even gap on all four sides, attach with 1-1/4" brad nails and glue, then pull the drawer out and add a few screws from the inside for extra hold.

Attach the countertop or butcher block top to the cabinet with cabinet screws driven through the underside of the side trim. Add a pull to the drawer face, sand, and finish.