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This is one small cabinet with two build paths from the same starting point: a basic 1x12 base with a backsplash and countertop is a sink stand as soon as you add a bowl; add a hinged door with an acrylic window and it becomes a stove. Build the base identically either way, then branch at the very last step.
The acrylic "glass" in the stove door is genuinely worth the small extra cost and care — kids can see there's nothing dangerous behind it, which matters more for a play stove than for almost any other pretend-play piece. Whether you glue it in or screw it, the plan is specific about one thing: if using screws, make sure they have NO bevel on the underside of the head. A beveled screw head will crack acrylic as it's driven, where a flat pan-head screw won't.
The door hinge choice is a real safety decision, not a style one: a side-swing door, not a lift-up or top-hinge door. Side-swing keeps small fingers and toes away from a door that could otherwise drop on them, which is exactly the kind of small mechanical choice that matters more in a toy built for a toddler than in almost any adult furniture piece.
A scrap plywood or beadboard back panel is optional but recommended — it stiffens the whole assembly against the wobble that an open-backed cabinet this light would otherwise have with a kid playing at it enthusiastically.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| 1x12, 8 ftPer one base — sides, countertop. | 1 each |
| 1x10, 14-1/2"Middle shelf. | 1 each |
| 1x2, 30"Toe-kick apron. | 1 each |
| 1x4, 30"Front-of-sink apron and backsplash. | 1 each |
| Scrap plywood or beadboard, 16" x 20"Optional back panel. | 1 each |
| 1x3, 30" (stove door only) | 1 each |
| 1x2, 18" (stove door only) | 2 each |
| Acrylic glass, 11" x 20" (stove only) | 1 each |
| Cabinet knobs (stove only) | 4 each |
| Hinges, side-swing (stove only) | 1 set |
| Magnetic door clasp (stove only) | 1 each |
| Brad nails, 1-1/4" | 40 each |
| Pocket hole screws, 1-1/4" | 16 each |
| Wood glue | 3 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" × 20" |
| Toe-kick apron1x2 | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 14 1/2" |
| Bottom shelf1x12 | 1 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 14 1/2" |
| Middle shelf1x10 | 1 | 3/4" × 9 1/4" × 14 1/2" |
| Countertop1x12 | 1 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 16 1/2" |
| Backsplash1x4 | 1 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 16 1/2" |
| Front-of-sink apron1x4 | 1 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 14 1/2" |
| Back panelScrap plywood or beadboardOptional. | 1 | 1/4" × 16" × 20" |
| Stove door frame, rails1x3Large-gap door style. | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 14" |
| Stove door frame, stiles1x2Large-gap door style. | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 8 3/4" |
Buy 6 boards at 8 ft.
1 board
1 board
1 board
1 board
1 board
1 board
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 →
Attach the 1x2 toe-kick apron and the 1x4 front-of-sink apron to the two side panels — 1-1/4" brad nails and glue.
Add the bottom shelf, fastening it to both the sides and the 1x2 apron. It can sit at any height that works for your build.
Attach the backsplash to the countertop first, then attach the whole assembled top to the base.
Build the door with 3/4" pocket holes and 1-1/4" pocket hole screws. Attach the acrylic glass to the back of the door frame with craft glue or hot glue, or predrill and use screws — if using screws, make sure they have NO bevel on the underside of the head, or the acrylic will crack as the screw seats.
This completes the sink base — accessorize with a sink bowl, curtains, and a play faucet as you like.
To make the base into a play stove, add the built door with SIDE-SWING hinges rather than a top or lift-up hinge — side-swing keeps small fingers and toes safely away from the door. Install a magnetic clasp to keep the door closed, then add a handle and four knobs to the front for the "burners."
Nail on the optional plywood or beadboard back panel — it stiffens the whole cabinet against wobble during enthusiastic play. Sand and finish with kid-safe paint.
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