Hoosier Cabinet Plans

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by Hannah Kincaid

Remember those multipurpose, free-standing kitchen cabinets with pull-out bins, built-in flour sifters, and lots of storage? The “Hoosier” cupboard first appeared in the United States more than 100 years ago, bringing convenience and efficiency to the hodgepodge of shelves, tabletops, hanging pans, flour barrels and storage bins in cluttered turn-of-the-20th-century kitchens. (See “Hoosier Cupboard History” further in this article.)

We believe Hoosier-style cupboards deserve a prominent place in today’s kitchens. Mother’s updated design — part workstation, part storage cabinet — retains the original’s spirit and functionality. Our version features handy dispensers for grains or flour, and a pull-out work surface, making it a perfect baking cupboard. Instead of the mixer shown on the finished cabinet, you could place your grain mill on the swing-up shelf. You could also modify these plans to create a specialized space for fermenting, vegetable storage, built-in composting — or something else entirely. The plans offer all the space and flexibility you’ll need for stashing the tools and materials to carry out your particular culinary passion.

Any homesteader or cook with average do-it-yourself skills can build this Hoosier. The materials (not including accessories) cost $575: $270 for stock cabinets, $120 for plywood, $80 for boards and moldings, and $105 for hardware, laminate and fasteners. That’s a bargain, considering similar ready-made cupboards cost at least $2,000 — and wouldn’t be built to your custom specifications. You could further reduce costs by recycling older cabinets.

Our cupboard has many unique features:

• Most of the components are sold at home improvement centers. The skeleton is made of stock kitchen cabinets. The sides, back and shelves are cut from standard 1/2-inch oak plywood. The decorative crown molding and 1-by-2 oak face frames are also off-the-shelf purchases.

  • Published on Nov 5, 2015
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