PUT UP OPEN SHELVES
HOW DIFFICULT IS IT?
Hard
EQUIPMENT NEEDED:
hand saw or jigsaw sandpaper drill tape measure square pencil metal shelf hanging plates and screws oil wax or paint to finish spirit level
One way to modernise your kitchen is to rip out any top cupboards and replace with shelving.
“Open shelving provides a wonderful space to display a curation of interesting and beautiful objects,” says Merlin Wright, design director at Plain English and British Standard.
You can buy off-the-peg shelves to achieve the look but, says furniture designer Ben Wheeler, owner of Dering Restoration (@deringrestoration on Instagram), “for not much more money you can invest in a decent piece of wood and make it yourself. Then, when you look at it, you’ll always be proud”.
HOW TO DO IT:
“Using a single plank of wood, measure the length you need for the shelf, then draw two brackets (use a tin or jam jar to achieve the curves),” says Wheeler. He suggests as a guide, which can be scaled up or down, a 6in x 4ft length of wood divided into a 3ft 4in length for the shelf and the 8in section to draw the brackets in. “When you’re happy with the outline cut your first bracket out using a handsaw or a jigsaw as neatly as possible and sandpaper any rough edges (wrap some sandpaper around the tin or jar you used to draw the curve, in order to help sand it to a more exact shape).
“Place the first finished bracket back on the board and draw around to ensure the second bracket matches the first. Cut out and then repeat the sanding.
“Cut and sand the section that forms the shelf top. Measure a distance of approximately 6in in from both ends of the top and mark with a faint pencil line. Drill two holes for each bracket through the top of the shelf.
“Place a bracket back side down on a flat surface. Bring the shelf top into position and attach with screws. Repeat for other bracket.
“Finish with a coat of Danish oil, liming wax or paint. When dry, use metal hanging plates to hang the shelf on the wall.”
For an illustrated guide to making a simpler bracket and shelf visit popularmechanics.com