That Old House Meets This New Woman
by P.K. Costa
Shelf for (that larger) Microwave
Shelve those appliances and eliminate clutter (all for the cost of brackets, plus $2)
Sometimes older homes and some condos/townhouses are notorious for lacking adequate storage however the bonus might be larger living space (such as an added formal dining area, family room or even a laundry room that could eventually be turned into a pantry). Many homeowners add cupboards, build inverted nooks, and even add shelving or makeshift countertops to add additional workspace and of course to eliminate clutter -- without spending a fortune.
Makeshift counter space can be anything from a portable dishwasher with a cutting board top to a large island chopping block to additional shelving above a countertop for your microwave -- which is what I will be showing you in this post. Keeping your workspace clear of major appliances and clutter is essential to running an efficient kitchen, especially when it comes to baking or cooking (just in time for the holidays).
Microwaves come in so many sizes that having the appropriate shelving to support the weight is important. If you're adding shelving to a rental, be sure to accommodate various sizes and weight, that the shelving can accommodate several uses (or in the very least that the microwave you're building the shelf for is to remain with the tenants).
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| Measurements are crucial to shopping for materials for the job so if you're uncertain as to how to measure your shelving space and don't have a tape measure, please borrow one from your relative, friend, coworker or neighbor -- as ladies, trust me when I tell you that alternative methods do NOT work -- not even with visual aids such as Stilettos and pearls. Men need measurements if they are to help you with this (or any) project. (The only response the above received was a smile, and a stuttered, "are you serious?") It was well worth the delayed response however in all seriousness, the photo was taken for pure injected humor. |
Any shelf brackets would work for this shelving project however if it's a multi-use shelf that will add to the design of the kitchen, decorative brackets are a great choice. (Thanks to Mikey for his help with the first shelf and brackets.) Also used for this project was a stud finder (for the walls, not for the men who assisted with the project), a hammer, 1" screws, and a roofing nail (to pre-make the holes where the screws would go for the top shelf).
Believe it or not, this project cost very little since the shelf plank used (shown below) was actually from an old book case that was being tossed, and it just happened to match the cupboards in this particular kitchen that is a rental. So aside from the brackets, it was an easy addition.
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| This photo shows the shelf, just prior to adding the top board/piece to hold the larger microwave. The microwave shown is sitting below the shelf on the counter, taking up space and adding to the clutter. |
During the project however the first microwave gave out (which initially fit on the shelf shown); the new microwave stuck out an extra inch, so I had to seek out another shelf board, or a new board to fit over the existing shelf (easiest fix and the least expense route).
And actually, the board I found to add to the top of the shelf was actually in a scrap pile at Home Depot and I was able to purchase that, and receive two cuts to the exact size needed, for only $2.00 (a special thanks to Jason and Allan at the Home Depot on Hamilton in Campbell). It really does pay to ask questions and bring photos of your project (which is what I did) and explain to them exactly what you're doing -- they just may have an alternative solution that could save you money.
(FYI: The alternatives that I was looking at ranged from $30 to $50 so the savings for me was about $48)
Once the shelving was on top of the first shelving piece, the board was screwed on top of the shelving (sticking out about an inch past the existing shelf but beneath the microwave so technically unnoticeable) it really just needs to now be stained. For the photo below only, I placed the microwave in place (with assistance) to be sure it fit and was secure (using 1" screws). It looks like a snug fit, but it fits rather nicely (on the right side is the refrigerator, and below is the dishwasher/counter that is now free space).
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| The microwave fits snuggly on the new shelf and on top of the new shelf piece. I used 1" screws to secure the new board on top of the shelf, and it only sticks out about an inch past the shelf, beneath the microwave--but not enough to not show or not be secure enough to hold the microwave (the legs sit back far enough on the shelf). There is a 6" gap on left and right for air flow. The new piece of wood over the existing shelf is only about 1/4" thick, but it's secure enough to hold the microwave and not buckle. There is plenty of room for air flow and extra storage. |
