Building a Cabinet to Replace a Breakfast Bar

Cabinet Location

• Planning to build a cabinet to replace a breakfast bar requires some key decisions at the outset, including the location of the new cabinets. For a breakfast bat that is part of a kitchen island, you may only want cabinets below the counter's overhand. A wall-mounted breakfast bar, however, offers the option of installing cabinets above or below the existing countertop, or in both locations. If you have a mobile breakfast bar that typically stays in one part of the kitchen, you may choose to expand existing cabinets in that area.

Breakfast Bar Removal

• In some cases you may want to remove a wall-mounted breakfast bar to install a cabinet that makes use of the maximum amount of space. Wall-mounted breakfast bars typically rest on braces and brackets that are attached to studs in the wall below the bar's surface. You can use the same studs for mounting your cabinet, which will need to be affixed to the wall whether it hangs from above or rests on the floor.

Constructing Cabinets

• Building your own cabinets consists of building a basic wooden box, then attaching a door or drawer. Since the cabinet facing will conceal the material used to build the box, you can use any type of low-cost material, including plywood. Prefabricated cabinet doors, which sometimes come with all of the hinges you need for installation, are a time-saving option that will give your homemade cabinet a professional look.

Pros and Cons

• The primary benefit of building a cabinet to replace a breakfast bar is the addition of storage space to your kitchen. However, it also makes enjoying a quick meal or snack in the kitchen more difficult. If you eat in a formal dining room, be aware that eliminating a breakfast bar in the kitchen will give new owners no choice but to do the same; that could be an unattractive feature for the sale. Cabinets above the location of an old breakfast bar also reduce countertop space available for meal prep.