Removing Drawer Space in an Armoire to Insert a Wine Rack

Estimate the amount of room you’ll create once the drawer section is removed from the armoire. You'll want to make sure that it’s roomy enough to hold a wine rack by measuring a drawer and calculating the depth of the interior from those dimensions. Standard wine bottles are 11.5 inches tall.

Remove the drawers from your armoire and set them aside if you like the idea of using them for other crafting projects. Use your carpentry tools to remove the wood framework that held the drawers in place. You may have to break up some of the skeletal pieces if the glue holding the drawer framework won’t budge.

Refinish the exterior of the armoire if you want to change it’s look by stripping and sanding it down to remove the existing finish. Restain or paint it in a color that complements the dining room. Apply a coat of polyurethane sealant to protect the new finish. Sand the cabinet area that held the drawer unit to smooth the wood before staining or painting. Apply a coat of polyurethane to that area.

Install interior lighting if this is part of your armoire renovation plan. Consider using easy-install light bars and discreet fittings that can be disguised with wood strips to keep wiring out of sight. Drill one hole in the back of the armoire for the electrical connection if there is no existing opening for the wiring.

Choose an appropriately sized wine rack for your armoire makeover. Have a tape measure with you when you select from common styles of wine racks, such as bins, cubes, cascades, stack racks and other designs, to locate the one that’s the right fit and design for your setup. Pick stackable units if you like the idea of adjusting the number of portals for wine bottles according to the size of your current wine collection. Go for both form and function.

Use the storage space above the wine rack for wine glasses, decanters and storage of wine bottles that have been uncorked if you worry about drips from open bottles.