This under the cabinet backsplash shelf is a great way to organize your frequently used kitchen gadgets, while keeping your kitchen countertop clear from clutter. Easily customize the shelf and hooks for your space, plus plans for an optional spice and oil bottle caddy.
The shelf length can be customized to fit your space; my shelf is 26” long. The spice and oil caddy can be customized also, the oil bottle in the picture is 2 ¼” wide and the spice bottles are 1 ¾” wide. Cut out the pieces for the backsplash shelf and caddy according to the cut list. This backsplash shelf and caddy uses a 1x4, 1x3, 1x2 and ¼”x¾” trim. If you have a table saw and can rip down the board widths, the shelf and caddy can be made from a single 1”x4”x8’ board.
Special cuts: On the two caddy 1 pieces, measure over 1 ½” on one end and make a 45 deg miter cut as shown. On two of the corbel (3 ½”) pieces, mark the centerline of one end and make a 40 deg miter cut as shown. On the other two corbel (3 ½”) pieces, mark the centerline of one end and make a 50 deg miter cut as shown. On the two corbel diag pieces make a 50 deg miter cut on one end and a 40 deg miter cut on the other end.
Assemble Corbels Take a corbel piece with a 50 miter cut and butt it up against a corbel piece with a 40 miter cut as shown. Use wood glue and 1 ¼” brad nails to secure the top piece to the bottom piece.
Place the corbel diag piece with the 40 miter cut side by the 40 miter cut corbel piece, and 50 by 50. Center the corbel diag on the corbel and about 1/8” from the edge. Use wood glue to secure in place, and brad nails if needed. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for other corbel. Sand the corbels and shelf smooth and paint or stain as desired.
Assemble Spice/Oil Caddy Measure and mark 7 ¼” on caddy 2 (10 ¼”). Use wood glue and 1 ¼” brad nails to attach caddy 3 to caddy 2 at the mark. Measure and mark 5” on caddy 3 (7 ¾”). Use wood glue and 1 ¼” brad nails to attach caddy 4 to caddy 3 at the mark.
On one of the caddy 1 pieces measure and mark 5 ¾” from the un-mitered end. Use wood glue and 1 ¼” brad nails to secure caddy 4 to caddy 1 at the mark. Make caddy 2 flush with the bottom of caddy 1, use wood glue and 1 ¼” brad nails to secure. Glue and nail the other caddy 1 piece flush with the bottom of caddy 2.
From the bottom of the caddy, measure and mark 2” and 7 ¾”. Use brad nails to attach the ¼” trim to the caddy, front and back. Sand the spice/oil caddy smooth and paint or stain as desired.
On the top ends of the caddy 1 pieces, mark the center to drill pilot holes for the screw eyes. Drill the pilot holes and screw in the screw eyes. A pilot hole should be about the diameter of the screw shank (solid part) and smaller than the threads. I used #210 screw eyes so I used a 7/64” drill bit to make the pilot hole. I painted the screw eyes and hooks with oil rubbed bronze before installing. I also used small copper nails for decorative detail.
Layout the shelf, kitchen utensils and spice caddy how you would like them to hang. Mark locations for the hooks on the bottom side of the shelf. Drill pilot holes for the hooks. I used 1” cup hooks and made 1/16” pilot holes. Attach the corbels to the backsplash wall, the top of the corbel should be about 4 ¾” from the bottom of the upper cabinets. Space the corbels about 24” apart (outside to outside) to leave about a 1” overhang on the shelf. Place shelf on corbels and add your kitchen gadgets!
This under the cabinet backsplash shelf is a great way to organize your frequently used kitchen gadgets, while keeping your kitchen countertop clear from clutter. Easily customize the shelf and hooks for your space, plus plans for an optional spice and oil bottle caddy.
The shelf length can be customized to fit your space; my shelf is 26” long. The spice and oil caddy can be customized also, the oil bottle in the picture is 2 ¼” wide and the spice bottles are 1 ¾” wide. Cut out the pieces for the backsplash shelf and caddy according to the cut list. This backsplash shelf and caddy uses a 1x4, 1x3, 1x2 and ¼”x¾” trim. If you have a table saw and can rip down the board widths, the shelf and caddy can be made from a single 1”x4”x8’ board.
Special cuts: On the two caddy 1 pieces, measure over 1 ½” on one end and make a 45 deg miter cut as shown. On two of the corbel (3 ½”) pieces, mark the centerline of one end and make a 40 deg miter cut as shown. On the other two corbel (3 ½”) pieces, mark the centerline of one end and make a 50 deg miter cut as shown. On the two corbel diag pieces make a 50 deg miter cut on one end and a 40 deg miter cut on the other end.
Assemble Corbels Take a corbel piece with a 50 miter cut and butt it up against a corbel piece with a 40 miter cut as shown. Use wood glue and 1 ¼” brad nails to secure the top piece to the bottom piece.
Place the corbel diag piece with the 40 miter cut side by the 40 miter cut corbel piece, and 50 by 50. Center the corbel diag on the corbel and about 1/8” from the edge. Use wood glue to secure in place, and brad nails if needed. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for other corbel. Sand the corbels and shelf smooth and paint or stain as desired.
Assemble Spice/Oil Caddy Measure and mark 7 ¼” on caddy 2 (10 ¼”). Use wood glue and 1 ¼” brad nails to attach caddy 3 to caddy 2 at the mark. Measure and mark 5” on caddy 3 (7 ¾”). Use wood glue and 1 ¼” brad nails to attach caddy 4 to caddy 3 at the mark.
On one of the caddy 1 pieces measure and mark 5 ¾” from the un-mitered end. Use wood glue and 1 ¼” brad nails to secure caddy 4 to caddy 1 at the mark. Make caddy 2 flush with the bottom of caddy 1, use wood glue and 1 ¼” brad nails to secure. Glue and nail the other caddy 1 piece flush with the bottom of caddy 2.
From the bottom of the caddy, measure and mark 2” and 7 ¾”. Use brad nails to attach the ¼” trim to the caddy, front and back. Sand the spice/oil caddy smooth and paint or stain as desired.
On the top ends of the caddy 1 pieces, mark the center to drill pilot holes for the screw eyes. Drill the pilot holes and screw in the screw eyes. A pilot hole should be about the diameter of the screw shank (solid part) and smaller than the threads. I used #210 screw eyes so I used a 7/64” drill bit to make the pilot hole. I painted the screw eyes and hooks with oil rubbed bronze before installing. I also used small copper nails for decorative detail.
Layout the shelf, kitchen utensils and spice caddy how you would like them to hang. Mark locations for the hooks on the bottom side of the shelf. Drill pilot holes for the hooks. I used 1” cup hooks and made 1/16” pilot holes. Attach the corbels to the backsplash wall, the top of the corbel should be about 4 ¾” from the bottom of the upper cabinets. Space the corbels about 24” apart (outside to outside) to leave about a 1” overhang on the shelf. Place shelf on corbels and add your kitchen gadgets!
