Kitchen Chronicles IX: How We Built a Hidden Microwave Cabinet
We recently built a custom DIY cabinet to hide our microwave as part of our vintage-inspired, recycled kitchen remodel — and let me tell you, this one humbled us a bit. Instead of buying new cabinetry, we decided to build a tall cabinet from cabinet-grade plywood and attach a reclaimed eight-panel door to the front so our microwave could disappear when not in use.
If you’ve ever wondered how to hide a microwave in a vintage kitchen without sacrificing character, this is exactly what we did. Our cabinet measures 26 inches deep, 29.5 inches wide, and just over 6 feet tall — designed to fit our 8-foot ceilings while blending modern convenience with the old-house charm I love so much.
Are you ready for another fun-filled kitchen remodeling post?
Building a DIY Cabinet to Hide a Microwave
We have finally found our rhythm and are making progress. You may remember we recently finished up the stacked cabinets in our kitchen. Well… now we’re feeling brave enough to build a much larger one.
This cabinet was built specifically to hide our microwave inside our vintage-inspired kitchen remodel. It measures 26 inches deep, 29.5 inches wide, and just over 6 feet tall. Eventually, it will be stacked to reach our 8-foot ceilings, but for now, this is our main base cabinet.
And yes — it humbled us a bit.
Why We’re Building a Recycled Vintage Kitchen
When we purchased our home, I didn’t think much had changed since it was built… except that kitchen. If you want to call the 1980s “newer.” It’s hard to believe we are approaching the 50-year mark since that remodel.
If you’re anything like me, you remember the 80s. I was a kid, but I was alive then. Egads.
Instead of ripping everything out and starting from scratch, we’re leaning into a recycled kitchen remodel — using salvaged pieces, reclaimed materials, and building what we need ourselves.
We have 8-foot ceilings, and taking cabinets to the ceiling makes the room feel taller. Suddenly eight feet looks closer to nine. And if you love old homes like I do, you understand why that matters.
This isn’t a showroom kitchen. It’s a vintage-inspired kitchen built with upcycled materials and a lot of figuring things out as we go.
Why We Chose to Hide the Microwave
Let’s talk about my long-standing microwave pet peeve.
I have never loved microwaves sitting out on counters. And the dreaded over-the-range microwave? This short gal cannot reach that comfortably. I refuse to drag out a step stool every time I need to reheat something.
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| It's been sitting there for nearly 13 years |
Vintage kitchens didn’t have microwaves displayed front and center. So if we’re creating a vintage kitchen feel, hiding modern appliances just makes sense (I wish I could hide them all!).
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| Tip: To move a cabinet down steps, place on side and slide down steps. Be sure to be in front of it to control the slide. Yes, he has to supervise everything around here |
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| Space left for new cabinet, I will tell you all about the range hood soon |
This cabinet was built specifically as a hidden microwave cabinet inside our vintage-inspired kitchen remodel. The door stays open while it’s in use, and when it’s not? Completely hidden.
I was only too happy when my husband agreed.
Cabinet Dimensions & Purpose
For those who like specifics, here are the details:
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Height: 6 feet tall
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Width: 29.5 inches to match our recycled door
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Depth: 26 inches
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Ceiling height: 8 feet
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Purpose: Hidden microwave cabinet with additional shelving
We originally thought we would build one massive cabinet to the ceiling, but once we got started, we realized building this large base cabinet and later adding a smaller stacked cabinet on top would be far more manageable.
Soonish. Or… soon-ish.
Sourcing Cabinet-Grade Plywood
We began by purchasing cabinet-grade plywood.
We went to Lowe’s — saw down. Again.
Menards didn’t carry what we wanted.
Holmes Lumber had the plywood but wouldn’t cut it to fit inside our SUV.
So we made a 45-minute drive to Sutherlands. They came through for us again. This time, they charged $2.99 per cut after the first free cut. We had nine cuts made so we could load everything into the car.
Worth it.
A Helpful Tip About Store Cuts
If you ever have wood cut at a store, do not have them cut to your exact final measurements (if possible).
I noticed the saw jump during one cut and thought oh no. My husband calmly said, “That’s why I always have them cut it slightly larger. If something happens, we don’t lose the whole piece.”
Noted.
Why We Bought a Track Saw
Because this cabinet is 6 feet tall, our miter saw just wasn’t going to cut it (no matter how much I wished it would).
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| T-square, and track saw to cut cabinet base |
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| Track saw in use cutting plywood to size |
So we purchased a track saw. It allows long, straight cuts across plywood sheets without wandering off line.
Will I personally use it? Probably not yet. I like my saws attached to tables where I pull them down and feel contained. The track saw reminded me of my childhood race car track set — just with higher stakes.
The Kreg Mishap (And Pivoting)
We used our Kreg pocket hole jig to assemble the cabinet without visible screws. Only… something went wrong.
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| The clamp holds the box in place to drill pocket holes |
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| We drilled a pocket 12 holes on each six feet side |
The screws kept going straight through the plywood. It was happening with each try. Frustrating doesn’t even begin to describe it.
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| Do you see where the screw has disturbed the wood? We were not able to use the pocket holes |
Ultimately, we had to pivot and drill screws from the exterior of the cabinet box. Not our ideal look, but we were running out of vacation time and needed to move forward.
My husband wanted to tear it apart and start over. I had to be the voice of reason - when does that ever happen? Floors and backsplash are next, and since we had to already reschedule, we are going with it. We did not have the luxury of extra weekends to rebuild from scratch.
Sometimes DIY isn’t about perfection. It’s about figuring out the fix.
And yes, I have a plan to address those visible screws. I just want to test it before sharing — no bad information around here.
Staining, Waxing & Assembly
We stained the cabinet pieces by porch light after running out of daylight, then left everything in the garage overnight to dry.
The next morning, I was up and at ‘em. I waxed each piece, waited 20 minutes, and buffed everything before final assembly. We added veneer to the cabinet fronts with an iron.
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| I am the resident stain and waxer around here |
We assembled the cabinet box by:
Removing carpet, padding, tack strip, staples, and baseboard where the cabinet would stand
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Securing a plywood base.
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Attaching the side panels to the finished base.
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Adding shelves by drilling from the exterior.
Adding edge banding to the shelf fronts, and front of cabinet for a finished look
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| We used a utility knife to cut the carpet |
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| My husband used a pry bar and hammer to remove the tack strip. I pulled up the padding. |
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| See that curve? Now The range was always here, there were curved cabinets on either side of the stove. |
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| The plywood will act as a base under the finished cabinet |
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| Hubby used a pry bar and hammer, and oscillating tool to remove the baseboard |
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| Drilling screws through the plywood into the flooring and joists |
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| We added edge banding to all of the exposed front and shelf fronts by ironing it on |
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| We smoothed the edge banding by sliding a piece of wood over it |
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| We trimmed the extra edge banding back so it fit the shelf perfectly, then stained and waxed it |
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| We added wood glue to our screws for extra support |
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| The sides were placed on top of books, and then attached to the back of the cabinet |
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| Ta-da, we have a completed 6 feet tall cabinet box |
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| Brackets were made to level the shelf so we could drill it into the cabinet sides |
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| Always check to be sure anything you make is level |
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| My husband used an oscillating tool to cut out the electrical socket |
I didn’t mind pre-drilling. But when it came to driving screws? I apparently cannot keep a screw straight. I kept causing the plywood to buckle.
I declared I was done with that portion.
And guess what? I didn’t drill another screw.
Turns out, if you’re bad enough at something, people stop asking for your help. 🤣
Reusing an Antique Eight-Panel Door
Now for my favorite part.
This cabinet features a reclaimed eight-panel door that I originally purchased from a local demolition salvage seller. He removes architectural pieces from homes before they’re torn down — exactly my kind of treasure hunting.
The last time we used this door, it was installed horizontally on a cabinet that ended up being too large for our kitchen. We used that cabinet daily, but it never made it onto the blog since we did not finish the bottom off.
This time, the door is installed vertically — back to its original purpose, or kind of anyway.
When we sanded it years ago, I couldn’t get the sander into the corners. I loved the imperfect pattern it left behind. With our vintage kitchen direction now, that texture fits even better than it did the first time.
Upcycled kitchen cabinet door? Yes, please.
Installing the Piano Hinge
Because the cabinet is so tall, we used a continuous (piano) hinge — actually two of them.
We started at the top, pre-drilled the first hole, secured it, and worked our way down. Once the hinge was attached to the cabinet frame, it was time to wrestle the heavy eight-panel door into place.
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| Husband is adding piano hinge. I haven't organized anything, stay tuned for organization |
This part took nearly a full day.
There were screws that somehow missed the door entirely and slipped between the hinge and wood. I could see it from behind; my husband couldn’t from the front.
Communication was… strained.
Four days into a build will do that.
But eventually, we got ourselves sorted out and attached the door successfully.
We stepped back.
We had a functioning hidden microwave cabinet. Woohoo!
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| We are getting closer to having a completed kitchen and I am getting so excited! |
What It Cost Us to Build This Cabinet
Before building, I received a quote to have this cabinet made professionally.
The quote came in at nearly $3,700.
The plywood alone was estimated at $1,100 — the exact same cabinet-grade plywood we purchased for just under $300.
I absolutely respect skilled trades and understand labor costs. I know what goes into handmade items — I’ve made enough wreaths to understand pricing from the other side (some folks do not get the time and money that go into those).
But for us, the numbers didn’t make sense.
Instead, we invested:
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Under $300 in plywood
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The cost of a track saw
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Four days of vacation time
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A little frustration
And we now have a custom cabinet built specifically for our vintage kitchen remodel.
Is It Perfect?
Nope.
But it’s standing.
The door is still attached.
The microwave fits perfectly.
And it looks infinitely better than some past remodeling work completed in this house.
We still plan to add another shelf above the microwave. Floors and backsplash are around the corner — we already had to delay install because my husband pinched a nerve in his back. Apparently vacation cabinet building is not restful.
He said going back to work felt like a break.
I may have kept him too busy.
Building a Vintage Kitchen One Cabinet at a Time
We now need to build three more cabinets. And yes, we have another door and two leaded glass windows waiting to be recycled.
This is how we’re approaching our recycled kitchen remodel — not by gutting everything and ordering a catalog kitchen, but by reusing what we’ve collected over the years and building around it.
We aren’t master cabinet makers.
We’re two people with tools, stubborn streaks, and a house we care about deeply. Sometimes that means mistakes. Sometimes that means pivoting. Sometimes that means winging it entirely (oh yeah, it happens).
But it also means every cabinet has history.
And now, so do we.
FAQ: Hidden Microwave Cabinets
Can you hide a microwave inside a cabinet?
Yes, a microwave can be hidden inside a cabinet as long as the door is open while it is in use and the appliance has proper ventilation space around it. Many homeowners use tall cabinets or appliance garages to keep microwaves out of sight.
How big should a microwave cabinet be?
It depends on the microwave, but most countertop microwaves require a cabinet that is at least 24–26 inches deep and 24–30 inches wide with space around the appliance for airflow.
Is it cheaper to build a cabinet yourself?
Building a cabinet yourself can save a significant amount of money if you already have tools and time. In our case, the quoted price for a custom cabinet was nearly $3,700, while our materials cost under $300.
Can you use reclaimed doors for kitchen cabinets?
Yes! Salvaged doors can be repurposed into cabinet doors, pantry doors, or built-in furniture. They add character and are a great option for vintage or recycled kitchen remodels.
Other Ways to Hide a Microwave in a Vintage Kitchen
appliance garage
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pantry cabinet
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built-in cabinet
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drawer microwave
