Cabinet Made from Reclaimed Shutters
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
What can you do with four reclaimed shutters? Use them to make a shutter cupboard! Don’t be intimidated by the process, simply follow my step by step directions.
Tall Yellow Shutter Cupboard

I made the shutter bookcase for Jan a couple of months ago. She had 4 more shutters and she asked me to build her a shutter cupboard.
Designing and Building a Shutter Cupboard

These shutters are taller than I am.

I had to cut them off because two were shorter than the other two. Once I got them to match, I used my Kreg Jig Jr. to make pocket holes to join three of them together.
How To Add Shelves

I didn’t have any wood to use as shelves, so I purchased a piece of plywood at Home Depot. I cut the shelves to size. I attached the bottom shelf and the top of the cupboard first.

Then I got busy installing the other shelves. I cut some scrap wood to use as spacers so that the shelves would be uniform in height. The middle shelf would be the one that would keep the unit squared and sturdy. Because the shutters have the middle piece I was able to use pocket holes all the way around 3 sides.
Visit the My Repurposed Life Amazon Store to shop my favorite items.

The other shelves, I could only attach with pocket holes in the front and the back. However the pocket holes made with the Kreg Jig make very tight joints.
Adding Decorative Base

I wanted to raise the cupboard off the floor with a decorative “skirt”. I folded a piece of paper in half so that the left and right sides would match. With the paper folded in half I cut out some curves. I traced the curves onto a piece of 1×4 and cut it out with my jigsaw.

While I was looking for a board to use as the back, I realized the 1×4 was just too wonky. The boards I decided to use were reclaimed drawer parts.

I used my Kreg Jig to make more pocket holes and joined the three new pieces together. (they were a little larger than a 1×4 so I had to rip them on my table saw to get them down to size)


On the left, the new piece.

See how caddywampus the first one was? yeah, not working! Seriously, it’s worth the extra time and effort to do things right.
How To Attach The Base

More great pocket holes and pocket hole screws to attach it to the cupboard!
Time For Paint

I primered the cupboard one day while I had my sprayer fired up. Then I added some more shelves.
Add Trim to the Top of Shutter Cupboard

I cut the crown molding and used Gorilla Wood Glue and my nailer to attach it.

This picture dates itself. See the shingles?

Painting with Painter’s Tape

Jan decided she wanted this cupboard to be two-toned. The cupboard was an “oops” that Jamie gave me a couple of years ago. The top and bottom trim are Martha’s Heavy Cream. I taped it off to get a clean crisp line.


Handy Tip from Gail: After applying your tape, make a swipe with the color (in this case yellow) that you have already painted. Then IF there should be any bleed, it will be the color that is already painted. After that little swipe dries, then paint the other color (heavy cream) Remove your tape while your paint is still damp.
A Look at the Hinges & Hardware

I had three hinges in my stash that worked great for the cupboard door.

The cupboard is not 100% square, so the door shifts a little when it is closed. I installed a “catch” that helps align the door when it is closed. shhhh don’t tell Jan, okay?

Because the shutters were old and weathered, the paint (even though I did use primer) would not cover smoothly. However, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this look! I think it is a perfect look.

This is the knob that is currently in place. Jan is probably going to want me to change it out. Hey! It’s a woman’s right to change her mind, right?

I gave a little coat of paint to the hinges.
Pretty Yellow Shutter Cupboard

Do you like the two toned look? How about the knob? Jan is thinking it needs a simple wooden knob instead. Please let her know what you think in a comment below.
gail
Love this, it is the perfect thing for our bathroom storage needs. We moved to an older home with high ceilings and last year we found some tall shutter to fill our a corner in our bathroom. Thanks for the great idea!!!
Awesome! It sound like you have the perfect plan. I love tall ceilings. 🙂 (and old homes)
gail
I love the knob, especially if the cabinet is to be in a bedroom or living room. For a pantry, maybe a simple wood one would be more in tune with the space?
Good point Danielle!!! thank you!
gail
I love this you are so clever, I think Jan is correct, a nice wood knob would suit it better, just my opinion.xx
Yes, I agree with both of you. This is such a great idea, however it’s a very old project. But, I decided it was worth sharing again. I sure hope Jan still has this after all these years. 🙂
gail
I love cabinet. Knob? Not so much. It definitely needs a knob that is not so daunting. Great job on cabinet, hubby. Wish my husband was handy. That would be me.
Hi! WOW! Love that cupboard so much…as soon as I saw it I started eyeing my family room for a place to put my “future” shutter cupboard! Hahaha! I mean, there’s probably about 20 projects ahead of this one, but I already have the four shutters that I scored for free thanks to Craigslist, they were supposed to be for a headboard project for my brother, but he and his new bride changed their minds, so now the shutters are MINE to do as I please! Not sure about the two-tone paint, to me, it makes the trim look like it’s separate from the shutters, if you paint it all the same color and distress it, it would look like it belongs on a Pottery Barn catalog…but I would definitely keep that knob, it’s gorgeous, and gives the whole piece an antiquated look. I have to learn how to do those pocket holes of yours, I’m new to wood shop, but thank you so much for sharing this with us!!
Thanks so much for your comment! How wonderful that you have the perfect shutters for this project. Yes, you need to do pocket holes. It makes building so much easier AND very sturdy. 🙂
gail
Great idea with the shutters, it turned out great.
Not a fan of the two tone at all. I probably would have gone with a distressed white.
Wow, Love it, u are very talented. I have a shutter cabinet as shutter for just the doors. I LOVE DISTRESSED. I think its awesome, but my colors are different. Great job. Knob is cool, or a glass knob. God bless,
Amy
http://www.amyscountrycandles.com
happen so that a friend of mine has a set of red barn color shutter she not using i might have to stop by and asked for them…..awesome projocet & great idea …
thanks! happy you found some inspiration from my project!
gail