Osborne Builder's Studio: Hand-Painted Sideboard Cabinet
In this video, we show you how to build a DIY sideboard cabinet featuring hand-painted artwork by a local artist! Hand-painted furniture was once a popular style in the American Southeast, often showcasing detailed scenes and unique themes. While it’s less common today, the artists behind these pieces continue to take great pride in their craft and leave a lasting impact on the furniture industry.
Follow along to hear from the artist herself, and visit the links below to explore the products used in this project.
What we used:
Stauber Wooden Vanity Legs (Part #322777)
5/4" Project Lumber in Maple (Part #196654)
Traditional Wood Knob (Part #30010)
Wood Dowels
3/4" Maple Plywood
Soft-close Cabinet Hinges
Magnetic Door Catches
Other tools needed:
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Cut List:
| Material | Quantity | Size |
| Plywood for cabinet box (sides) | 2 | 27 1/2” x 13 5/8” |
| Plywood for cabinet box (back) | 1 | 27 1/2" x 35 1/8" |
| Plywood for cabinet box (bottom) | 1 | 35 1/8" x 13 5/8" |
| Face frame - side pieces | 2 | 27 1/2" x 3 7/16” |
| Face frame - top and bottom rails | 2 | 28 1/4" x 2” |
| Face frame - middle rail | 1 | 23 1/2" x 2” |
| Doors | 2 | 23 3/8" x 13” |
| Mounting cleats for hardware | 2 | 23 1/2" x 2” |
| Table top | 1 | 40” x 18 1/2" x 1” |
Step 1
Cut 3/4" plywood to size for the sides, back, and bottom of the cabinet.
Step 2
Mill the 5/4 lumber to 3/4" thick for the face frame and cut the pieces to size.
Step 3
Connect the face frame together using wood dowel joinery and wood glue. First, mark the location for the dowels and use a doweling jig with a drill bit to predrill the necessary holes. Add wood glue to the holes before installing the wood dowels. Connect all the frame pieces together and clamp together as the glue dries.
Step 4
Assemble the cabinet box using wood glue and brad nails. Pocket holes or miters could also be used for assembly here, if preferred. Once the side and bottom pieces are attached, add wood glue to the back edges of the frame. Install the backboard again using wood glue and brad nails.
Step 5
Flip the assembly over and attach the face frame using wood glue and brad nails.
Step 6
Add a flush trim to the face frame using a handheld router.
Step 7
Attach vanity legs to the box using the pre-cut quarter notch. Add pre-drilled holes for wood screws on the inside of each leg location before screwing the legs to the cabinet.
Step 8
Cut the cabinet door panels to size allowing for a 1/16" gap around them to avoid any interference.
Step 9
Add a mounting cleat to the backside of the face frame to allow for hinge hardware to be installed. We chose a soft close hardware.
Step 10
Mark and pre-drill locations for the door hinges using a forstner bit on a drill press.
Step 11
Mark and pre-drill the locations on the mounting cleat for the hinges. Install the hinge hardware on the cleats and door panels using the manufacturer’s installation steps.
Step 12
Once the door hardware is installed, test fit the doors and adjust as needed.
Step 13
Once fully assembled, the cabinet can be painted or stained. We had a local artist paint the cabinet exterior. After painting, we finished the table top and door knobs with the same wood stain.
Step 14
Install the cabinet door knobs by taking the cabinet doors off the cabinet. Predrill the necessary holes. Be sure to use a drill bit that is slightly larger than the supplied screw when predrilling. Install the knobs by inserting the machine screw into the predrilled hole, twisting the knob onto the screw and tightening it using a screwdriver.
Step 15
Reinstall the cabinet doors and mount the magnetic door catch hardware to the backside of the face frame. Follow the manufacturers instructions for installing the magnetic hardware.
Step 16
Flip the assembly upside down and lay on top of the table top (also upside down). Ensure the table top is in the correct position with the right overhang. Add pocket holes along the inner frame and attach the table top with wood screws.
