- 1). Build the base for your cabinet. To do this, first calculate the dimensions for the vanity. For simplicity we will say that our vanity will be 31 1/2-inches square and 34-inches in height. Dimensions may vary to sit individual tastes, but this is a good standard size for the project. This will make our cutting simpler and eliminate the need for extra ripping.
- 2). Cut the boards for the base. A good stock of wood for this is 1 X 4 clear pine. Remember that your base is going to be smaller than the actual cabinet. So if we have a 31 ½-inch square cabinet, then the base will be 30 inches deep and 28 ½ inches wide. That allows for a 1 ½-inch border on three sides with the back of the base being flush with the cabinet box.
Now cut the front and rear boards at a full 28 ½ inches, while the side pieces will be cut at the precise length of 28 ½ inches. You will also need four braces that are six inches long and angled at a 45-degree angle at each end. - 3). Put the base together. First, screw together the four long pieces. This is done with two 1 ½-inch wood screws inserted in the front and rear. First countersink, then use a pilot hole and then screw the base together, so that the screws go all the way into the wood.
The base will still be flexible at this point, but once you attach the four braces in the corners, then the base should be stiff. Again countersink, drill a pilot hole and insert the screws. Using four per base should be enough. That's two per side. - 4). Cut two pieces of plywood at exactly 30 ½ inches by 30 ½ inches. These pieces will be the bottom and top of your vanity, but they will not show.
- 5). Cut the boards to size for the bottom of the cabinet. They will be 1 1/2 inches shorter than the dimension of the plywood. When you are done gluing and screwing the clear pine to the plywood, there should be a ¾-inch border on every side (that's four sides total). This requires cutting to length and then ripping one board to go in the center.
- 6). Glue the boards to the plywood, and screw them from the bottom up using 1-inch wood screws. No need to countersink here.
- 7). Build the back piece (wall) for the cabinet. It will be a full 31 ½ inches wide, but the height will be 30 inches, because it sits on top of a base plus a ½ inch piece of plywood. That is the full 34 inches minus the 3 ½-inch base. There will be a strip cut that goes along the top to support the sink. Rip a six-foot piece of pine in half and use this. Cut the rest of pieces to length. It is designed so that you will need exactly nine pieces of 1 X 4 inch clear pine. Each piece will be 30 ½ inches long. The strip at the top will be 30 inches long and will rest in the center of the back piece.
Lay out the nine pieces on a flat surface so that everything is perfectly square, and attach the strip near the top so that the thickness of the plywood is the same as the gap between the strip and the top of the back side. Go ahead and screw the strip into the back using two screws per board. Set it aside. - 8). Make the two side pieces. They will also be 30 inches high, but the width will be only 30 inches as well. Also, cut a strip for the top that is 28 ½ inches long and place it dead center. Put the two side pieces together using the strip at the top as a temporary brace. Keep the distance between the strip and the top the same as you did for the back side.
- 9). Put the back and two side pieces on top of the base and temporary attach with screws. Be sure and screw the pieces into the bottom that you made in step 4. Now you have a three sided cabinet. You will probably need an assistant for this step.
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Make the front piece using four full-width 1 X 4 pieces of clear pine. The two vertical pieces should be 31 ½ inches long while the two horizontal pieces will be 24 ½ inches long. Install one piece at a time, beginning with the sides and then the bottom. Attach the side pieces and the bottom with wood screws and countersink. Leave the top piece till later. - 11
Place the sheet of plywood in the top and then put the front piece should screw right into the plywood. Make sure all four sides are screwed together tight. You can also use glue at this point to make the vanity stronger. - 12
Build the door for the opening in the front. It is designed to be seven boards wide with a width of exactly 24 ½ inches. The height should match the opening. Use two lengths of the clear pine at 24 ½ inches to act as backing. Glue and screw these, then add a pull and a set of hinges and hang the door. - 13
Add the clear pine to the top and cut a whole for the sink. An alternative method would be to cut the hole in the plywood for the sink and then add the pieces of clear pine.
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