Remember that pesky exposed gap beneath your dishwasher? For many homeowners, especially those with ADA-compliant kitchen cabinets, finding an appliance that perfectly fits the shorter height can be a real challenge. This often leaves an unsightly void, disrupting the seamless flow of your kitchen design. But what if there was an easy, affordable, and stylish way to bridge that gap and give your kitchen a custom, built-in look? You’re in the right place! We’re about to dive into a brilliant DIY project that transforms an aesthetic problem into a design feature: adding decorative feet to your kitchen base cabinets, specifically around that tricky dishwasher area.
The Undersized Appliance Dilemma: Why ADA Cabinets Create a Gap
In many homes, particularly builder’s spec homes, kitchen cabinets might be an inch shorter than standard height. This is often due to ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliance, which mandates lower counter heights for accessibility. While beneficial for many, it creates a unique challenge when it comes to selecting standard appliances like dishwashers. Manufacturers like Maytag once offered models that perfectly fit these slightly shorter openings, but those specific dimensions are increasingly rare. Modern dishwashers, even those labeled “ADA compliant,” can still be shorter than the space, leaving a noticeable and often unattractive gap between the bottom of the appliance and the floor.
This exposed area can reveal the inner workings of your dishwasher, along with dust, debris, and the less-than-glamorous underside of your kitchen setup. It screams “unfinished” and can detract from an otherwise beautiful kitchen. After dealing with this exact issue in my own home, I knew a creative solution was needed – one that was both effective and didn’t break the bank. My previous, perfectly fitting dishwasher had reached its end, and the replacement, while functional, left this awkward void. Painting the exposed black kickplate area white offered a slight improvement, but it still lacked the polished, integrated feel of the rest of the cabinetry.
From Unfinished to Custom: The Power of Decorative Cabinet Feet
The vision was clear: add decorative wood brackets as “feet” to frame the dishwasher, just as I had done for other kitchen cabinets years ago. This simple modification instantly elevates the look of standard cabinetry, giving it a high-end, custom-built appearance that is usually only seen in expensive kitchen remodels. This DIY project had been on my mental to-do list, with the brackets patiently waiting on my workbench for months. Life often gets in the way of home improvement projects, but the constant visual reminder of that unfinished dishwasher area finally spurred me into action. It was time to transform this eyesore into an elegant design element.
The transformation is remarkable. With the addition of these carefully crafted and installed feet, the baseboard under the dishwasher now seamlessly integrates with the surrounding cabinetry. The previously exposed area is beautifully concealed, creating a cohesive and polished look that flows effortlessly through the kitchen. This quick project not only solved the aesthetic problem but also enhanced the overall appeal of the space, making it appear more thoughtfully designed and custom-fitted. In fact, the longest part of this entire endeavor was touching up the baseboard paint that had unfortunately gotten stained during a floor refinishing project!
These new decorative feet work wonders. They effectively hide the exposed and less-than-charming areas beneath the dishwasher, blending in perfectly with the existing cabinet structure. The result is a kitchen that looks intentionally designed, not one where an appliance gap was merely tolerated. This small detail makes a significant difference, demonstrating how minor modifications can have a major impact on your home’s aesthetic and perceived value.
This isn’t my first rodeo with transforming cabinets using this technique. I previously shared how I crafted and added these simple wood shelf bracket feet to other kitchen cabinets when I first started blogging. You can revisit that journey and discover more about my initial Kitchen Cabinet Makeover for additional inspiration and insights into the process.
The beauty of this project lies in its simplicity. For the initial cabinet feet, I merely cut down readily available wood shelf brackets to the desired size and secured them with a strong adhesive. The image above shows a snapshot from that earlier project, illustrating the straightforward nature of the technique. It’s a testament to how accessible and impactful DIY home improvements can be, even for those with limited experience.
Photo: Stephanie Wiley Photography
My inspiration for this design came from countless hours poring over kitchen photos in magazines and online galleries. The sophisticated touch that decorative feet added to custom kitchen designs immediately captivated me. I knew then that I had to find a way to replicate that high-end look in my own kitchen, proving that luxury doesn’t always come with a hefty price tag. This simple modification elevates the entire aesthetic, transforming basic cabinets into pieces with architectural interest and charm.
Photo credit: Divine Photography, LLC
Fast forward to tackling the dishwasher area. While I couldn’t locate the exact shelf brackets I used many years ago for the initial cabinet makeover, it wasn’t an issue. The beauty of this project is its flexibility. The new brackets for the dishwasher area would be positioned slightly further back than the existing cabinet feet, making a perfect match unnecessary. This adaptability ensures that even if you can’t find identical pieces, you can still achieve a cohesive look with careful placement and matching paint.
Attaching the new bracket feet required a slightly different approach due to the functionality of the dishwasher. Instead of placing them directly along the cabinet edge as before, I positioned them precisely along the baseboard edge. This careful placement was crucial to ensure that the dishwasher door could open and close without any obstruction, a key consideration for any appliance-adjacent modification. This minor adjustment highlights the importance of planning and adapting your DIY strategy to fit the unique requirements of each area in your kitchen.
How to Create Custom Kitchen Base Cabinet Feet Using Wood Shelf Brackets
Ready to give your kitchen that coveted custom look? This step-by-step guide will walk you through transforming simple wood shelf brackets into elegant feet for your kitchen base cabinets, effectively hiding any unsightly gaps and enhancing your kitchen’s overall appeal. It’s an accessible project perfect for the DIY enthusiast looking for a high-impact, low-cost upgrade.
Supplies You’ll Need:
- Wood Shelf Brackets (2): Look for these in the lumber or hardware aisle of your local home improvement store. Choose a style that complements your existing cabinetry. Pine brackets are ideal as they are easy to cut.
- Primer: Essential for preparing the wood surface, ensuring paint adhesion and a smooth finish.
- Paint: Select a color that precisely matches your kitchen cabinets for a seamless, integrated look.
- Liquid Nails (or similar strong construction adhesive): This heavy-duty adhesive provides excellent holding power, securing the brackets firmly in place.
- Paint Brush: A good quality brush will ensure even application and a professional finish.
- Sandpaper and Sanding Block: For smoothing rough edges and preparing surfaces for primer and paint. Various grits (e.g., 120-grit for initial smoothing, 220-grit for fine finishing) are useful.
- Painter’s Tape: To protect surrounding areas during painting and caulking.
- Optional: Caulk and Caulk Gun: For filling any small gaps between the brackets and the cabinet/baseboard, creating a truly built-in appearance.
- Optional: Table Saw or Hand Saw: For precise cutting of the brackets to the desired size. A hand saw is perfectly adequate for pine.
-
Prepare the Brackets: Remove Hooks
Begin by inspecting your wood shelf brackets. Many come with pre-drilled holes or small metal hooks designed for mounting. For this project, you’ll want a clean, flat surface. Carefully remove any metal hooks or hanging hardware. If there are existing holes, you can fill them later with wood putty if desired, though often they are unobtrusive once painted.
-
Smooth the Edges: Sanding for a Professional Finish
Once any hardware is removed, use sandpaper and a sanding block to smooth all rough edges and surfaces of the wood brackets. Pay particular attention to any areas that will be visible. This step is crucial for achieving a professional, finished look and ensuring the paint adheres properly. Start with a medium-grit sandpaper (e.g., 120-grit) to address any significant imperfections, then follow up with a finer grit (e.g., 220-grit) for a silky-smooth finish. Wipe away any dust with a damp cloth.
-
Measure and Position: Ensuring Functionality
This is a critical step, especially when working around an appliance like a dishwasher. Carefully place the unpainted brackets under the cabinet and, more importantly, directly in front of the dishwasher. Open and close the dishwasher door multiple times to determine if any part of the bracket obstructs its movement. You may need to mark where the bracket needs to be cut to allow for full clearance. Remember, the goal is to hide the gap without impeding the appliance’s functionality.
-
Precision Cutting: Adjusting the Brackets
Once you’ve accurately marked the necessary cuts, use a hand saw or table saw to trim the brackets. Since most wood shelf brackets are made of pine, they are relatively soft and easy to cut. Take your time to ensure straight, clean cuts. After cutting, lightly sand the newly cut edges to smooth any splinters or rough spots. Always wear appropriate safety gear when using saws.
-
Prime and Paint: Matching Your Cabinets
With the brackets cut and sanded, it’s time for painting. First, apply one even coat of wood primer. Primer creates a uniform surface for the paint and helps it adhere better, preventing unsightly blotches or absorption. Once the primer is dry (check manufacturer’s instructions for drying times), apply two thin coats of your chosen paint, matching the color of your kitchen cabinets as closely as possible. Allow each coat to dry completely before applying the next. Multiple thin coats yield a much smoother and more durable finish than one thick coat.
-
Secure the Feet: Applying Liquid Nails
Once the paint on your brackets is thoroughly dry and cured, it’s time for installation. Apply a generous bead of Liquid Nails (or your chosen construction adhesive) to the back and top edges of the wood brackets – the surfaces that will make contact with the base cabinet and the floor/baseboard. Carefully position each bracket in its designated spot. Press firmly and hold in place for at least a minute. Liquid Nails is known for its strong initial tack, which helps hold the bracket in position while the adhesive cures completely. You can also use painter’s tape to hold them until fully dry, particularly if there’s any risk of movement.
-
Finishing Touches: Caulk, Sand, and Paint
After the Liquid Nails has fully cured and the brackets are solidly in place, inspect for any small gaps between the newly installed feet and the cabinet or baseboard. For a truly seamless, built-in look, use caulk to fill these gaps. Apply a thin bead of caulk along the seams, then smooth it with a wet finger or a caulking tool. Once the caulk is dry, you can lightly sand any excess for an ultra-smooth finish. Finally, touch up the entire baseboard area, including the new feet and any caulked spots, with a final coat of matching paint. This ensures everything looks perfectly uniform.
From a standing perspective, the unattached tops of the wood brackets are completely out of sight, contributing to the illusion of perfectly integrated, custom cabinet feet. While I’m still in the process of repainting the rest of the kitchen baseboards to pristine condition, the completion of these decorative feet marks a significant and satisfying step in transforming the kitchen’s aesthetic. This project not only solved a practical problem but also added a layer of sophisticated detail that makes the entire space feel more refined and intentionally designed.
The Transformed Kitchen: A Seamless and Sophisticated Outcome
The addition of these DIY decorative feet has completely revitalized the look of my kitchen, particularly around the dishwasher. What was once an exposed, awkward gap beneath an ADA-compliant appliance is now a beautifully integrated, custom-looking feature. This project proves that you don’t need a full kitchen renovation or a massive budget to achieve a high-end aesthetic. With a few simple tools, readily available materials, and a bit of DIY spirit, you can transform ordinary elements into extraordinary design details.
Beyond the immediate visual improvement, this project brings a sense of completion and cohesion to the entire kitchen. The base of the cabinets now appears continuous and intentional, elevating the overall design and making the space feel more bespoke. If you’re grappling with a similar exposed appliance gap or simply want to add a touch of custom elegance to your kitchen, I highly encourage you to try this project. It’s a testament to the power of thoughtful DIY solutions in creating a home that truly reflects your style and attention to detail. Say goodbye to unsightly gaps and hello to a kitchen that looks beautifully finished from top to bottom!