Remember the trash compactor that used to live in our kitchen? We removed it back in March and finally replaced the empty space with two slide-out baskets.
It only took three months to get around to it.
The empty opening was useful and, frankly, a favorite hideout for Clara. But it was time to make that space more functional—something to store dishcloths, cloth napkins, and paper napkins in one tidy spot. We also wanted to test whether slide-out baskets would be a feature worth including in a future kitchen remodel.
We considered several options: a trash or recycling bin (we already have a cabinet hack for trash that works well) or open shelving (we’d done something similar in our master bath). In the end we decided on sliding basket storage, inspired by a couple of ideas we’d saved. Sherry measured the opening and found two perfectly sized baskets at HomeGoods.
Before the baskets could go in, the opening needed some cabinet-like finishing. I added a board across the top and a new toe-kick, screwing a brace into the back cabinet lip and nailing the face pieces on to make the opening look cohesive.
Then I built out the cabinet sides so they were flush with the outer lip, which allows the drawer slides to operate without obstruction. I used scrap wood pieces cut to fit—always satisfying when leftover materials do the job.
To create the drawer frames I used a Kreg Jig and 1.5″ square dowels from Lowe’s. The frame needed to be precise so the tapered baskets would sit snugly without falling through, fit inside the cabinet while accounting for drawer slide width, and be thick enough to attach the slides securely.
This part required careful measuring and double-checking. Your exact dimensions may differ, so use the same planning approach to make a frame that fits your baskets and opening.
We chose full-extension ball-bearing drawer slides from Home Depot for smoother motion and soft-close action. They cost a bit more than basic slides, but the functionality was worth it.
I detached the drawer rail pieces and screwed them into the sides of each frame, marking holes, drilling pilot holes, and then fastening the screws to ensure correct placement.
I mounted the rails along the bottom edge of the frame to keep everything straight and to avoid the thicker portion of the slide protruding above the frame once reassembled.
Inside the cabinet I held the frame in place, marked its position, attached the cabinet-side rails, drilled pilot holes, and then secured the rails. Having an extra pair of hands made this step easier.
Before finalizing the second side, we temporarily reassembled the slides to check that the frames were level—this helps the drawers run smoothly. After securing both sides I reattached the drawer frames and tested the action. Everything worked perfectly.
The baskets fit into the frames nicely; I pushed them down slightly to ensure a snug fit. We installed two basket drawers and briefly considered a third, but HomeGoods only had two and there was already a working outlet in the cavity (the compactor had been plugged in).
We added a simple shelf above the baskets from scrap wood. Sherry suggested using it as a phone-charging spot; I used it as justification to get a Bluetooth speaker for better kitchen audio since radio reception is spotty here.
To give the fronts a clean, consistent look and to hide the slides a bit more, I attached thin boards to each drawer face and to the shelf.
Next came staining. Our cabinets were previously finished with PolyShades in Tudor, so matching the new raw wood required a couple of steps. Sherry first darkened the new pieces with a coat of Dark Walnut stain, then applied three coats of PolyShades to get close to the surrounding cabinet tone. It’s not a perfect match—the cabinets read a bit redder—but it’s close enough for this project.
We also found a $12 runner at HomeGoods to cover the worn laminate flooring in that spot. Practical and inexpensive.
As planned, the top basket now holds dishtowels and paper napkins, and the bottom basket stores cloth napkins.
The Bluetooth speaker we bought is plugged in under the shelf and is easy to remove for use elsewhere—so far it’s been great on the deck.
Sherry asked me to include a short video to show the soft-close drawer action. We put together a little clip to demonstrate it in motion.
We’re enjoying the sliding baskets so far. With this project behind us we’re torn between tackling the kitchen floors immediately or letting them wait a few more months. What projects have you been working on lately—kitchen updates, painting, outdoor work? We’d love to hear what you’re up to.