52″ Sliding door console with a wine fridge bay

Here is another size variation to our sliding barn door console series.  This 3-bay, 2 door variation measures 52″ wide, 34″ high and 22 3/4″ deep. Even better, the right-hand bay on this console is designed to hold a wine fridge with maximum dimensions of 13 1/2″ wide by 25 1/2″ high by 20″ deep. The double sliding doors will allow you to hide the fridge and another bay.

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Materials:

  • 2 – 2×8 @ 6 feet long
  • 1 – 2×10 @ 6 feet long
  • 1 – 1×8 @ 6 feet long
  • 1 – 1×6 @ 4 feet long (or you can just make the 1×8 at 10′ instead)
  • 1 – 4′ x 8′ sheet of 1/4″ thick plywood or hardboard (for back)
  • 1 – 4′ x 4′ sheet of 1/2″ thick plywood (for the door)
  • 1 – 4′ x 8′ sheet of 3/4″ plywood (for the floor and walls)
  • 3 – 1×2 @ 6 feet long
  • 1 – 1×4 @ 8 feet long
  • 1 – 1×3 @ 6 feet long
  • 1 – 1×2 @ 6 feet long
  • 6 – 2×3 @ 6 feet long
  • Wood screws
  • Nails
  • Hardware for sliding doors – You can buy the hardware for sliding doors, or you can make your own.  I made my own for my rustic barn wood dog crate. Remember if you are buying it, you need to buy a set that accommodates two doors

Tools:

  • Saw: circular, miter, and/or table saw.
  • Drill / Driver
  • Nail Gun or hammer
  • Quick-grip clamps also come in handy
  • Kreg jig
  • Sander and sandpaper
  • Square
  • Tape Measure
  • Wood Glue (I’m a fan of Titebond)

Step 1: Build the upper and lower frames

Start by assembling your assembling your upper and lower frames.  These are made out of 2x3s, and are identical.  Use wood glue and 2 1/2″ wood screws for all joints. I actually buy 2x4s and rip a 1/2″ off of each edge to get down to the desired dimensions of 1 1/2″ x 2 1/2″.

Sliding Door Console, 52 inches with wine fridge - frames

Step 2: Add the plywood sides, floor, and inner wall

Cut your two sides from the 3/4″ plywood sheet.  These are each 32 1/2″ high, by 21 1/4″ wide. Note that these will be 1/4″ wider than the frames so that you can let that 1/4″ overhang the back edge and will conceal the outer edges of the back panels we’ll add later.

I like using 16 gauge nails and wood glue. The glue itself, if applied correctly, will provide a much stronger bond than any mechanical fastener.  So the nails are really just holding it in place until the glue dries.

The floor is a 21″ x 49″ sheet of 3/4″ plywood glued and nailed to the bottom frame. For the inner wall, this should be located 15 7/8″ from the right outer wall. Use wood glue and pocket screws to attach to the floor and the top frame.

Step 3: Attach the face frame

My face frame rails are continuous across the entire top and bottom instead of being separated by the middle stiles.  I just prefer this look, as it looks more like a finished cabinet to me.  That said, the upper and lower rails of the face frame are made out of 1 x 4 boards, the outer stiles are 1x3s, while the inner stiles are 1x2s.   I prefer to build mine like an actual cabinet face, using mortise and tenon joints, but it is perfectly fine to use two pocket hole screws and wood glue at each of the joints.

Sliding Door Console, 52 inches with wine fridge - face frame

Step 4: Shelf supports and shelf

Attach three 12″ vertical shelf supports, the outer ones made from a single 1×2 ripped in half, using glue and finish nails to the backs of the face frame. Use your quick-grip clamps to hold them in place while nailing.  The two outer ones should be pushed flush to the cabinet sides, while the middle one is centered on the face frame boards.

The shelf in these sliding door console plans consists of a 1×8 cut into two 32 3/8″ pieces, along with one 1×6 cut to the same length. Together, these three pieces will fill the shelf space but leave about 1/4″ gap in between boards. If you prefer, you can use another pieces of 1×8 and rip cut it down to about 6″ in width for a tighter fitting shelf. Hold the shelf boards together by using three 21″ horizontal shelf supports made from 1x2s, again with the two outer supports being ripped in half.  When building, make certain the horizontal shelf supports are aligned over the vertical supports installed on the last step. The shelf should be resting on the horizontal supports, not the 1×8.

Once the shelf is in place in the cabinet, attach the outer horizontal shelf supports to the cabinet sides using 1 1/4″ wood screws or finish nails.

Step 5: Rip and attach plywood back planking

When you are ready to install the back planking, you have two options:

  1. Make all of the planks the exact same, which means cutting seven boards at 7″ (or 14 boards at 3 1/2″) or
  2. Make the boards varying widths for a more rustic/reclaimed look.

In either case, you will install them the same.  Use wood glue and nails (or staples) at the top and bottom of each board to attach to the frames, and also secure the middle of the planks to the middle shelf to provide more structural integrity to the entire piece.

Note: it’s also a good practice to ensure the back of the piece is still square before you start attaching the planks.

Sliding Door Console, 52 inches with wine fridge - back

Step 6: Top

The next step is attaching the top.  This consists of the two 2×8 boards, cut down to 52″; as well as a 2×10 cut to the same length but rip cut down to 8 1/2″.   Align them flush with the back of the piece, and overhanging each side by 3/4″.   To hide the fasteners, use a Kreg jig and pocket screws from underneath going through the upper frame.  Alternatively, you could use 4″ wood screws going straight up through the upper frame as well.  For the second method, I definitely recommend pre-drilling the holes and even countersinking them to better hide the screw heads.

Sliding Door Console, 52 inches with wine fridge - top

Step 7: Bottom Trim

The bottom trim is made of 1×2 stock, cut with 45 degree miters.  Simply glue and nail it on.

Sliding Door Console, 52 inches with wine fridge - trim

Step 8: Door and sliders

The simplest way to build the door is to start by cutting a 15 1/8×26 1/2″ piece of 1/2″ plywood, and then laying 2″ strips around the edges and then in an X pattern.  Though how you build the door is really what will add your custom touch to this piece, so feel free to experiment.  Just remember to keep it at 15 1/8×26 1/2″.

Sliding Door Console, 52 inches with wine fridge - door

After you have your doors built, you just need to attach it to your sliders and your sliding barn door console is ready for finishing. 

If you have comments or question, please feel free to connect with us via the comments section below.  We love the feedback!  Also, don’t forget to check out our other free DIY furniture plans.

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5 thoughts on “52″ Sliding door console with a wine fridge bay

  1. I love your plans, thanks for taking the time make them for us.
    Question:
    I’m using your 52” plans and just adding 3 inches to the length to make it 55” for the space I need. Would you be able to tell me the size of the doors I need to make to fit my Dimensions? Also, I’m hoping to make them out of 1x4s or 1x6s instead of plywood. Can you help?

    1. Ronnie.
      I’ll try to look at the design later this evening or tomorrow and draw up a plan for an appropriately sized door made from 1x6s for you.

      1. Brian, I appreciate your help a lot!
        How you figure out these measurements I beyond my. Lol
        The poly is drying now, I’ll post a pic when it’s all together.

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