Add a built in step stool to your vanity! Just remove the toekick and replace with a slide out step drawer.
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Preparation
1 set of Heavy Duty 16" drawer slides 1 - 1x3 @ 8 feet long 1 - 3/4" plywood 16" x width of drawer
You may need to modify or alter this tutorial depending on the type of vanity you use. Optimally, use a vanity with 6" toekick, as shown, with a full overlay door. Please read through the entire plan and all comments before beginning this project. It is also advisable to review the Getting Started Section. Take all necessary precautions to build safely and smartly. Work on a clean level surface, free of imperfections or debris. Always use straight boards. Check for square after each step. Always predrill holes before attaching with screws. Use glue with finish nails for a stronger hold. Wipe excess glue off bare wood for stained projects, as dried glue will not take stain. Be safe, have fun, and ask for help if you need it. Good luck!
Instructions
Step 2
Step 3
Measure the opening left from removing the toekick. In my case, that's 22 3/4" wide. I also took a height measurement to confirm I would need to use 1x3 boards to build the step drawer.
Also take a second to confirm that the opening is at least 16" deep - otherwise, you will need to adjust your drawer depth and use shorter slides.
Step 4
Step 6
Step 7
With the step drawer built, install in the drawer opening with drawer slides, placed to the tallest possible position. Attach toekick to step drawer (I used a couple of 2" finish nails to hold it on, removed the drawer and marked it, and then attached with the Kreg Jig).
It is always recommended to apply a test coat on a hidden area or scrap piece to ensure color evenness and adhesion. Use primer or wood conditioner as needed.
Comments
Guest (not verified)
Thu, 07/07/2011 - 01:39
When did she get so big?
When did she get so big? :)
Do you think it would be better to install on casters rather than put all of the weight on the slides?
In reply to When did she get so big? by Guest (not verified)
soulknight
Thu, 07/07/2011 - 03:10
... not just any casters...
I have been looking in to doing this and also a drawer variant for cookie sheets and such in the kitchen. I have been thinking about using library stool casters that float when no weight is applied yet retract when you step on it to give it a solid base and protect the floor when opening & closing it. Regular casters would not be safe because the drawer could slide out from under you resulting in a potential traumatic head injury.
darlasowders
Thu, 07/07/2011 - 04:49
The weight should be mostly
The weight should be mostly on the toekick (which sits on the floor effectively keeping it from flying out from under the child). You can get slides rated to 75 lbs also.
In reply to When did she get so big? by Guest (not verified)
Ana White
Thu, 07/07/2011 - 09:29
Tell me about it! Definitely
Tell me about it!
Definitely thought about the casters, but because my toekick actually rests on the floor in the front, there was no need. But if you expect high weight loads, definitely consider adding casters for additional support, or heavy duty slides.
Denise Boyle (not verified)
Thu, 07/07/2011 - 03:49
Brilliant idea!
Brilliant idea!
Guest (not verified)
Thu, 07/07/2011 - 06:08
This is AWESOME!!!! What a
This is AWESOME!!!! What a bloody brillant idea!! You ROCK!!
Kerry Stafford (not verified)
Thu, 07/07/2011 - 06:23
You are so amazingly clever!
You are so amazingly clever! You come up with such brilliant ideas and things that would never even cross my mind! Wonderful!
biz_kid1
Thu, 07/07/2011 - 06:49
I was thinking the same thing!
Woman...you are genius! =) What a great mod!
Brian (not verified)
Thu, 07/07/2011 - 07:04
Vanity Step Drawer
Great idea! As an additional precaution, the vanity should be affixed to the studs of the wall to prevent tipping and/or undue stress on the plumbing.
sarah r. (not verified)
Thu, 07/07/2011 - 08:11
love, love, love
Brilliant! I have no idea why this isn't already mass-produced. I guess these are the changes that women and moms bring to furniture production, right? Thank you a million times over, Ana. You are truly making so many lives better with the work you do.
Guest (not verified)
Thu, 07/07/2011 - 08:25
That is a fabulous idea. The
That is a fabulous idea. The step stool hardly fits in our smallest bathroom... it'd be nice to have them stand on this instead of the toilet lid in there!
tonjacoy101
Thu, 07/07/2011 - 09:28
Love It!
I love this, I don't think I ever would have thought to put a step up under the vanity like this. We have a small bathroom and I keep tripping over that darn step stool! Can't wait to try it out.
Guest (not verified)
Thu, 07/07/2011 - 10:57
You ARE brilliant!
This is pure genius.... one of those things I wonder why I never thought of (four kids later)! Can't wait for a tutorial on the wainscoting! Thank you Ana!
Amy @ this DIY life (not verified)
Thu, 07/07/2011 - 11:46
Awesome plan!
The people who remodeled our bathroom before we got our house were really tall...or I'm really short. Either way, it just doesn't mesh. I have to stand on my tip toes to spit when I brush my teeth. I'm kinda thinking I need to do this for me until I get around to building the farmhouse vanity and redoing the bathroom again :) Flipping over for a drawer sounds like a good idea too though. Decisions, decisions.
Daisies and Crazies
Thu, 07/07/2011 - 11:51
I agree!
This is such a cool idea!! Those shoes are pretty rockin' too... xo
bumbleandbean
Thu, 07/07/2011 - 12:45
Thank you!
I've been wanting to build a simply vanity to replace our pedestal sink since we need more storage, but I've held off because then the step stool would be in the way of the door. This is exactly what I needed! Thank you, Ana!
Guest (not verified)
Thu, 07/07/2011 - 19:51
I could use one of these in the kitchen myself.
Thanks Ana. I really want to try this in the kitchen for extra storage. I could use the extra step myself.
In reply to I could use one of these in the kitchen myself. by Guest (not verified)
k8kramer
Thu, 03/03/2022 - 16:54
Did you do this? Thinking it…
Did you do this? Thinking it would be a great addition to the section dedicated to baking....
flydoos
Tue, 07/12/2011 - 21:03
Just a warning...
I have slide out drawers underneath our vanities in our Master bath, and the kids like to use them to stand on and reach our sink. However, young kids like to open them with the door closed and then you have to cut a hole in the wall from your daughter's room so you can send your daughter in to close the drawer and open the door. My 1 year old son did that, and we pleaded with him for a while to push the drawer closed, and he just wasn't understanding, after much crying we decided to cut a hole in the wall and send in our older daughter. It had only been 30 minutes but our son was already sleeping on the bathroom floor, glad he wasn't too concerned.
It only took him a second to close that door and pull out the drawer, I was across the room. Just wanted to give those of you with little ones a head's up! :)
soulknight
Wed, 07/13/2011 - 13:02
It would take a child to
It would take a child to teach us a lesson of what could happen.
Erin.K (not verified)
Thu, 12/08/2011 - 10:59
Recessed kickplate
I love this idea but our cabinets are not flush with the kickplate. Could I still accomplish this upgrade? THe idea of under cabinet storage is pure genius and I would do the pull out step in our lower bathroom for my many nephews.
:),
Erin
Heidi Fowler (not verified)
Tue, 01/17/2012 - 21:53
Recessed kickplate
My kickplate is recessed, too. I was thinking it might actually work better. Since the kickplate is recessed, you could put a knob on the drawer to make it easy to pull out. The knob would not really be visible unless you bent down to pull out the drawer, and if you get the right size, it shouldn't stick out.
Sounds really good, theoretically. I'd love to hear if anyone has tried it. This has to be the coolest idea ever! I have seen these in homes and always wished I had them. I thought it would have to have been done in the original build.
Thanks for the fantastic idea! (Now someone please give me the courage to try it!)
crtrimb83
Thu, 05/17/2012 - 22:12
Caster Options?
Has anyone found any of the library/ladder casters available online? The kind that roll until you stand on them and then they are stable and don't move anymore. I'm not having much luck finding any online anywhere.
In reply to Caster Options? by crtrimb83
soulknight
Thu, 05/17/2012 - 23:21
I'm still looking for them
I'm still looking for them also. This step with the proper casters would go a long way toward making our kitchen more accessible for Sylvia. Please post the link if you find them.
In reply to I'm still looking for them by soulknight
crtrimb83
Fri, 05/18/2012 - 12:08
I think I figured it out...
I called a couple caster companies and none sell the specific ladder hardware apart from the ladders it seems. However, there is a work around I think. There are truck locks that will immobilize a step or ladder, but they seem to all have a pedal you need to depress and release. Which won't work when trying to hide it under a pull out drawer that blends into a cabinet. I think the thing to do is use weight depressing spring loaded casters and put rubber grips on the bottom of the drawer. The spring loaded casters can attach to the inside of the sides of a drawer, on the left and right when facing it. As long as you install them with the right spring height and give the drawer the ability to lower a bit to depress those springs and hit the rubber grip to the floor. The rubber would likely best be placed under the faceplate of the drawer. I don't think it would require a huge gap between the floor and drawer, maybe just a 1/4 inch depending on the drawer, nothing that would be an eyesore or look 'off' compared to the rest.
So, unfortunately there is no packaged simple solution. But hopefully that will help you make something for Sylvia :) I think that's how I'm going to do it in my bathroom for little ones to reach the sink without slipping when getting on and off. It may be an experiment to find the right spring size/caster for your drawers, but it definitely can be done!
Michael H. (not verified)
Thu, 09/20/2012 - 09:43
Reverse brake casters
The type of casters you are looking for are called either "reverse brake" or "pressure locking". DO NOT confuse with "safety brake" or "internal brake" casters, which do the opposite: let the chair (or whatever) roll while sitting, and lock in place when weight is lifted.
Hope this helps!
melifeli33
Wed, 04/03/2013 - 09:07
LOVE It
I have that same exact vanity in my kids bathroom, and can not wait to get started. I am a beginner, and I mean really never built anything more than something that comes in a box partly assembled. However I am tired of waiting on my husband to build things I need around the house. So that being said lol what is a kreg jig. and do you have to you use it. I know I can do this, I am ready to head to the hardware store. Thanks for all your awesome ideas.
hnewman07
Mon, 04/15/2013 - 12:56
I am so excited to try this.
I am so excited to try this. I hope i works with my mobile home cabinets. I am tired of my son climbing on the toilet then leaning on the toilet paper holder :)
walle115
Tue, 01/17/2017 - 18:47
How to keep from sliding inward??
Hi! We loved this idea and did it in our bathroom! But does anyone have suggestions for what to do if whenever our toddler wants to step on the stool it would fly inward and knock him right off if we didn't hold it open for him?? Has anyone else has this problem?
TilTherWasU
Tue, 02/21/2017 - 06:31
PDF
I was going to save the PDF but it says error when I try to download it. Know what the problem is? I think all vanities should have this added to them to make it kid friendly too.
In reply to PDF by TilTherWasU
Ana White
Tue, 02/21/2017 - 11:00
How about the printer
How about the printer friendly version http://www.ana-white.com/print/2991
Thanks!
In reply to How about the printer by Ana White
TilTherWasU
Tue, 02/21/2017 - 17:04
Downloading the plans...
Yes! it worked doing the printer version. Thank you!
k8kramer
Thu, 03/03/2022 - 16:57
Ana (btw: you are genius):…
Ana (btw: you are genius): what would you recommend for modifying standard kitchen cabinet base? remove front portion and install drawer slides? This would be great all around my kitchen (I'm 5'0) instead of rolling my library stool. Any suggestions welcome, Kate