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Blog Cabin '08: Flush-With-the-Floor Hideaway Storage Compartments Karl Champley fashions special spaces for the cabin loft to stow extra stuff. Get lots more info on DIY's Blog Cabin. From "Blog Cabin" episode DBLG-211

Wasted Spaces host Karl Champley designs and helps install handy storage compartments, neatly hidden beneath the hardwood floor.

As the floors get installed in the cabin, Karl Champley, host of DIY's Wasted Spaces, pays a visit with some helpful ideas for creating distinctive storage elements, including hideaway compartments in the loft floor; it's perfect for storing games or blankets. Below is a summary of the basic steps in the project along with a list of tools and materials used.

Materials and tools:

birch plywood
wood glue
nails
wood screws
flush-mounted drawer pulls
hinges (optional)
painter's tape
circular saw
jigsaw
cordless drill with screwdriver attachment

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D

Steps:

• Choose an area of flooring free of any wiring or plumbing. Determine where the floor joists are and mark out the section in between two joists using painter's tape. Tip: Before making your cuts, cover the shoe plate of your circular saw with painter's tape to help protect the wood flooring from scratches (figure A).

• Following the taped markings and cutting along the inside of the taped line, carefully begin cutting out the section of flooring for the storage compartments. Use a circular saw to start the cut for each side of the compartment, beginning with a plunge cut at the middle of the taped marking (figure B). Then use a jigsaw to finish off the corners, completing the square cutout. Take extra care not to damage the finished wood flooring as you make your cuts, and save the cutout sections to create the lids for your storage compartments.

• To build the box inserts, measure the openings to determine the dimensions of the box, making sure to account for space at the top for the lid to sit flush with the floor. Assemble the box inserts using plywood, wood glue and nails. Secure the box inserts at their corners using simple butt joints (figure C).

• Attach the hardware (the flush-mounted pulls) to cut out sections that will form the lids following the manufacturer's instructions that come with the hardware. Attach the boxes to the floor joists, so that they sit recessed at the proper height, using wood screws (figure D).

• Carefully drop the lids into place. These can be secured to the floor with hinges if desired. In this case, the lids were left unattached so that they could be lifted out completely if needed.

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