As a Realtor in Hollister California, I know that buyers are looking for homes that offer a little something extra. Adding a custom and unique storage space adds value and interest to your property.
My husband and I have always wondered if we could gain some extra closet space by opening up this wall and using the space under the stairs for storage. One day we finally went for it...
We began by cutting an small hole in order to get a look at what was inside. It looked promising.
The first step was to cut a rough opening in the wall and measure the space for a door. Unfortunately, outside of a custom door shop, it is impossible to purchase a "knee-wall door" or half door at store. My husband decided to modify a hollow-core interior door to fit the space...
He prepped the opening by removing a stud and creating a small header. The opening was 24 inches wide. He purchased a 30X80 hollow core interior door from Lowes. This could also be a solid core wood door.
The door down was then cut down to fit the custom opening. He had to use the stiles to fill in the rough cut edges. He then used wood glue and wood filler to finish and fill the edges.
He used 1x4 pine to create a door frame and then attached the custom cut door to ensure it was level. This part can be a bit tricky but was basically the same as a normal door install. DIY Network has a good tutorial for door installs.
He attached a stop using furring strips and finishing nails.
We decided to go with a ball-catch door handle to avoid drilling a door handle and it was just easier!
My husband added trim and we painted the door with a high-quality door and cabinet paint. You can check out my other blog for tips on painting cabinets. He also installed flooring to create a more finished look.
The finished product looks fantastic and gives us about 30 square feet of storage! The total cost was less than $200 and took about 3 days to complete.
