Kitchen & Bath: Cabinet Layout With Story Poles

Building face-frame cabinets used to be a fairly complex process for me. After marking the appliance and sink locations on the walls, I would measure the intervening spaces and key them to a drawing of the cabinets. Back in the shop, I would use my calculator to add, subtract, and juggle numbers in an attempt to make the cabinets fit the spaces and to develop an accurate cut list. It was haphazard, stressful, and prone to error. Then I discovered story poles. I now use story poles to make a permanent record of all my cabinet components, along with their relation to doors, windows, and appliances. Having a fixed reference is not only invaluable for complex cabinet layouts; it’s