Lecture Notes: Designing Upper Cabinets in SketchUp

Overview

• Focus on designing upper cabinets within a kitchen layout using SketchUp.
• Four potential areas for upper cabinets, with additional consideration above the refrigerator.

Setting Up Guides

• Tools Used: Tape measure for setting guides.
• Measurements:
  • Upper cabinets set up at 18 inches from a reference point.
  • Total height consideration up to 9 feet, leaving space for crown molding or soffit.
• Steps:
  1. Pull up guides using the tape measure.
  2. Align rectangles with guides for cabinet placement.

Creating Upper Cabinet Components

• Process:
  • Draw a rectangle based on guides.
  • Use right click to "Make Component" and name it (e.g., Upper Cabinet 1).
  • Cut the component and paste it within the kitchen group.
• Replication:
  • Duplicate component across three other locations using the move tool.
  • Use Control key for duplication and align using intersections and guide points.

Rotating Components in SketchUp

• Challenges: Rotating components can be tricky.
• Steps:
  • Hover over red axis, left-click, drag to align with green axis, and left-click again.
  • Align component using guide points.

Adjusting Cabinet Sizes

• Specific Adjustments:
  • Shorter cabinets on certain sides due to spatial constraints.
  • Consider cabinet surrounds or fillers around the refrigerator.

Final Adjustments and Deleting Guides

• Final Steps:
  • Ensure all components are correctly aligned and delete guides.
  • Double-click into groups for final editing.

Detailed Cabinet Design

• Tools Used: Push/Pull tool for depth adjustments.
• Standard Measurements:
  • Standard depth contemplated: 14 inches (standard being 12 inches).
  • Adjustments for practical use (e.g., depth adequate for plates).
• Design Elements:
  • Simple design with midpoints and offsets.
  • Use the line tool to define cabinet sections and push/pull tool for adjustments.

Considerations for Kitchen Projects

• Practical depth for kitchen functionality.
• Design completion and considerations for appliance placements.
• Save and finalize project after all edits.