Face frame design

[Brian Runau]

Building a 3 drawer cabinet for the office. Solid panel sides with a face frame. Mission style no toe kick, 4" high bottom cross piece. Would it look better to run the side vertical pieces top to floor or cut the bottom cross piece full width and have the vertical sides come down and sit on top of the bottom cross piece. Thanks. Brian

[jack duren]

Normally we run the stiles to the floor..

[Lee Schierer]

You can build it either way. It depends upon the look you want. A google search will show many Mission Style cabinets with drawer that the stiles don't go all the way to the floor.
Screenshot 2024-01-16 124559.pngmisson style cabinets.png
Here's a link to a site with lots of Mission style cabinets with drawers (no affiliation).

[Brian Runau]

I think I am in between styles I see. I have solid panel sides and plan to cut the foot into the bottom of the panel and match that on the bottom in the front. I didn't want to see the front edge of the side panel so I was planning on a face frame attached to the side panels but stuck on whether to run the vertical stile floor length or into the 4" high piece on the bottom. I wasn't planning on carrying this 4" high cross piece around into the sides. Pretty sure I am over thinking it at this point. thanks for the input. Brian

[Lee Schierer]

I didn't want to see the front edge of the side panel so I was planning on a face frame attached to the side panels but stuck on whether to run the vertical stile floor length or into the 4" high piece on the bottom.

Here is a cabinet I made with a face frame that has what you are thinking of doing.
20130905_1848.jpg

[Brian Runau]

Here is a cabinet I made with a face frame that has what you are thinking of doing.
20130905_1848.jpg

Lee, nice piece. My top horizontal stringer is only going to be 1" to maximize drawer space. Yours is larger and has nice symmetry. I reviewed both designs with my boss yesterday (My wife) and she likes the vertical stringers going all the way to the floor, so that's the current plan. I will probably change my mind three more times. Thanks. Brian

Adder to original post. I showed my wife your piece. We like how you did it, but I would have to make my top horizontal piece wider and I can. may I ask what is your proportion between the two? I was planning on using 4" on my bottom and I could increase my top to 2". thanks again. Brian

[Lee Schierer]

Lee, nice piece. My top horizontal stringer is only going to be 1" to maximize drawer space. Yours is larger and has nice symmetry. I reviewed both designs with my boss yesterday (My wife) and she likes the vertical stringers going all the way to the floor, so that's the current plan. I will probably change my mind three more times. Thanks. Brian

Adder to original post. I showed my wife your piece. We like how you did it, but I would have to make my top horizontal piece wider and I can. may I ask what is your proportion between the two? I was planning on using 4" on my bottom and I could increase my top to 2". thanks again. Brian

Here is a dimensioned view of the cherry entertainment center. Sorry for the dark background, but it is easier on the eyes when drawing in cad. Send me a PM with your email address if you want the jpeg file which can zoom in more than what appears here. All wood thickness is 3/4". It is all solid cherry except the back panel.
ChrisEC.jpg

[Brian Runau]

Here is a dimensioned view of the cherry entertainment center. Sorry for the dark background, but it is easier on the eyes when drawing in cad. Send me a PM with your email address if you want the jpeg file which can zoom in more than what appears here. All wood thickness is 3/4". It is all solid cherry except the back panel.
ChrisEC.jpg

Lee, Thanks. 2" top 3-1/2" bottom. Since my bottom is 4" think I'll go 2-1/2" on top. Really appreciate your kindness. Brian