The Discovery

A questioner shared:

Found this hidden behind a cabinet in our new home. What is it used for?

Details

We discovered this in our new house. It pulls out from the side of our cabinet and extends as shown. There are some random screw holes in it and a light on the other side (matching our under-cabinet lights).

• Dimensions: The cabinet is about 2 inches deep, 2.5 feet tall, and 2 feet wide. The board that pulls out extends about 18 inches past the cabinet.
• Debunking Ideas:
  • Spice Rack: It faces away from the kitchen and doesn’t support shelves.
  • Gun Rack: The 2-inch depth seems too shallow.
  • Sun Blocker: The screw holes and cabinet depth don’t align with this use.

Since it was a foreclosure, we can’t ask the previous owner.

Community Insights

Possible Uses:

• Calendar or Recipe Hanger: Looks like a spot to hang recipes or a calendar while cooking.
• Dartboard: Could fit under the light. The light and depth suggest a dartboard.
• Hidden Gun Rack: Might have had hooks for firearms. Previous owner might have been a firearms owner.
• Display or Quick Access: The light implies something benefits from being lit. It might be for display or quick access.
• Spice Rack Repurposed: Maybe it was used for another purpose like displaying tea or stamps.

Other Theories:

• Large Kitchen Utensil Hanger: Possibly for hanging large utensils, but no screws or hooks are installed yet.
• Homeschooling Tool: Could be a fold-out board used for homeschooling.
• Storage for Kitchen Items: Possibly for a large cookie sheet, cutting board, or pizza stone.
• Sun Shade: The light might indicate it was repurposed for storage.
• Hidden Art Display: The light could be for showing off a hidden painting.
• Leaf Storage for Table: Could be used to hide a table leaf.

Theories:

1. Spice Rack Repurposed: Initially for spices, now for displaying something else.
2. Hidden Gun Rack: Designed for quick access to firearms.
3. Unique Display: Possibly for an esoteric hobby item like tea or stamps.

Despite various theories, the exact purpose remains a mystery. The clever design suggests it was meant for something specific and well-thought-out.