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What's the 'rule' with drawer bases?

15 years ago

I actually have two questions about this:

Like many of you here, I'm planning on having mostly drawers for my base cabinets. But when I think about what I'm actually going to put *in* the drawers, I run into a bit of a dilemma. I have a long run along one wall which ends with a 30" 3-drawer base followed by an 18" 4-drawer base. The 3-drawer base is three 4.5" shallow drawers above one 9" deep drawer. I will use two shallow drawers for utensils and saran wrap, foil, storage bags, etc. The other shallow drawer and deep drawer will most likely be for pet supplies since it's right by the back door. The wider drawer base will hold dishes, so the drawers are deeper: 4.5" on top, then 9", then 10.5". Will these two configurations look funny next to each other, or is it okay to have non-matching drawer bases next to each other? You can see drawings of these units on page 1 or bigger on page 2 here.

I also plan on using those same 3-drawer bases (except 33" wide) for my pots and pans on either side of the stove. I wanted that 4.5" drawer on top for stove utensils on one side and spices on the other. I do have the option of choosing a 2-drawer base (two 12.5" deep drawers), which they recommend for storing cookware sets, but I measured and I think the 9" and 10.5" deep drawers will work for my pots and pans. Anyone know if there is a "standard" for this?

Thanks!

Katie

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Comments (4)

mamadadapaige
15 years ago
Hi Katie,
hmmm... I am not sure how it will look to have such a wide variety of drawer bases. What other drawers/sizes will be in the room? I think it should be fully drawn out and looked at as a whole before you proceed. I do think it could look jumbled depending on what else is going on.

I like that your pots and pans drawers will be 33" wide and while I think 2 drawers is easier than three I think it is probably even more important to have your utensils and spices close by.

I drew out the drawers you mentioned so that you can see what they will look like. I think it is a matter of personal feeling, but I tend to like things cohesive and, as stated, given what else is going on, there could be a lack of cohesion. I do think it is great that you are carefully planning where you will put things, so keep on with that.
loves2cook4six
15 years ago
I have all drawer bases and the drawers all line up, even going around corners. In fact to maintain the lines we even put special doors on the corner units to mimic draw fronts. We also used fake draw fronts to hide multiple draws in order to maintain these lines.

Here's my corner closed:
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Thanks for the headsup, angela12345. I measured the GD and went to HD to measure the interior dimension of a 30" sink base cabinet. My oh my, a 30" sink base is TINY! But, it will have to do for now. The 33" sink base has more space inside and I wish we could put it in our layout without my being so bothered. Sigh. Alas, I really can't stand how the spacing of the sink base is uneven in relation to the already lopsided window on the wall. It makes me feel I am living in the winchester mystery house! So far, I have ascertained that it can hold our trash, recycle bin and compost pail, with a smidge of room left for fire extinguisher. Definitely no room for insta-hot water heater and filter. So, we nix that from our wish list. I am looking for a single bowl undermount. After some online research, I found a kindred sink KCUS30A-10/10BG that I like but I don't know if it's available online or not. I wish I could use the ticor sink but the one I like needs a 33" sink base. Bummer. The kindred sink I am interested in will have interior dimension of 27"W x 16"L x 10"H. I think that will work beautifully for washing my long-handled pans. Here's the specs: http://www.kindred-sinkware.com/grfx/products/specs/KCUS30A_10-10BG.pdf. Hope Kindred is a good product.
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I don't necessarily agree with a larger sink base. I would rather maximize the use of cabinets - sink bases (unless they have a trash pullout) are not very efficient storage spaces. I would avoid 12" upper cabinets like the Plague. I had 3 of them in my old kitchen, and they are a royal pain. Even 15" is a vast improvement. I definitely agree with abbycat about the corner by the family room - though drawers may not be the best solution, depending on what you want to store there. If it's a space for a large crockpot and soup kettle, a cabinet may work better. Which leads me to my next advice: carefully plan out where everything will go in the new kitchen - and I mean everything! My cabinet layout - especially corner storage - was partly driven by the desire to have things like cooking utensils, spices, and potholders near the range. Super susans are not functional for those items - but are good for pots and pans. Is your 15" drawer stack to the right of the range big enough for the things I mentioned?
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lascatx
15 years ago
I have 2 drawer bases with different size drawers next to each other. The top and bottom drawers are the same size but one has two smaller drawers in the same space as one larger drawer in the other. Next to them is the range top that has only the two deeper drawers -- and next to that is the micro drawer with only the one deep drawer at the bottom. LOL

Actually, my breakfast hutch with 2 fridge drawers in the center and 3 drawers on either side doesn't have any of the drawer breaks line up going across, and it has never bothered me there either. If anything, it may add to the old furniture character of the piece.

I'm sure you can get things too mish-mashed, but it doesn't sound like you are headed in that drection. Do that a couple of times on each wall and we may have to talk. ;-)
ccoombs1
15 years ago
Personally, I don't care for the look of the drawers not lining up. The one and ONLY thing that bugs me about my kitchen is the two drawers under the oven are shallower than the rest of the drawers on that side of the kitchen. They don't line up. I do like them....I store wraps and bags in one and cookie sheets in the other, but I don't like the way they look.

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