Our countertop hangs 12 inches over the back side of our cabinets. I agree with your KD, drawer access would be tough. If there is potential space that you could access from the cabinet under the overhang, a better option would be cabinet doors--you would have better horizontal access to shelves than having to do the "limbo" to get stuff in and out of the drawers.

This condition existed in a client's former kitchen. It was very difficult to get things out of the drawers particularly when things got pushed to the back.

We just have the drawers on the typical, backside of the island. They are very deep and use up almost all the potential storage space in the island. We do have a bump out on the overhang side of the island to breakup the beadboard and add support for the overhang. Honestly I never thought of trying to add access in there. I suppose it could be used for infrequently needed items, but it would be very difficult to get at.

I have a 10" overhang and cabinet doors with pull out drawers. They are full of stuff we don't use real often but it's not a big deal to get to them. Just move the bar stools, open the door and pull out the drawer. I don't think I would want standard drawers like in the picture above.

I plan on something similar to Sundownr's. Yeah, it'll be a pain in the rear to get into, but better than wasting the space and storing little-used items elsewhere.

I don't think drawers would work well under an overhang.

I'm doing one deep drawer with full extension and one space with just a door ( large space and I'll have one adjustable shelf)

I know this thread is super old, but I’m praying someone pro reads this - would it be possible to get all drawers for a kitchen island, and have all the TOP drawers fully extend plus 12” more, so they are easily accessible and don’t become useless under the overhang?

I've only ever heard of full extension drawer slides. Not full extension and 12" more. Stick with doors and shelves please.

Here is a picture of drawer I would love to have under the hang-out in the island so it is easily accessible. The cabinet doors are 12 inch depth so there is enough room for leg space for the person sitting at the island.

I actually did the drawers and I LOOOOOVE THEM SO much!!!!!! The top drawers are all smaller and thinner so we only use to charge laptops, phones, baby monitors, etc.; also, store small items like notepads, change, first aid kits, batteries, pens, etc. The drawers come all the way out and everything inside is reachable. Love love love them!!!

Was this custom made cabinet? Can you share if you used a standard cabinet?

Custom design by me, and used standard cabinets! The top drawers have internal outlets, so we can charge laptops, phones, speakers, iPads, etc. We typically store mail, paperwork, electronics, batteries in the top drawers. I love it!!

Not at all - this is completely useful and very comfortable!! Our family of four uses this countertop to work, eat, play games, and hosts parties every day! It’s seriously so perfect and amazing.

We love the extra storage and space from the drawers, and we never have to reach for anything - so efficient and gorgeous. The under lighting is also amazing! We have hidden toe kick drawers underneath each drawer, which is one of my favorite custom built creation. We consulted with three top luxury architects who work with Tiffany&Co as well as 10 architect friends from my alma mater, UC Berkeley, for this design (Go Bears!!). We love it so much!!!

Our island is 5’x10’ and overhang is 12” - perfect for families with kids, who love to host parties, and who work from home!

We have a gorgeous steel and glass dining table from Room & Board to sit down and eat together as a family for meals.

Chill. I never said you, math, or pictures are lying. :)

I am sharing our set up, which is comfortable for us - hate it or love it. We are sharing simply because a user asked, and it works for us. Our facts:

• I am a mom of two.
• I live here.
• I use this countertop every minute.
• I love it.
• It is comfortable for me (5’8”).
• It is comfortable for my husband (6’4”).
• It is comfortable for my babies (3yo, 1yo).
• It is comfortable for our guests.
• I use the drawers everyday - so much accessible storage!
• We work from home, play games, build legos, feed our babies, make pizza dough, eat, etc. on this counter very comfortably.
• Our cabin has 18” overhang and we hate it. No one ever sits down, lol.
• Our home in the city has 18” overhang and we hate it. No one ever sits down and we can’t reach anything inside the deep cabinets even with rolling drawers. I have to get down and crawl to access storage even with pull-out drawers. Super uncomfortable.
• Our other homes also have 18” overhangs, but we use our 12” overhang the most.
• IMO, deeper overhang = kids bump their heads more often, more darkness, less accessible storage, takes more valuable real estate, counter is used for eating big meals, do not have a choice to move stools away.
• IMO, a less deeper overhang = kids crawl under less and do not hit their head, more accessible drawers and storage, makes home brighter, more space for people to walk or kids to run around, host parties where guests can sit if they want or stand if they want, we can move the stools away and place baby high chairs that hang on the overhang, etc.
• This is comfortable for us and works for our lifestyle.

Hi. Thanks for the detailed post. Amazing island. One quesiton, are the drawers in the island standard 24" deep?

Yes!