Crazy idea for blind corner base?

15 years ago

I've been struggling with how to most maximize the space I have in a blind corner base (and I have also been wanting an appliance lift I thought I couldn't fit in) - the cabinet I currently have has two quarter moon pull outs that are attached to the face frame of the cabinet in a somewhat odd fashion. High quality, but it doesn't maximize the space well. I have read all the posts here, but had an inspiration (sort of a "you're chocolate is in my peanut butter" moment), and was wondering if I was crazy, or is this a good idea?

The blind corner is full height opening without a drawer. This is the only cabinet I could put an appliance lift into. However the opening is about 24 inches. The cabinets are solid, with plywood sides and a recessed top (about a half an inch below the surface.) The Rev-A-Shelf appliance lift calls for an 18 inch cabinet. I would have to build out (for the lift) about an inch on the left side, as the cabinets are face frame. That still leaves me with 5 inches to the right - the lift requires it to be mounted 6 inches below the opening of the cabinet. I was playing with the idea of building a frame to the right (into part of the remaining 30 inches or so to the right) which would hopefully fully support the lift (supported by the back/top/sides of the cabinet to the right.) However, there would be no support below on the right. I do have a frame I built as a spacer between the corner cabinet and the 12 inch cabinet next to the blind corner. I plan on screwing into this as well. I would face the interior frame (that would be partially viewable when the door it open) with some veneer. I would also install two drawers that I could pull out from the blind corner when the lift is up. (I am referencing a photo from msteinen's kitchen which shows the drawers I am talking about.)

Is this crazy, or do you think it is doable? I guess I am concerned about supporting the weight enough, the main question being would I compromise the cabinet with a fully loaded Kitchenaid Mixer, lets say, kneading bread dough? Should I add posts below next to the cabinet, much as a doorway would be supported, or is this too much? If I do that, I know that I will have to have smaller drawers, and lose "stuff" down in that space. Am I crazy? Thanks.

Hestia_Flames

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Comments (4)

desertsteph
15 years ago
i have seen the corner cabinet done with a drawer at the top. must have been on a home show program. front of the drawer looked weird (the V of it) and the few inches into those V corners wasn't really usable (I'm sure some gizmo could be stored in those corners) but the main part of the drawer started at the center of the V and back. Still made a usable drawer where one hasn't been before tho.

just thought i'd throw that in here - I know that's not what you are asking about.

I don't know if it would hold the weight of the mixer etc. I'm sure someone else will post with more info about it.

but I think it's a good idea to use that cabinet if it's possible - get the best use out of it you can!
elizpiz
15 years ago
Hi Hestia -

If I understand you correctly, you would want to install a system such as the one pictured below, and then have those two "hidden" drawers, like the ones that msteinen has.

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

If that's right, the challenge I see with that is having to get down on your hands and knees to access anything from those drawers, because the only way you would be able to access them is when the lift is up. Could be very awkward and potentially dangerous (well, maybe I speak for myself - I would be *constantly* banging my head with that type of set up! :-).

Are you set on having an appliance lift? Do you use your Kitchen Aid enough to justify leaving it out? What about a super susan? We did not have the right set up for a super susan and our cabinet maker modified our blind corner to maximize storage more but that is probably the one thing (the only thing) I do miss from my old kitchen!

Or perhaps I'm wrong about the way you want to set this up?

Eliz
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arlosmom
15 years ago
Hi Hestia! That's my blind corner that you have a picture of, and I think you may be a genious. The one downside to my cabinet as I have it is that I have to move stuff out of the way to get to what is at the back of the sliders...not a problem because I only use this cabinet as overflow storage like for the 12 rolls of paper towels from Costco, 6 boxes of Cheerios because they were on sale at Safeway, etc. It's all about stuff I buy in bulk and just need to stow somewhere. The sliders would also be great for bulky occasional-use equipment like a roasting pan. As long as you want to use the sliders for "second tier" storage and not stuff you need to get to all the time, I think your idea is absolutely wonderful. If you want to store stuff that you use all the time, however, I think you'd be unhappy with the combination.
hestia_flames
Original Author
15 years ago
Thank you for the replies.

Desert Steph, I saw those in a magazine, as a stack of drawers. Very clever use of the space.

Eliz, I looked into all of those fancy pull outs (Haelfe and Knape/Voit,) but they are not really big enough for using with a 48" cabinet. They appear to be created for a 36" cabinet. I hadn't thought about the head banging, but I would be down on my knees anyway to access the pull outs I have. I really liked how much usable space that there was with arlosmom's pull outs from the blind corner. I would use that space for crock pot, vases, etc. I wish that I could swing the mixer out of the way (I do use it once a week, and it would be ok where it is, but countertop space is premium in my small kitchen.

By the way, thanks for the compliment, Arlosmom, but I wouldn't have thought about this if I hadn't seen your drawers first! I just had another idea, but not sure if it is better - I don't love my microwave, because it takes up way too much counter space - much more than the mixer. It would just fit into the opening, and there is an outlet directly behind that cabinet on the back splash. It is 33 pounds, and the Rev-A-Shelf appliance lift has an adjustment for 30-60 pounds. I would Love to put it on the appliance lift, but am not sure if I would want to be under something so heavy while I accessed my crock pot/etc. We would use the microwave at least 6 times a day, and this would probably be crazy to do.

Has anyone mounted a heavy small appliance (30+ pounds) onto an appliance lift?

Thank you!

Hestia_Flames

Crazy idea for blind corner base?

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desertsteph

elizpiz

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Crazy idea for blind corner base?

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