drawers vs. upper cabs

13 years ago

I have the choice of either a window or an additional upper cab. I like the extra light, but am concerned about loosing the upper cabinet space. My everyday dishes would be in the drawers - good idea?

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Comments (15)

weidiii
13 years ago
window!

find another place for your everyday dishes and everyday day enjoy the light
CaroleOH
13 years ago
Is it the only window in the room? I have a thing about having by dishes in an upper cabinet...especially glasses. Do you have a cabinet for glasses?

If it was the only window in the room, I'd probably say window. If it's just an additional one, I think I'd say cabinet.
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I think you'll find that it's difficult to price out 30" base cabinets unless you're going with a local custom builder. Most cabinet companies will only do 24" with the 6" pullout. If you really need the storage space, then you probably want to use the space rather than have a 6" void. I did find a couple of places that said they could custom make the 30" deep bases, but that they could only get short (23" approx) blumotion slides, which made the depth irrelevant to us because virtually EVERY base cabinet in our kitchen is a pullout or drawer. Scherr's gave us 27" long blumotion slides for our 30" base cabinets, which means we end up with 25% more storage than the 24" deep standard bases. And that means that I can store an entire 12-place setting set of dishes in one drawer - cups, saucers, big dishes, little dishes, rimmed bowls, and unrimmed bowls. So, to do it right, you'll probably need to check with a local custom cabinet builder who can locate the longer slides. Don't believe them if they say they don't exist, because they do. And then put the double oven at whatever height works for you (instead of reaching up over a hot oven door, you can reach straight to it). And make tray dividers that fit entire full-sheet cake pans. Okay, off my soapbox now. Lisa
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francoise47
13 years ago
I think in part it depends on your height. I'm tall and find that in most cases it is easier to reach up to a wall cabinet to put away dishes than to lean over for a drawer. If you will still have plenty of windows and light even with the wall cabinet, I'd recommend at least one wall cabinet. But it is very hard to advise without seeing your floor plan.
ae2ga
13 years ago
I am in the more height challenged group, so I say window. Natural light and putting the glasses elsewhere sounds like the better idea. You can always store glasses, but it's doubtful you'll have another opportunity to add more natural light to your space.
breezygirl
13 years ago
If you could post your floor plan it would help. Dishes in drawers are fine if it works for you ergonomically. Would you have a decent view out of the new window? Even if you wouldn't the thought of more windows is attractive to me.
Christine Clemens
13 years ago
Window! I am so glad I swapped my upper cabinets for a larger window. It was definitely my best decision.
CEFreeman
13 years ago
WINDOW!
I'm challenged, too. (OK, shut up) and am grateful for my window & drawers.

I even had my sink window lowered after DH bailed. It was fine for him at 6'5", but for me at 5'2" I couldn't see out. Just the collapsing porch ceiling. My life felt changed when I could suddenly see out over the field, the barn & deer eating my plants....

WINDOW
Christine
happycook2
Original Author
13 years ago
Gosh - you've all been so helpful. I like the idea of the window too but what's your thought of dishes in the drawer? I'm a shorty, 5', so I don't have to bend over to far!
momqs
13 years ago
Window - I'm 5'7" and I ditched my upper cabs for window and drawers - I'll never go back.

My dishes are in drawers - it's perfect - my 5yr old can set the table and unload the dishwasher! Heaven!
liriodendron
13 years ago
How does the window fit with the exterior elevation of your house? Does it complete a pattern and/or match the others in position, windowsill height, scale, style, width, height, trim, window pane size, etc.?

Too many renos are spoiled by only considering the wndow from the inside, not how it completes, or clashes with - the exterior, as well.

L
ae2ga
13 years ago
Happycook - the dishes in drawers is an excellent thing to be sure. No more crawling on the floor to find the top that is in the back of the cabinet. No more step stools to reach the second shelf. I don't know about you, but I only use the first shelf in my upper cabinets for regular storage anyway because it's a pain to regularly need stuff that can't be easily reached.
brianadarnell
13 years ago
I keep all of my dishes in drawers...its perfect! I kept them in drawers in my old house and plan to do the same for the new kitchen. Its a LOT easier to lift a heavy stack of plates into a drawer than to lift them up into a cabinet.

I still like uppers for cups, coffee mugs, etc. but wouldn't be heartbroken if in my next kitchen had to find a way to store them in drawers. It may just take some creativity.
desertsteph
13 years ago
drawers! I'm short also -5' and can only utilize the first shelf of an upper cabinet on a regular basis.

glasses and cups will be fine in a drawer also.
dianalo
13 years ago
Drawers rock! We have only had our in drawers for a week or so now and can't believe we ever didn't. No reaching over the stack in the front to reach the back any more or tilting them sideways to get past the narrow opening... yippeee!

Drawers are also easier/safer if you have any kids in your life.
CEFreeman
13 years ago
I just realized I only use the 1st 2 shelves in my uppers, too. I put stuff up higher I don't use & even have some empty. Ironically, I just built a few 42" cabs just because I like the height!

Got 3, wall 3612 cabnets at H4H today, which will go up on top of some of my 30" cabs. I'm going to leave them open & light them.

But I'm sure not going to put anything up there I need!

Oh - I put hooks on a bottom, end cabinet that's out of view. I hang one of those miniture fold-up step ladders on it. Still hate to get things up high.

Go for the window -- but definately look at your house from the outside. I had my 2 front sliders put in & that was my only concern. I'm so anal I wanted them to be perfectly spaced. Luckily, they worked out fine, inside, too. But window!

Look at those drawer dividers Ikea has. It'll help you with your down dishes.

Christine

drawers vs. upper cabs

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weidiii

CaroleOH

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