skip to main content

Lee Valley? Or other blind corner cabinet solution?

10 years ago

We have a blind corner cabinet that is 42 inches wide but the door is only 18in. We are planning to use the Lee Valley blind corner cabinet solution, but am wondering if there is a better option after reading mixed reviews about Lee Valley. Would love to hear opinions. Thank you!!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

Donaleen Kohn
10 years ago
Blind corner access takes good cabinet space away, usually twelve inches on each side pkus it isn't very efficient use of the blind corner space anyway. We chose to block off the blind corner and use it as a time capsule space. I am picking out things to put in that time capsule.

Lots of people have discussed blind corner access at length in this forum.

Here is a link that might be useful: blind corner

This post was edited by donaleen on Fri, May 24, 13 at 15:02
buildinva
Original Author
10 years ago
Hi, Thanks for taking the time to post and share the link with me! I've actually read so many threads on this topic my head is spinning, lol! I love your time capsule idea! How unique and creative!

We need this space and the layout worked best for our situation, so I'm afraid we're stuck with it as-is. I am leaning toward the Lee Valley system, but wanted to see if anyone had a better idea before I hit the trigger!
Related Discussions
Blind Cabinet Solutions
Q
Comments (21)
Greendesigns, our DW is perpendicular to the sink, and it works fine for us. I don't pre-wash my dishes, so "point of use" is the dining room table for loading, and the cabinets above and to the right of the DW for unloading. The sink doesn't really play in - or if it does, I rinse items in the sink, and set them on the counter above the DW, prior to loading. I know that "DW next to the sink" is a Golden Rule here, but it isn't always the best solution - it certainly isn't in my kitchen. Without a full layout of desertdance's kitchen, it's hard to say if that is the best place for the DW or not.
...See More
Question for Lee Valley 'Blind Corner Unit' owners!
Q
Comments (9)
Gardenburgher, I didn't answer because it's seemingly in a maybe-can/maybe-can't area, and I hoped someone would have a definitive answer. I went and measured our configuration, though. We have frameless cabinets in the same corner configuration as yours, but with our oven to the right of the 15" door, and with a 15" drawer above--not that that changes the unit mounting. The top surface of the bar that swings out and would be the intersecting element (the wire shelves hang off to its left) is 19-1/2" from the inside floor of the cabinet; I believe the unit is mounted just as low as it can be, at the bottom of the side wall. FWIW, the distance is also just a bit more than 10" from it to the top surface of our cabinet box, the surface the counter sits on. This distance may be different for you. Your sink will sit above your box level at cabinet level, of course, so an issue is how far down the cabinet front that front projecting surface will go. Maybe the bar would swing out happily below it? Another issue is the unit's swing-arc. My husband, who installed it, says it it not designed to open to a right angle, but stops just short. I can't confirm this because our oven handle, which projects 1" and is curved on the corner, is in the way, and the unit's side bar opens right until it hits it. My husband says it could not go further even if the oven were not there. Hopefully the sink height measurement will keep it out of your way and you'll have your answer with that and not have to go further. If not and someone doesn't step in here, you might also ask at ikeafans.com. A number of people over there have used the Lee Valley unit and have also done their own installations.
...See More
Lazy susan or blind corner? Surprised KD recommending blind corner
Q
Comments (42)
suzi-yes that's right they are rectangle. And I am aware that I'd have lost a triangle (that would be my wasted space that I didn't need for anything) - and the circle in the rectangle does have some wasted space on the 'corners' anyhow. I thought it out and was prepared to do that. I just offered up what I have and what I contemplated as an option in case it was helpful for the OP. I would have been more than happy to do so and it would have housed the stuff that I have in my kitchen just fine, wouldn't have missed it a bit and susans are pricey. Some people love them, some people like them and some people just don't have them. You don't have to have a susan as a solution. Space calculations have been done showing that it's not really the loss of space that it can appear to be. I am okay with not preferring them even though many or even most enjoy them and find them useful. closing-off-a-blind-corner calculations beth09-I know it! I actually have a drawer stack that's somewhat empty - hahaha. It is a shock to the system. You will find what works for you. I will say the super susan (no pole) pie shaped does seem much sturdier than my old regular susan with pole.
...See More
Please help Lazy Susan corner cabinet or Blind Corner Cabinet
Q
Comments (69)
Lisa - two KD people that I have spoken to said that the voided corner does not provide wider drawers on either side. What am I missing? Nothing as far as I can tell because what they are telling you makes no sense to me at all. If you don't give up 12" of linear space to a Susan, you gain 9" of drawer width (3" goes to spacer at corner). I considered adding a BCC to my sink corner (didn't have space on sink side to do corner Susan) but opted not to because a) it wasn't the right kind of storage for that corner and b) a drawer base was cheaper storage than a BCC. Here's my corner. Drawers & trash pull-outs open. If I had done a BCC, I would have lost the bank of drawers on the right. If I'd had room for a corner Susan, I would have lost 27" of much needed drawer storage. The few items that I would have been able to store in a BCC (ditto for a corner Susan) ended up in a a single drawer in a much roomier cab next to my wall oven. I use the items in the drawers in my prep zone much more regularly than the items I use in the drawer by my oven. A few extra steps now and then is a much better option than extra steps several times a day, IMO. Look at the whole picture when it comes to storage. What you decide for one area affects storage in another. It's a domino effect, IME.
...See More
attofarad
10 years ago
If you want increased storage, these units are not the way to go. What you can get is a reasonable amount of storage, which is very easy to access. I got the Lemans II, about $424 delivered, purchase from a Georgia cabinet maker on eBay. The access to contents is excellent. Having now installed one, I could do another in a leisurely 20 minutes.

Both the Lee Valley and the Lemans II (50cm) have almost the same area per level as your 18" cabinet does. They only provide two levels, and do not really accommodate a drawer above them very well. You would get more storage than these units by putting in a stack of 4 drawers.

If you are one of the lucky ones, your blind corner is accessible from the other side of wall, peninsula, etc. In that case, you can just have a storage cabinet accessed from the other side (or other room).
andreak100
10 years ago
As mentioned, if you have the ability to access the blind corner area from the other side, that's typically regarded as the most ideal solution.

We couldn't, and like attofarad, we opted for a Hafele LeMans unit. I loved the idea of the Hafele Magic Corner (the "better" version of the Lee Valley one), but I couldn't justify the price difference between the Magic Corner and the LeMans, so I looked for other options.

We aren't installed yet, but I anticipate the LeMans being the best option for us due to the items that I plan on storing there (taller things). I've seen the drawer units and like those quite a bit...would have considered them if we I didn't already have the drawers that we need elsewhere in the kitchen.

The Lee Valley one - it's my understanding that it's not as sturdy (nor is it nearly as expensive as the Hafele Magic Corner) and from what I saw somewhere on the web, there was a comparison of the Hafele and other "magic corners", and it showed that the Hafele had more usable space due to the back shelves being deeper/larger. I don't know if the Lee Valley one gives the amount of usuable space, but you may want to find out if you can get info on that and compare it with the Hafele one if you still decide that's the blind corner option you decide to use.

Also, I'll say that while I liked the magic corner *idea* and it's coolness factor, in the end, it seemed like the LeMans was likely more user friendly for me overall.

Related Stories

KITCHEN DESIGN Kitchen Storage Solutions Hide and Keep

By Scheer & Co. Interior Design

Rollout drawers, pullout cabinets and slide-in doors are just a few of the options for keeping kitchen items out of sight but close at hand

KITCHEN DESIGN Kitchen Confidential: 13 Ideas for Creative Corners

Discover clever ways to make the most of kitchen corners to get extra storage and additional seating

DECORATING GUIDES The Art of the Window: Drapery Solutions for Difficult Types and Shapes

By Jess McBride

Stymied by how to hang draperies on a nonstandard window? Check out these tips for dressing 10 tricky window styles

DECLUTTERING 13 Storage Solutions to Banish the Clutter

By Affecting Spaces Design Studio

Take the pain out of cleaning up by creating places to quickly and easily stash your stuff

KITCHEN DESIGN Is a Kitchen Corner Sink Right for You?

By Lisa Frederick

We cover all the angles of the kitchen corner, from savvy storage to traffic issues, so you can make a smart decision about your sink

HOMES AROUND THE WORLD Houzz Tour: Family House With a Surprise Around Every Corner

By Grace Chamia

If houses could smile, this 1903 New Zealand villa might have the biggest grin of them all

KITCHEN STORAGE 8 Cabinet Door and Drawer Types for an Exceptional Kitchen

By The Inman Company

Pick a pocket or flip for hydraulic. These alternatives to standard swing-out cabinet doors offer more personalized functionality

DECORATING GUIDES Decorate With Intention: Helping Your TV Blend In

By Laura Gaskill

Somewhere between hiding the tube in a cabinet and letting it rule the room are these 11 creative solutions

KITCHEN DESIGN The Most Popular Kitchen Storage Ideas of 2015

By Becky Harris

Maximizing every inch, keeping necessities close at hand and finding room for technology top Houzzer favorites

HOMES AROUND THE WORLD Household Habits and Customs to Borrow From Other Countries

By Елена Амбросимова

Discover why salt may be the perfect house-warming gift, how to clean rugs in snow and why you should invest in a pair of ‘toilet slippers’

Sponsored

Hope Restoration & General Contracting

35 Reviews

Columbus Design-Build, Kitchen & Bath Remodeling, Historic Renovations

More Discussions

kitchen design feedback

6

Nuage Quartzite - any water issues?

6

hello , what are your thoughts on two tone countertops?

5

Do workstation sinks and marble countertops mix

2

wide double under mount stainless sink

5