For face frame cabinets, yes - you lose approximately 1.75" - 2" on each side of the cabinet, on every cabinet box, to the stiles. That's the reason we chose frameless cabinets.

What you are calling a 24" drawer is actually the width of the "facing" or faceplate of the drawer. Then you have the frame of the cabinet that the drawer sits in and then you have the width of the pull-out drawer sides itself. So, in each of my drawers I lose 3" of space. For example - my 30" drawers give my 27" of interior space and my 24" drawers give my 21" of interior space, my 15" drawers give my 12" interior space,etc. Different manufacturers or custom builders will give you different spacing.

When deciding what sizes you want, if your kitchen is still together, measure the sizes that you currently have so that you have a spatial reference. Look at what you are storing in them and what do you like/not like about the sizes. I, personally like the sizes of 30" and 18" for different things. The 30" are great for cutlery, pots/pans, mixing bowls, small appliances. The 18" are great for storing food wraps, tupperware, etc. But we all store things differently.

Good to see you're ready! I've been looking forward to the future progress pictures for a long time :)

I would have done a 24" sink if I had the space. It gives enough room to soak stuff or a quick rinse out of a pot without having to be careful. An 18" is big enough to fit most pots inside, but not big frying pans.

I might be tempted to kick the trash down to the "C" cabinet. Reasons are: particularly if you compost, you'll need the compost near the prep sink, but not necessarily the trash; the trash is something used by a lot of people, particularly for packaging - so it would be nice to have one that was more accessible to the other faces of the island and on that end; the main sink trash is close enough to use for stray bits and pieces.

So, maybe a single can pullout in a 15 inch cabinet plus a set of sorta 33" drawers. Again, framed cabinets so the available size is possibly less two paneled sides (unless he's making integrated panels) so take away 1.5" from the total width of 48" for that, plus 3 stiles at 1.5" each, plus 15" for the trash pullout - they are fixed sizes. That would leave the opening for the drawers at about 27". With integrated panels, it would be 28.5" wide drawers.

I think I could fit silverware, some handtools or knives, 4 piece service for 8, and an entire drawer full of cups (15? 20?). This is a place where you might consider having the deeper drawer in the center if you have a lot of dishes.

If the trash pullout is moved, then the B side could be re-arranged to have 2-36" wide cabinets and the sink base.

Now you know why I tell people to get few, but wider cabinets.

Thanks dseng and blfenton! I guess the style I have now doesn't take as much off interior as the inset.
Blfenton, I measured where the foil, saranwrap, baggies and such are and those inside are only 17 so you are right, it helps to see what goes where in comparison.

Would 24 be enough for plates/bowls, saucers? That's where I don't have anything to compare to. No drawers right now wide enough to compare. The plates are in a 30" upper, but I figured with the extra depth of a base drawer, it might be enough room?

Bmore! Good to see you! I could show pictures! Believe it or not we HAVE made progress. Took out all 800sq ft of tile, ran gas, busted slab and plumbed for island sink, moved my bedroom door, recessed lighting is done, pantry is framed, pocket door installed.

You would put in a larger sink? I think you're right about the wider drawers. Just saw someone's (a2gemini?) dish drawer and it was wider. That sounds like a good idea, but one question, about the trash, if it is at the end, it will be directly across from the clean up sink trash. Is that too close?
Thanks!

I decided to do a 19" prep sink in my island (across from my stove for draining big pots of things) because I was using a 16" bar sink in my temporary kitchen setup during my reno and I found that it was not big enough for draining big pots of boiling water. The water would splash up and burn me! And draining the pots was really my main reason for a prep sink.

laxfanmom, that is exactly what I was wondering. I'm always needing to drain something and the smaller sinks look like they wouldn't be fast enough for dumping. :)

The 19" works well? That seems not too big, not too small, is yours deep?

Thanks

Oh, I thought to move the trash to the other end closer to the oven... I should never post after ten pm!

Same thing then, but you can run the silverware in drawers down one side. Maybe look at systems that stand the silverware up inside of dividers. In the 15" cabinet you could have a tall drawer on top with a mountain of silverware and then two lower drawers for less frequently used stuff or a door on something like platters. Then the wider cabinet could be cups on top with dishes under and maybe some service bits under that.

PS. I know you've been working on it. You've been an inspiration with all the work you've done to get your vision - I just want to see it. :)

I have a thought. (uh oh) What if I put the drawers that I was going to face toward the DW, facing outside, where the entire island has continuity? I started visualizing what it would look like with drawers in the middle, and the 2' blank space on each end. At least when you walked in the door, the island would be more appealing visually, and putting things away from the DW wouldn't be that much different, would it?
I've been reading a lot of threads about drawers the last couple of days and feel completely confused now.

As far as the sink goes, I would do as large as you can and are comfortable with (meaning how much real estate are you willing to lose to the sink on the island).

We are doing a 10' island, and I am using a Kohler 33 stages. The actual bowl is 18" wide. The beauty of the custom cabinetmaker is he was able to make me a cabinet that fits under the drainboard side. (I drawer with a knife block, and a trash pullout below it). I had originally thought about doing round deep sink. But this will work out so much nicer. It is located right behind the range, so I can fill pots and dump them without any issue at all.

You can see what I mean in this picture. Sorry it's a little dark. But the cabinet that is on the end closest to the camera is the sink base, to the left of it is the knife drawer and trash. I like that we can use the sink from either the side or the end. I have to make sure the faucet is placed properly of course.

Thanks Bee, I love the Kohler stage. What your cabinetmaker is doing sounds very interesting. Have you ever seen the Pioneer Woman's island sink? It's a long trough, and although I don't want a real long sink, she had the pieces from the wood counter top made to fit over the sink. If she wants it all exposed, part, or none, it's pretty cool looking. I'll try to find a picture and post.

I would love to see a picture of yours, did you try to post one?
Does your island have openings on the two long sides, or some on the short sides? I'm worried about how this will look. I think I have pictures of your kitchen thread saved in my favorites and will check there. (OR was that your last kitchen? LOL I'll have to look)

Laxfanmom, if you happen to read this, do you have a picture of your island somewhere? I searched this site, googled your name with GW, and came up with nothing as far as your kitchen goes!

Bmore, I'm doing different configurations with the trash farther down, it appears it might be too far from the sink?

Another silly question, but one that I've wondered about.
Do y'all use your can opener on the island if that is where you prep, and if you do, where do you store it? I use my can opener a lot and it is handy by the trash, but where it is now, it tucks inside the appliance garage, (plugged inside) and is out of sight, but on the island, for prep, it would be unsightly left out, and a hassle to get in and out, plug, and put up. Am I just getting lazy now? Or do I use a can opener too much? :)

hmmph. wonder what happened to the picture. I'll try again.

Bee, wow, that is going to be great.

So, your sink is at the end on the corner, and the trash pullout is next to it facing toward us, right?

What is the hole in the middle for? Is it a Microwave drawer? And, the narrow cabinet next to it? For cookie sheets? Sorry to be so nosy!

susie, thanks. Any questions-- ask away.

sink base at the end of the long side, then to the left is the knife block drawer with a trash pullout under it. Next is the speed oven, full drawer below. Skinny cabinet is for cutting boards, then stack of drawers, I'll have bread insert thingy in there.

The hole at the end of the island is for the steam oven, full drawer under it.