yes! Silverware! We have the same kind of hutch, and I keep everyday dishes and glasses in it, with silverware in one drawer and napkins in the other. This makes for everything in one place when it comes to setting the table, and my kids can reach everything in the cabinet, whereas they would not be able to if the dishes were in a true upper.... thus, they can set the table with no help from moi;)

That makes no sense at all. Silverware in that drawer? I would put things like gigantic clay pitchers, extra oversized sculptures of Greek gods that I can't figure out where to put, or my collection of hula girl lamps. Or my husband might store his random and slightly rusty nails and screws in that drawer. But never something so boring as silverware. C'mon...

:o)

Niffy--kids setting the table is still a dream for me!

Adrienne--LOL! Was mine a stupid question? I've never had a hutch cab or even seen one so how do I know? Where do you put your lava lamps? ;)

The benefit of those drawers is crumb-free silverware.

Yep, that's where we keep our silverware.

Hey Breezy,
Don't know if there is a need right there, but I see a door to the right. Maybe have the drawer wired as a charging station for cell phones/cameras/pda etc. We always walk in and drop things right on the counter closest to door. I was actually going to do this in my "coastal kitchen" plan under my glass cab, but needed the counter space more.

Another item we'd have in ours is beer bottle opener next to the deck.

If you have a grill out there, grilling tools might also be in drawers by the door either above or under the countertop--spatulas, silicone basting brushes, long forks, perhaps other outdoor dining gear.

I never thought of the benefit of going crumbless. Good side benefit.

I thought you might, Rhome.

Coastal--the door is to the deck in the backyard. I'm planning on putting a charging area in the new mudroom at the back door as part of the dropping area.

Yeah, Florantha, I had planned the grill tools there in the drawers beneath. I would have had to move that stuff someplace else if I wanted to put the silverware in there. Thanks everyone!

Oh hey, do most of you have one drawer there? Or two? I asked my cab maker to build one, but I'm sure he could do two if needed.

If the cabinet is only 24" wide then only one drawer will fit - it will only be 18-20" inside with face-frame cabs.

I want a crumb free silverware drawer. I can't do one of those hutch things though because there WILL be stuff blocking that drawer.

To prevent blockage, she could cover the countertop in front of the drawer with pigeon spikes. That would be memorable.

Nat--I meant two high, not two wide.

Fori and Marcolo--LOL! I guess that's one way to keep cr@p off the counter!

Seriously though, back to my question.

Do you have two stacked drawers there or only one?

That question was not stupid at all - I was just joking. I must have been in a particularly silly mood! :o)

Having cabs that sit on the counter has indeed made it easier to press child labor into service. My kids now can empty the d/w and set the table with no help, all because of my new cabs. I like it too .... Especially when you want to pick up, say, a stack of plates and not just one.

Having cabs that sit on the counter has indeed made it easier to press child labor into service. My kids now can empty the d/w and set the table with no help, all because of my new cabs. I like it too .... Especially when you want to pick up, say, a stack of plates and not just one.

The crumb issue is huge in our current kitchen. I am forever cleaning the silverware drawer, as the bread drawer is directly under it. The kids grab the bread and put it RIGHT above the silverware drawer. We have moved them both in the new kitchen to avoid crumbs. This is an even better solution though! I love the silverware going there!

We have the same type of cabinet in our kitchen. Ours is 27" wide, but the same depth as the upper cabinets, 12" deep. There is no depth to the drawer for silverware (only about 9" deep). I plan on keeping my fancier steak knives (in their box) and some napkin rings. Other than that, not much else will fit. Charging station would be a GREAT idea though!

Fivefoot--excellent point! Mine will be upper cab depth too, 12". My longest piece of silverware is the table knife at 8.5" long. I should really check with my cab maker to find out how much finished interior space I'll have. He better say at least 9"!

BTW, my cab maker never heard of a drawer being wired with an outlet. He gave the most bewildered look when I mentioned it for my bathroom vanity.

The benefit of those drawers is crumb-free silverware.

Wait, what? Such a thing exists? *slaps hand to forehead*