Have you considered the Rev-A-Shelf SS or vinyl coated metal tray dividers? They would take up less room and you wouldn't be irrevocably committed to the configuration. (I.e., you could change the configuration if you find you have too many or too few or you don't like the spacing. Yes, you would have small holes in the bottom and back of your OTF cabinet, but they wouldn't be visible.)

We have 2 sets of cabinets with vertical dividers. One is in the baking area and the open space, between dividers, is 4 1/4". I store baking sheets, pizza pans, and muffin tins, and a cutting board there. I don't have a great picture--it's the cabinet under the drawers under the mixer.

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The other is above the fridge. We used half of the 36" width because we wanted to store a tv up there too. The space between dividers is 4 1/2." I store baking dishes (i.e. 9 x 13 pyrex) there--the slots are wide enough to store 2 side by side (again, not a very good angle on the picture.)

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In both cases the spacing works very well. I have never wished they were spaced differently.

Have you checked out the free-standing Large 4-Sort from The Container Store? They are so simple and cheap, it might be worth getting a few to use while you are figuring out the best configuration for your vertical storage and committing to permanent dividers. I intend to use them permanently unless they prove unequal to the task.

Raehelen, in the last kitchen remodel I had very thin (maybe 1/4") dividers in the OTF area that slid in and out so I could make the space bigger if needed. I loved that they didn't take up much space. I expected the same configuration with this remodel (same guys, one year later) and they put fixed 3/4" dividers in. I'm used to it now, but the old one held more and was more flexible (if I wanted paper towel storage, eg, even though I never did!).

Thanks for the suggestions.

Buehl and Maydl, here in Canada, the wire coated dividers are really expensive- and shipping from the US with duty, etc. is expensive too. Plus, I personally prefer the look of the wooden dividers- though not sure why they have to be 5/8" thick- a little overkill in my opinion! (But that is sort of where DH is going in his thoughts- but it just kills me to spend more money and time and effort, when we've waited so long (over a year and counting))

Zelmar- your pictures are perfect- gives me a great idea- I can ask my carpenter guy (or at least the foreman who answers my calls) to cut the dividers at an angle like you have yours- though I'd flip the angle on the OTF ones.

I guess tomorrow, I can collect all my trays, sheets, platters, pans, etc. and see how much room they'll take up and how much room I can 'afford' to give up to the dividers.
Maybe I'll ask him to make the end one sort of like cubby holes to put wrapping paper/parcel paper rolls in- ummm, got me thinking... wonder how long they are...

Love to see the pics- I'm a visual person- thank you!

Claybabe,

Missed your post- takes me a long time to respond, I guess! That's what I was thinking they'd use 1/4"- that's what my Mom had in hers, though that was wayyy longer than one year ago! :>)

But, am thinking if I can get cubby holes in the last one, then at least the 5/8" will have served a purpose.

Come to think of it, still could have them do that- and maybe just a couple of thick ones for the heavy pans/platters and do thin or the wire ones for thin cookie sheets, etc. ummm now I have more to think about... or would that look funny to mix- not that anyone but me or Dh would be opening those cupboards...

I packed a lot of stuff into my thin little dividers: They were not flimsy. I'll try to get a photo tomorrow when I'm up at the old house, and then you can compare the two. I had heavy glass, metal and cast iron in the one with the thin dividers, just as I do here, but I had to reconfigure because the dividers took up too much room!

The cubby sounds like a great idea!

raehelen, the slant is an artifact of the photo--sorry about that, I hadn't noticed. The dividers in both cupboards are straight up and down. The channels that hold the dividers (you can see in the cabinet above the fridge) can be unscrewed so that spacing can be changed if desired--but of course screw holes would be left behind.

hmmm...either I have to get better at taking pictures or maybe it's the really old (back when 1.2 mega pixel was high) camera I had used. Maybe both.

Hi Raehelen-
Ours is similar to zelmars with a minor exception. The 36" wide cabinet is divided into 2 separate spaces - When you open the left cabinet door, we have 3 evenly separated vertical dividers (so each space is appx 5 1/2 inches. When you open the right cabinet door, that 18" wide space is divided horizontally - providing two areas of storage. If I had a photo handy I'd post it...

Good luck!

Zelmar,

I have an old dinosaur of a digital camera too! :>) In fact, I just bought a new Canon and haven't even taken it out of the box yet!

So, just to be clear, are you saying that the wooden dividers are rectangular- all four corners are 90º? I realize that the top edge is aligned with the bottom edge, but the top is not shorter than the bottom? I showed DH your pics, and he thought that having the top angled back in your lower cab would make it easier to grab trays, and then the opposite over the fridge, having the bottom angled back...
DH had thought of screwing channels in to make them adaptable too- but I'm just thinking- really that ain't gonna happen, and if I can figure this out ahead of time...crap, it isn't like I haven't had enough time... what the heck have I been doing...?

I measured my wrapping paper rolls, and most of them are 30.5" long- just a little too long! Darn...it was such a good idea! But then...I thought maybe my huge industrial sized box of saran wrap... DH was going to make an under the cabinet holder for it... oh, maybe I'm just grasping at straws... I've had part of my kitchen in storage for so long, I've probably forgotten what's down there...

Raehelen, my friend has the wood dividers built into her upper cab and she's very unhappy with them. Things get lost back there, as they were made too deep. Light doesn't reach to the back of them either; they look like narrow black holes. It's also a real bother to try and keep them clean.
Because of her problems, we went with these heavy-duty wire dividers. They don't block the light and are easy to clean around. Things still occasionally get shoved back too far, but they're easy to spot.
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Yikes,

As I was reading Lynn's post, carpenter's helper phones and says they're making the cabinet- "how far back do you want the dividers?" They usually make them 14" deep- no, that's not going to work...ugh- we decide, he says " are you there" Yes, I'm just thinking... we decide on having them start 4" back from the front, and I decide on 4 dividers- he asks, "do you want them all evenly spaced?" Ughh... I guess so...

Hadn't even thought of the light issue... well- I can't see up there anyways- can only just get the tips of my fingers over the fridge...

Cleaning... I have to clean up there? :>)

Says he'll be bringing it by tomorrow... No more procrastinating- once we have this cabinet- pantry can be screwed to wall and crown molding can go up- guess DH's gonna be busy...

5/8" is way thicker than necessary. 3/8 or 1/4 is thick enough.

My vote: space them CLOSELY, and then nothing will lean on them, which means they don't NEED to be thicker, and you won't struggle to get stuff out betweenthem.

That's why I like the after-market metal ones; if I decide I don't like the spacing, I can move them.

I also don't keep casseroles, etc., there; I ONLY keep thin, nearly flat stuff (cookie sheets, rimmed baking sheets, cutting boards, cooling racks.

All casseroles go elsewhere.

I think 4" back from the front is too much, but you'll have to tell us what you think once you see a real one.

yes, raehelen, our dividers are completely rectangular and they are set back a few inches from the front so that the items stick out a little and are easy to grab. But the dividers are spaced far enough apart so that my hand/arm will fit between them to grab something in the back (stool required for over fridge.) Also they are wide enough so that a vacuum hose will fit. I had coated wire dividers in our old kitchen. I really like the substantial feel of the wood ones and like the flexibility of using the space for heavier pyrex dishes and chopping blocks. I've never felt like I was looking into a dark hole (maybe the light wood helps.)

Whew,

Thanks Zelmar!

I have progressed from being granite whipped to being kitchen whipped. Don't even know/remember what I really want anymore! Just know that I prefer form to follow function, but I still like form!

Mine will be light wood too, so hope it will be OK- I'll post an update when cabinet arrives and when DH gets it installed- Can you believe we originally ordered this May 08, 2007? If it arrives tomorrow, it will have been EXACTLY one year!!!

Guess I get to start unpacking boxes and bring platters/trays up from downstairs pantry! What a treat! But it's supposed to be nice and sunny for the next couple of days and yard work trumps kitchen work when it's not raining!

We have open verticle dividers and really like them. Makes it easy to pull out platters. You can see them in the 7th picture down, under the ovens.

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/gal0520074626512.html?3

Here is a link that might be useful: Paco's Kitchen

Here's the one with the fatter wood, fixed. I didn't have my camera when I went to the old house, sorry. I guess it's kind of moot at this point, since they are already on their way!

Claybabe,

That's a great picture- your cabs (and contrasting crown molding) look great!

Just out of curiosity, how deep is that cabinet? From this angle it doesn't look that deep. Is it deceiving, or is it the full depth of your fridge? I am also going to assume you have a CD fridge- mine is very deep, so I'm having the cabinet 29" deep to come up to edge of fridge, and then the door still sticks out past that!

I'm not holding my breath that the cabinet will arrive today- I got another phone call around 4:00 from the foreman, saying HE was just about to cut it- maybe there'll be two cupboards!

It is full depth of the fridge. And it is a CD fridge.

Hurry up and wait!

Arghhh! (Just doesn't fully express what I'm saying)

I was about to type that I'm still hurrying up and waiting...when the I saw the truck through my den window- yeah!

After I help the guy (good thing I'm strong!) carry this honking big cabinet up the stairs- I say- uh- I think this is the wrong colour (they had stained veneer only on the outside 6", cuz only 5" will show...cheapskates!). Of course it is...Cripes- the nitwit only phoned me 10X today to say- I'm building the cabinet right now...I have a question...Uhh I'm not even going to go into the details- gotta phone my kitchen place...Damn!

I have a tray cabinet with wood dividers. I not only store trays and cookie sheets, but cooling packs, griddles, and pizza stones. It's very handy.

Thanks Mom,

Yeah, I kinda wish mine were narrower wood like yours. But, as it is, cabinet went back- put me in a foul mood! Kitchen place is now talking ending relationship with this carpenter and asking for their deposit back- great- where does that put me!?! But, I am concerned now that he (carpenter) may not be able to make matching doors- cabinet arrived doorless, so I couldn't tell. He has several more sets of doors/drawers to make for me... We have officially gone past the one year since ordered date...that was my deadline for this company to get everything finished- come and gone now- my Mom says DH should just make the rest and demand a big check- don't think that's gonna happen, but I am bummed.

Guess kitchen's not getting worked on this weekend... we'll see what Monday brings!

Love seeing everyone's pics...