I will have a cabinet that comes down to the counter with drawers in the bottom, but it's not one of my work areas...Just dish storage. I wouldn't want cabinet down to the counter where I would do any prep or other kitchen work. I'd be afraid of it crowding the space, I wouldn't want to wash around and up against the wood cabinet all the time out of fear of damaging it over time, and I do think it would be inconvenient to move a project to access (or worse, have someone else access) the drawer. This is why I kept my down-to-the-counter cabinet limited to only that one spot where none of these things would be an issue. That's what would work best for me, anyway...Best wishes on your project.

You may also want to consider a cabinet that comes all the way down to the counter, but include 1 drawer just above counter level, so the doors of the cabinet don't sweep over the counter top. I've seen several examples in FKB.

I ran into the problem in my bathroom where, thinking I wanted as much cabinet as possible, made the cabinets too long, and I cant place bottles on the counter and leave them in place when I open the cabinet. It drives me nuts.

I also love the look and the extra space--just be careful where you place them.

We have 2 banks of drawers and a corner cabinet that goes down to the countertop...our counters are standard depth so we don't have room to let stuff lay in front of these areas so there's never anything to move to access these areas.

slc2053 - Beautiful cabinetry!! I also love your backsplash - would you mind letting me know the tiles used in the backsplash...

We have one (dish storage) with a drawer in the bottom and the lower cabinet pulled out from the wall to allow for work space. The countertop and upper cabinet doors are great. And the little drawer on the bottom is nice in that it allows a stack of plates to be on the countertop while you open the door.

BUT - The little drawer itself is so shallow front-to-back that it's next to useless. It's good for cloth napkins, napkin rings and candles. It's not even deep enough for silverware or placemat storage. I can't imagine what you'd do with more than one or two of them...

Here are a few pics (most are before our granite went in). One cabinet houses the microwave. The other has a drawer at counter level then small set of doors and large set of doors

One corner cabinet is 20" deep, the corner cabinet and other end cabinet are 15" deep

berryberry...what are the dimensions of your corner
cab that has the door opening up? I am assuming that
is where your micro will go. Great lookin kitchen!

Thanks so much for the responses! You guys are so great! I cannot believe how much I have learned from you all!
I hope some day I may have something useful to contribute. But right now the best advice I could ever give anyone contemplating a kitchen is " read GW."

Vicnsb - yes, that is where our microwave is.

That cabinet is 42" high, 20" or 21" deep and 30" wide

robinfromphilly...it's Walker Zanger..stacked slate....

I was just having this debate with my DH last night, trying to convince him that at least one cabinet in our kitchen could go to the counter to maximize dish storage as we have had to redesign and will lose some uppers as a result.

As usual, GW comes through again, with help when I need it! Thanks

I don't but I sure with I did!!!! I'm only 5'1 and it's a b*tch just for me to get into where I keep the dishes above my microwave, basically I can only reach the bottom shelf of any of my cabinets.
One of the many things I didn't really think\know about before we built our home. I think it would ever be great for people with grade-schoolers who need to reach glasses, bowls ect. Maybe one day when we remodel years form now :(

"The little drawer itself is so shallow front-to-back that it's next to useless. It's good for cloth napkins, napkin rings and candles. It's not even deep enough for silverware...."

Sweeby: I have a 36-inch wide wall cabinet (total height is 54 inches) that sits on the countertop. The bottom drawer below the shelves is 33 inches wide and 7.5 inches deep. My silverware containers, purchased from stacksandstacks.com, are 12 inches long and 7 inches wide. I will put two of them short end to short end, and I'll have enough room left over for two small containers of wine bottle opening gizmos.

I've got one cabinet like this. It comes all the way down to the counter, but it has 2 small doors instead of drawers or an appliance garage. I plan to stick stuff I use often but don't want to display in there.