I was curious myself! The pics on amazon show it pretty well. The door does stay open. :)

Here is a link that might be useful: Mixer Stand in Use

Hi Ashley -

I used mine for the first time tonight. It was wonderful, actually. I'm very short and it was extremely convenient to have it jut out lower than the counter. I'll have to take a photo for you tomorrow, but the door was not a problem because it is more or less the same area where the lift extends...it doesn't stick out past the lift. Mine is left opening, and I did find that I used the counter space to the right, so you might want to figure that into your door swing.

I had one in the kitchen that just got demo'd. I used it for my sewing machine, so I actually sat down at it with my legs under it. The 24" cab had french doors, and the small doors stayed open while I sewed and never got in the way.

My cab was at the end of a run next to the wall, and inside the cab was an outlet so the sewing machine stayed plugged in all the time. I don't know if that's how they do it now, but it's worth considering. It was very convenient not to have to fish out the cord every time. You could put an outlet through the back of the cab, too.

When I was planning my kitchen, I thought about it, briefly. I didn't do it because of too many problems. I enjoy baking and use my mixer often. I read about things flying out of the bowl and ending up on the floor and that you would still need to lift up the mixer to clean off the shelf it was sitting on. This seemed harder than cleaning just the counter top. I also thought about the valuable space it would take up in my baking base cabinets. I decided it just wouldn't be a wise move for me and would cut down on function. Instead I have two big deep drawers that hold my flour and sugar canisters, measuring cups, bowls and many smaller baking and prep gadgets and tools. I can stand in one place and reach almost everything I'll need without running around.

Think about where you mixer would set on the counter, how it would look and how often you use it. Is the mixer color all wrong? I have a 6 qt Kitchen Aid mixer that just happens to be in a color that matches my kitchen and is pretty new. If it had been the wrong color then I probably would have spent the money on a new mixer that was the color I wanted rather than the money for a shelf lift to hide it.

My food processor has seen better days (tape holding bowl handle together) so I hide it for now. As soon as I find one that will look good on the counter I'll replace it and leave it out. I use it all the time. We love to cook here!

Nancy

hi ashley, the door to the lift definitely stays open when using it. when planning where to put your mixer lift, make sure it is not near a high traffic area or doorway, because when you use the lift, it extends out into your walkway about 2feet, and so you might not have a lot of room around it to open other doors. i made this mistake when i put in my mixer lift in a corner right next to my pantry (thinking it would be great to run in and out of the pantry to get ingredients). but because the mixer juts out and because of the mixer cab door staying open, i cannot open the pantry door with the mixer out. i have to remember to open my pantry door first before pulling out the mixer now in order to have access to both. also make sure you have an electrical outlet very close by the lift so you don't have to deal with long extension cords. in general, i love my lift and find it is very convenient.

The doors do stay open, which is not much inconvenience, especially if you accessing the shelves below. I have full overlay cabinets, and the drawer next to the cabinet does not hit, until it gets to the handle. I can still access the stuff in the drawer. I haven't had a problem with movement, as the shelf itself seems to absorb some of the motion, but mine is not the super-sized mixer. Cleaning is very easy, I usually just tip it back to clean under the mixer when I am done. I think my mixer got dirtier when it stayed on the counter, due to the splashing from other things. It does save on counter space, but I liked the look of the mixer on the counter too. If I ever get my dream Cuisinart food processor, I may swap them out. Here is mine:

I had planned to include one of these in my kitchen UNTIL I used one a friend has. Boy I'm glad I didn't. We were making cupcakes and when she added the powdered sugar and kind of flew out, as powdered sugar will when you aren't diligent. Instead of having to clean the mixer & countertop, she had to clean the mixer, countertop (it still got on the countertop - that stuff has some reach), doors, lift mechanism, and the bottom of the cabinet.

I take mine in and out of the pantry as needed. I would leave it on the countertop but I don't like clutter & DH already claimed the perfect spot for his Keurig.

"ut then I got to thinking....so when the mixer is "up" for mixing, the door just stays open? I'll bump it to it I think. But I can't think of any other way it would work"

Have a hinge installed on that door that allows 180 degrees of opening.

It will then be against cabinet on the hinge side and not sticking out.

Wizardnm, we're going with Black Galaxy granite, and the mixer is a black with silver speckles in it, so it would go fine. I did get an appliance garage, so I could in theory hide it in there, or could leave it on the counter.

brickeyee, that is a great idea on the door opening 180 degrees, hadn't thought of that. The mixer cab is on the end of my island, so the door would open to the left (end of island) and I'd walk around it. It would jut out into the walkway between the island and cooktop but I don't usually cook and bake at the same time.

I am also a splatterer----my stuff tends to go all over when I mix. Hadn't thought about having to clean down in the cabinets, that would drive me nuts.

I will have to keep thinking about this. Wish I could see one in person, but in my small town, nobody has even heard of this, much less have one.

"The mixer cab is on the end of my island, so the door would open to the left (end of island) and I'd walk around it. It would jut out into the walkway between the island and cooktop but I don't usually cook and bake at the same time. "

I would hinge the door the other way then.

It is not in the way as much when it is under the lift anyway, but hanging from the end of an island is an invitation for someone to walk into it.