Sorry (again), I'm usually pretty good about supplying adequate details - but I thought this was a standard and known hack on the old Akurum line. Yes, I'd keep the cabinets at a standard kitchen height, so any front/side issues wouldn't be a problem. What I thought was the case with Akurum was as fishcow described - that the standard drawers for 24" cabinets still fit when the cabinets were cut down to 21" depth, with no modification. I thought I'd read somewhere the only modification needed was to redrill the fastener holes on the back edge. However, even if I can't reduce the depth on Sektions the full 3" I'm hoping for - it would be great to know how much they could be reduced and still fit with the standard drawers. A 1.5" reduction would still be helpful in this particular room. As to the other options utilizing smaller drawers and/or base cabinets - thanks for the idea, and I'll keep that in mind as a last resort. We were hoping to get larger drawers, but saving $$ on this particular project is a higher priority.

@alerievay -- We ordered samples. Honestly, I'm not sure its worth it to get the SemiHandmade glossy white over the Ikea glossy white. The Ikea white is very nice; sturdy and a lovely finish. The SemiHandmade walnut is gorgeous though; the grain is beautiful. I think that the wood is where SemiHandmade really shines.

I'm guessing it has to do with the drawer front. There are two parts to the directions, one for if it is for an interior (hidden) drawer, vs a typical drawer. Where you screw those bell shaped metal pieces into the drawer front (done before you snap the front into the drawer) is what is different depending on the type of drawer you're doing. I'm pretty sure yours is screwed in as if it is for a hidden drawer as that kind does sit a bit lower that the regular drawer. The portion you made the mistake on should be back really close to the beginning of the drawer instructons and will require you to remove the drawer front. How to do that is in the video benjiesbride linked to.

Ditto what Ulisone posted above. We diy'd our kitchen about a year ago with white Ringhult fronts. I love them, they don't show any fingerprints, and a wipe with a soapy rag is all it takes to clean up any spills, even dried up ones. We've had a glossy white Godmorgon vanity in the kids/guest bathroom for 7 yrs and it's still looking like new, as well as a sideboard in the dining room with the same glossy fronts, it also looks like the day it was put in. The Ringhult's glossy fronts, are nothing like the typical thermafoil finishes, that can have issues with peeling or yellowing. By the way, Ikea's glossy fronts are manufactured in Italy by a well known cabinet company. As mentioned by Ulisdone above, Ikea cabinets aren't touching the floor, they're hanging on a rail. This imho, is a much smarter way to install built-in furniture. Should you ever have water on the floor, it's not going to touch the cabs. Shim the rails to plum, and level them perfectly, and hanging the cabs becomes easy-peasy. Also, each cabinet is bolted to the one next to it, thus creating one single block, solid as a rock. They're not going anywhere. Obviously our kitchen is only a year old, but I know it will last as it's not our first Ikea kitchen. Way back in the late 90s it was our first Ikea kitchen put in in 1987, that sold our house. I loved that kitchen and missed it terribly after moving to our current much larger house, which unfortunately, came with a tiny kitchen. We finally, after year of planning we bit the bullet and remodeled, almost tripling the size of our new kitchen. It's still a bit of a work in progress, we're waiting for the custom stainless steel backsplash and DH needs to finish installing trim and some other odds and ends, but the kitchen is fully functional and a pleasure to cook and be in! Here is our DIY Ikea kitchen : Best of luck with your project!