Doors vs Drawers - Where do you all put your appliances??

6 years ago

I've been reading how everyone loves drawers instead of doors in lower cabinets. But where do you all store your blender, kitchen aid mixer, panini press, waffle maker, large pots, etc. Can you help me decide how many doors are enough. What's better: A cabinet door with pull out drawers or just drawers? Thanks so much. This is my design so far.....

The drawers next to microwave are for refrigerator drawers

Thank you!

Featured Answer

lwfromny

6 years ago

I use my corner cupboard (lower) lazy Susan for my small appliances. As for drawers style, you get a LOT more storage space if you make your lowers true drawers than you do if you have traditional cabinet doors with pullouts.

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Comments (35)

grewa002
6 years ago
We made a custom island a couple of years ago with deep drawers. They are so practical! I put my pits and pans and my small appliances there! I do have cabinets for tall items ( trays), but most of the kitchen items can be accomodated in drawers, and hey are way more practical than cabinets.
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Beth H. :
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
those heavy duty items need a deep, large space. do you have a pantry? maybe make a top shelf for those items. Otherwise, pick one of you lower doored cabinet where you can store them. It would appear you have tons of storage.

use the single white cabs next to the wine fridge for the larger items. what is that blue post separating it? also, the upper cab should be as wide as the lower.
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mjammjam
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you! Beth H - The blue post is the wall. The white cabinet next to the blue post is the side of the cabinet facing the island. I do not have a pantry but am thinking of adding one next to garage door somehow. How many cabinet doors vs. drawers would you think I should have? I was going to use the cabinet next to wine cooler for liquor bottles.
jmm1837
6 years ago
My advice, OP is to make everything below the counter a drawer if you possible can. You will never regret it.
mjammjam
Original Author
6 years ago
Where do you all put your oil, vinegar, and other heavy bottles?
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Beth H. :
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
depending on how large the pantry can be:

is that blue wall load bearing? just wondering why it's there.

lwfromny is right,,,the large drawers give more storage than the bottom doors. I have one large door cab in my island. it's stacked and stacked w/my large mixing bowls, mixer, platters, etc. PIA to get to things. I suppose I could get a shelf on the upper part of it. have a few door cabs but do the drawers for the majority

big bottles of stuff go in Upper cabs above my pantry. I have a large double pantry w/the pull out shelves. above those I have double door cabinets for storage of large box items, flour, cans, and my large sauce pan.
tc_kellygirl
6 years ago
I agree about the drawers! We did put some cabinets (door/shelf combo) in our remodeled kitchen, but those are the storage areas that bug me!

One exception is my "baking cabinet" -- side by side doors swing open and the space behind has two full width, deep pull out trays. I keep my big containers of flour, sugar, etc in that area and it works great.

I like the look of the lower cabinet doors we have in a couple other locations, but the shelves are super inconvenient. I was thinking about installing pull out shelves that attach (at bottom) to doors that are not on hinges. In effect making a big drawer with the front the size of a cabinet door. I've seen garbage cans that pull out that way and custom "drawers" that can hold the small appliances you are talking about.
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Flo Mangan
6 years ago
There are organizer units for some items, but I would definitely add a pantry so you had waist high shelfs for heavy items you use somewhat but not every day. There is a unit for a mixer that you set mixer on, pull out this shelf and lift it to counter height. If you use mixer a lot, given their weight might be worth doing under your island. You are investing ton so I would consider that. Drawers are the best. Some great corner utilization inserts too. I will post ideas when I can. Hurricane Harvey having his way with us right now.
User
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
I will never go back to not having a pantry.

I hear you about the 200 pound kitchen aid mixer.

I disagree with having every cupboard a drawer for exactly the reasons you state. I have some drawers, but they seem to get more bashed up with lifting stuff in and out..I may just be a little klutzy though...
tc_kellygirl
6 years ago
(Photos from Houzz, not my house)
mjammjam
Original Author
6 years ago
Stay safe Flo, Thanks for the help. I don't use the heavy mixer that often, but I need to put it somewhere, and it's soooo heavy! I was thinking of switching my drawers next to cooktop to the slide out drawers to hold oil, etc. I've seen that shelf that pulls out and up for the mixer, but I don't use it often enough to get that. What about the door cabinets that have pullouts for pots inside them. Is that the same thing as having drawers instead. Thanks again!!
mjammjam
Original Author
6 years ago
Beth H - Love the pantry with appliances. That blue wall is where the back of the refrigerator is against. You're looking at the side view of the cabinet that is facing the island. That's why it looks different from the others.
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Flo Mangan
6 years ago

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This is great unit that telescopes back into corner and holds a lot of stuff.
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Flo Mangan
6 years ago
It sounds like you really need some type of pantry for sure. You can also design in electrical plugs for items you want to plug in to charge, or just to leave plugged in. I have done that and it is really great. Pull outs are great too, but make sure you get the type that don't slide on the floor, but rather have proper pull out brackets. Easier to use. I am not crazy about the ones that hold lids, because different lids have different handles and it can get rather dicey. I prefer a bottom cabinet with dividers that keep lids separated or at least compartmentalized for easy in and out. If you can do a pantry, I would highly recommend it. Best for these pesky big items and very handy to keep "stuff" out of sight.
lwfromny
6 years ago
Mjammjam no, cabinets with pull outs are not essentially the same as drawers. There is far less storage in them side to side and front to back. Also you only get a shallow depth. A true drawer gives you the option to use more vertical space that a pull out tray. As for oils I can't imagine you would store that kind of stuff in a lower traditional cabinet anyway, would you?

One the great options for drawers is to get a custom pegboard and tall pegs that go inside them. You can move the pegs to any configuration you want. Your cabinet designer will know what this is. I especially love this feature in my pots and pans drawer. It allows me to stack things and they stay right where I put them. It also allows me to create vertical storage for lids.
Nidnay
6 years ago
Not everyone has enough space for this, but I have a separate room (scullery/pantry 12x14') for all my machines and gadgets. We're still under construction, so haven't enjoyed this yet, but the room is designed so all my small appliances can remain out on counters ready for use. Personally, I don't care for drawers instead of cabinets. I do have some drawers, but I like cabinets with rollouts better. I find them less cumbersome actually. I don't like pulling out a deep and heavy over-filled drawer with all the items clanging around.
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Flo Mangan
6 years ago
Guess we all have our preferences, but I dislike the pull outs because you are fighting doors and drawers inside. Drawers with organizers inside keep everything very tidy and easy to get in and out IMO.
mjammjam
Original Author
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Hi Lwfromny, Yes I do store my oil in the lower cabinet next to my oven. I use the giant Costco oil and the tall vinegar bottles. I also have large bags of flour, large sugar, and the big bread crumbs container that I keep in the lower cabinets as well because they are all heavy. I am going to look up those pegs that you are talking about now. Thanks for explaining the difference between drawers and pullouts with doors. I couldn't figure that one out. Thankyou!
simstress
6 years ago
I love drawers. In response to your question, just drawers are superior. The only places I didn't specify drawers were sink cabinets and corner cabinets. My drawers can swallow the toaster oven, rice cooker, panini press, coffee maker. I don't have a giant mixer. I can also fit full cases of bottled water, and the glides do not seem to care. Hope this helps.
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Hal Braswell Consulting
6 years ago
We have four 30" 3-drawer bases within 2-3 steps of range.

One left of range has Pot lids in shallow drawer, a George Foreman with attachments in middle and pots in bottom. In use, GF sits on cabinet counter. Crockpot stored in nearby pantry, in use set up on cabinet counter.

Mixer stays on top of another drawer base, with attachments stored below.
There's a 24" door base with rollouts for small appliances between two of the drawer bases, with an over-the-counter MW above.

Another has bakeware and cutting Boards.

Fourth has food containers in bottom, lids in top, and cast iron in middle.

Adding a breakfast bar at other end of kitchen. Keurig and blender (used almost exclusively for diet shakes) will be on countertop, with two-tier K-cup organizer below. Toaster will remain in current location close to future breakfast bar.

In short, store appliances near where they are used. Keurig and toaster used daily, so they stay on counter. Mixer stays on counter, but if had island would store it on a lift.
sm m
6 years ago
We did have one cabinet with a pullout that had an outlet and we kept our coffeemaker in it -and I loved it!
sm m
6 years ago
I love the first two pics that Beth sent of the pantry. We have one like the 3rd pic(cabinet pantry) and I would do anything for a walk in pantry!! I don't like the cabinet pantry at all!!!!!!
sm m
6 years ago
We just had this put in one of our cabinets because it was hard getting them out of our lower cabinet. This is a great invention. I love it.
felizlady
6 years ago
You need to measure the height of all those small appliances and make sure you plan where they will be stored when not in use. I like fully adjustable shelving in a tall cabinet so I can move the shelving to accommodate all those items. If you have shelf support holes every inch, you will have the best chance of using your space wisely. For that tall cabinet, I would order two extra shelves in addition to the shelves which normally are included. Only the counter-height shelf should be stationary.
notabene1
6 years ago
To accomodate larger/taller gadget appliances such as a standup mixer, I would suggest reworking that fridge cabinet wall by pushing the fridge and darker cabinet to the right thus eliminating the two small counters on each side. This way you could just have a full height cabinet pantry on the left side of the fridge that could have open drawers inside . You can put loads of stuff in such pantries. .. Or measure the height of your tallest gadget appliance and have the shelves inside a regular cabinet adjusted to accomodate it. The rest of the drawers in your fabulous kitchen will be able to accomodate the other regular stuff and gadgets.
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JAN MOYER
6 years ago
Drawers are the best. A tall storage pantry will accommodate booze, and appliances you don't want on the counter. A kitchen aid mixer might be an exception..there are fabulous pullout out lift up mechanisms that can hide it and easily lift it to counter height when you want it. Stowed away when not needed!

There is not ONE doored lower cabinet in this kitchen, other than the sink base. Tall pantry next to fridge holds the bulky apps. and booze.

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JBB
6 years ago
Mjammjam can you show me the pullouts you use for oils? I don't have uppers and need
To solve this problem - cabinet lady suggested doors with pullouts but I would rather it be one motion (drawer) than 2 - door pull rollout
mjammjam
Original Author
6 years ago

Thank you all so much!! This is the view of the refrigerator without the island, so you can see the setup. I put those 2 small cabinets on each end so that you don't walk into a wall coming into the kitchen on either side. The butler pantry in around the bend to the left of this drawing. where the wall will be opened up leading into dining room. I am definitely going to switch now to all drawers except under the sink and the garbage pail drawers. I'm just thinking I'll keep one extra door underneath for blender, and other tall items.

Jennifer Brown, Right now I use lower door cabinet for big bottles of oil, but I want to get something like this
But I found something for spices. I see the spices are also shown on lower cabinet pull-outs, but who wants to bend down to find spices all the time?? This one looks better
lwfromny
6 years ago
Hi mjammjam - now I get it about the oils. Never thought about the bigger jugs - am not a cook (understatement of the year lol) so I never buy the large sizes. Here's some photos of the drawer inserts I was referring to:
Snaggy
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
I love having deep drawers ..had the kitchen done in march this is just before the floor was put down ..I think just drawers with out a door front are better ..you can't see from the angle but there is a double upper cupboard as well as a single and the lower draws unit is large.. the fridge on the left is blocking the view .
chiflipper
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Storing oils and spices next to, or over, the range/oven is a BIG no-no. (Heat ruins them.) Get drawers, not pull-outs, with heavy duty bottoms and hardware. Best money I ever spent!

PS There is no rule that says all your drawers have to "line up". I have several base cabinets with a deep drawer at the top for some really heavy items...cast iron etc.
carladr
6 years ago
Re: peg boards in drawers, my cabinet maker advised against them because his clients have found that the pegs limit the space available and you actually end up with less usable space for storage. He recommends a simple non slip mat if there are concerns about plates moving around. Pegs can always be added later.
athomeeileen
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
I keep large oil and bread crumbs in the tall pantry with the pull out shelves. I didn't want to sacrifice a whole cabinet for the mixer pop up, so I keep my mixer in a corner appliance garage. If I know I'll be using it a lot I just pull it out and leave it on the counter.
I have mostly drawer bases now, I can't believe how much they hold! I have much more storage than previous doors with pull outs.
lwfromny
6 years ago
Hmmm carladr I never heard that before. That not been my experience but I guess everybody's different.