I've had no problems getting everything into my 3 drawer stacks.

Another one who dislikes a drawer within a drawer. I used some Ikea cabinets in my previous garage and I could deal with the drawer within a drawer there, but would never want it in a kitchen. I've never had a problem storing things in my 3-drawer stacks.

I don't like the drawer within drawer either.

I love my three drawer stack, would not want to add an extra step

Three drawer stack fan here too

I might do a drawer-within-drawer for things like pan lids. For everyday stuff like silverware, I think it would drive me crazy.

Our house came with a drawer-in-a-drawer. The larger drawer we use for serving utensils and sandwich-making tools (cheese slicers, spreaders). The nested drawer we use for, oh, a Sharpie, a chain maille for the skillet, extra cheese slicer wire, kind of a junk drawer but limited to food functions, things we don’t have to get at every day.

Who's idea was a drawer hidden inside of another drawer ?

Mark, maybe the same sadist who thought of drawers behind a cabinet door. Yeah, our kitchen came with that, too. Three inset drawers, behind a cabinet door, and a normal drawer above.

Only do a drawer in a drawer if it is very important to the design of the space, otherwise run from it. I certainly wouldn't want silverware in there - you go to that all the time. I would only use it as and organizer for pot lids with the pots below it.

Good luck!

The left side abuts a 30" ceiling to floor wall. The decor refrig doesn't need to open more than 90 degrees to have full access to drawers but yes, a little more room is a good idea on both sides.

Also, do you think its weird that I'm putting a 42" frig but only a 30" induction cooktop? My cabinet guy has made some comments about resale.

Not weird at all. After all, huge numbers of suburban homes have 30" ranges, plus a 36" kitchen fridge and another fridge in the garage or basement.

I like 2 deep drawers and on top of those 2 sxs shallow drawers all available from the outside no hidden drawers . I ahve all drawers in my kitchen and never would I go back to lower cabinets and crawling on my hands and knees to find stuff. You only show one wall of your kitchen so we have no idea about how therest is designed

This is the wall with the dead corner. Again, function over symmetry... the sink is not centered to the window but the sink faucet will hopefully be. The sink drain will be to the left in the sink. Better to have the dishwasher there instead of having it behind me.

Here is the peninsula to the right of the window. I changed my mind about the frig drawers but will make it a possible addition in the future.... so drawers for now.

Also, do you think its weird that I'm putting a 42" frig but only a 30" induction cooktop? My cabinet guy has made some comments about resale.

Why only a 30" induction cooktop?

It would depend on if the houses surrounding yours are expensive homes with high end features or not.

Also is that the ovens next to the fridge? If so, where do you put grocery bags when you have to unload to the fridge? Or when you need to take food stuff out, where do you put them down?

Maybe post your full 2D floor plan for the kitchen

Can you post a floor plan of this design? That tall cabinet that comes down to the counter looks to be 24" deep. That is not leaving a lot of counter space around the sink area and it interrupts the counter flow from sink to cooktop. Not so sure I would do that. I had an appliance garage once that's only 12" deep and I felt it's in the way.

I've photoshopped in my changes. Sorry if some numbers are off.

Your layout is less than ideal.

Again, you bring grocery home. Where do you put the bag to load the food into the fridge? Can the fridge and china cabinet be switched?

Many of your cabinets are narrow in width. Better to have less cabinets that are wider.

Your dishwasher is in the prep zone which is less than ideal. Flip the sink with the D/W.

Grocery bags go on the floor, counters are too high to unload in my view. FIVE 36 inch drawers, FIVE 17 inch drawers, TWO 24 inch drawers. The only way to change that is to make some of the bigger drawers smaller. I thought that 17" would be perfect size for silverware next to the dishwasher. The other 17 inchers are kind of set too because I'd like to preserve the 24" cabinet on the end of the peninsula to swap in a double drawer frig/freezer there in the future if I want... with of course the biggest trash pull-out I can get.

The countertop cabinet in the corner has 24 inch door. Can't put the sink in front of that door.

I could maybe swap the china cabinet with the frig but I'm not seeing the benefit. To your earlier point when you take stuff out of the frig where do you put it down? It's either a 30" walk or a 5 foot one. Shorter the better, no?

I’m sure you’ve shared before but what is the main floor layout? This kitchen feels a bit like a renovation where there are layout constraints not a new build. I agree with CP the fridge is far away from anything. You likely won’t prep beside the stove top but on the peninsula.

17" is too narrow for silverware.

Hi Paul,

I remember you had a previous thread on your layout which also discussed the lack of fridge landing. I believe it also mentioned the cabinet down to the countertop in the corner blocking prep space between sink and cooktop, as well as the dw being in the prep zone.

Maybe you can post a link to that previous thread for those interested in reading? I know you had reasons for wanting the tall cabinet in the corner. One being, it looked nice to make a framed out area for the large stone slab you want behind the cooktop which was not long enough to go to the end of the wall.

Is the China cabinet a stand alone piece? If it is being made new to match the rest of the cabinetry, could you make one that has a small countertop section? It could serve as a grocery landing. I realize this is your kitchen, so you can do whatever works for you. but most people would not set groceries on the floor as they make a couple trips to bring stuff in from the car.

Also, it would allow an extra convenient space to make cocktails, close to the ice and cold drinks while not crowding the kitchen entry by the peninsula.

I remember you wanted the under cabinet fridge/freezer to store lots of drinks, soda cans and bottles iirc. What about putting it under the counter of the china hutch area and then making the 42” fridge smaller since it removes the drinks taking up so much room? You could then add the extra inches to get a bigger cabinet by the cooktop.

This is a view from the front door. You can see the window in the back corner that would be above the sink.

Definitely would prep on the peninsula... I like the position of the sink because of that. The frig is 2.5 feet from the nearest counter and 5.5 feet from the cooktop. I can live with that. I was thinking about a prep sink on the end of the peninsula to service the bar as well but I hate to lose the potential for double frig drawers there.

I love my drawer within a drawer! The top drawer is everyday silverware and utensils, the 2nd drawer holds 'gadgets': baking tools, the carving set, grapefruit knife, PB stirrer, etc. ETA: It is very efficient for saving height compared to adding a full drawer.

You are in the minority! Haha. I like the idea. I thought I could use a latch or magnets so when I open the big drawer that the small drawer inside would open with it and you'd only get the second step when closing the little drawer to access below. Why would I do that? To first, get the 2 big drawer look and to have the deeper bottom drawer.

This kind of drawer-within-drawer would actually be great. I would love my silverware drawer to be tall enough that I could put iced-tea spoons, serving items, etc. in a separate stack. The crucial thing is just that the primary flatware be accessible on the first pull.

Paul, you might do a search here on magnets. Someone here came up with a magnet retrofit for her Ikea drawer-within-drawer. It was really cool.

Those cabinets above your cooktop run are not of a functional height.

I would have a few design notes on spacing. Your dishwasher slammed to the blind corner is not a good idea, needs more of a filler, same with the side of your sink. Consider an apartment size D/W or move it to the peninsula run so you can center your sink up and give youreself some hip room.

I have more notes but for now here is a rendering of what you have

Found it! Good memory. Exactly what I would have tried. Just enough space to use your thumb to push it closed to get to the second drawer.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5749780/ikea-drawer-within-drawer-magic-pull-just-once-reach-either-drawer#n=23 

Here is what I was trying to describe.

Since you have 62” of space in the fridge isle, I think you have plenty space to have a 25.5” deep countertop (including overhang) with the glass upper cabinets above on the wall where you have the China Hutch.

I see 48” from the peninsula to the stair wall, so I think you would still have a little wiggle room to make the under staircase bar countertop extend out a few inches deeper. I think extending the countertop overhang enough to wrap around the outside corner would make those two areas more connected and sort of combine them into one ”wet bar” area. Idk, just a wild thought.

The under cabinet drawer fridge/freezer and a small bar sink would go in the hutch area. You said in the other thread that you liked the sink with the hidden faucet, so it would hide away to be all countertop when you are not using it.

The countertop in that spot would be a great landing zone to unload stuff into the fridge and also to put away things in the pantry.

I find with the french door fridge, it works great when the landing area is directly across from the open doors. Having the landing on the adjacent countertop next to one side is annoying for me because you have to step back and go around the open door verses just a pivot.

I cannot see into a grocery bag from the countertop either, but I pull the bag down a little to peer in and grab the cold stuff first. I also will sometimes take everything out of the bag, set it on the counter, and then I put it all away. Even if you never use the counter for a grocery landing, I still think you would find it would be nice for making drinks and snacks.

Edit to add: Yes I remember reading over your last thread but never ended up commenting. I think it is going to look gorgeous, even though there are some things I would change to be more functional. 😍

I have two 29" top drawers for cutlery: one is everyday stainless; one has two Hagerty silver cases. Having the sterling at hand makes it faster and easier to set up for dinner parties than having to drag out silver chests.

The other thread was about symmetry really. Now it's more utility and whether the frig being 30" from the nearest counter is something that needs to be solved. The dishwasher has been moved from the peninsula to next to the sink in the last design, swapping place with the garbage. So yes... the 42" french door refrig can be swapped for 36" left hinge one, giving 6 inches to a wider 23" silverware set of drawers. I will need the double frig drawers for sure in that case. The left hinged frig will prevent denting the wood panel on oven doors. I can add an inch or two the left to deal with the support wall that sticks out on the left side.

The china cabinet would be for the good stuff, specialty glasses, etc and a few glass sculptures that I own. I had considered more counter there but my place is pretty small for all of that counter. Drinks can be made at the bar counter and also 40" away on the end of the peninsula where the frig drawer ice maker will be. Here are the inspiration pics for the cabinet.

Now, I can't be the only one that doesn't put grocery bags on the counters. For one thing I consider my well worn reusable plastic bags dirty and too unstable to put on a counter only to have contents fall and dent my floor.

Oops, rebunky just saw your diagram. I've gone through that whole concept of tying the bar to a counter around the side, to even put a narrow window through the bar wall to a counter. I came to realize that it would be just such a big kitchen with 3 more feet of counter there. Remember in my floor plan the counter is not drawn for the stools yet. That's a lot of counter for a two bedroom home.

BTW, that is only 40 inches from the peninsula to the stair wall not 48".

Speaking of the bar. I was standing inside pantry looking out the bar area during framing of the place and was kidding about keeping the back of the counter open for a bartender to stand. Everyone thought it was a good idea. If I sell in the future it will possibly go to a young person in the tech field here in silicon beach. Should I have one of the pantry shelves be on wheels to have a bartender station for parties? First pic is a photoshop of what I intend.

Your design style is very different from mine, so I can't be much help there. But a necessary step in planning any kitchen is cataloging your kitchen equipment and figuring out where it will go. Have you done that?

I ask because you have a lot of open shelves and glass front cabinets, which don't look good crammed with cooking equipment, dishes, food, spices, etc. Maybe you have a basement. attic or other area where you can store excess kitchen items.

Oh that is hilarious! I totally had that same thought about doing some kind of a sliding pass through window from the pantry side side. I pictured the ”bartender” back there with a blender going for margaritas and the noise being muffled instead of being so loud in the intertaining space. I thought everyone would think it was a silly idea so didn’t say anything!

Sorry I miss read that as 48”. yes yes, 40” would be too tight.

I shudder every time my DH puts the grocery bags on the counter...Ick! However, we do love having open countertop next to the fridge to pull out leftovers, sandwich makings, etc.

I think it's strange that the drawer within a drawer is designed so the smaller drawer requires an extra step. I'm reaching for my utensils far more than my pots and pans. I'd rather have the "hidden" drawer be the one that gets opened by the initial pull.

Exactly! It is a silly idea but I may just do it because it is so easy. It would look something like this.

I don’t think that you have enough countertops myself.

There really is not anywhere with a nice stretch of counter for a second person to be helping, say with a dinner party for instance.

I look at the area from the end of the peninsula straight over to the cooktop wall as the Prep/Cooking zone that you don’t want guests to enter all the time and be in the way. Especially with the peninsula being the only good spot for a prep counter.

I love the rendering above! That looks awesome with the countertop and is that a second sink there? That is beautiful and would be so much more functional. I could see that being used alot as a space for a helper to make hor’duerves or guests to make drinks outside of the main kitchen.

With there only being 40” from the penisula with the seating part directly across from the under-stairs bar, people mixing drinks and lingering there will block the entry to and from the kitchen and to get to the fridge from the rest of the entertaining space. That is going to be a major traffic jam pinch point there.

Why do that when you could have a nice sized ”bar” area be in the huge 62” isle conveniently across from the fridge for ice, with plenty of countertop space, and a sink! And with that fun pass though? That would be awesome.

Why not do the alcove under the stair as the fancy china display where people can actually see it better.

Adding: It looks like there is another full wall of glass display on the other side of the pantry, or the other side of the staircase where the chair is. I think you have plenty of display areas. You could use the bar area upper cabinets for everyday dishes/glasses or for booze you don’t want displayed, then maybe do some pretty wine cubbies along the sides of the upper cabinet?

I think I may go for the hidden 3rd drawer but use the magnet technique to pull it open with the top drawer. I like the idea of the lower drawer getting to be a few inches deeper and the two drawer look.

@Rabbitt Design Not sure how I'm missing these comments and your render. Thank you. Those uppers are at 7 feet, 4 feet off the counter and 24" deep. Strictly for long term storage. I'm 6'3" and have a phobia of hitting my head on things. I think the design will allow someone later to put shallow wall cabinets underneath them if they need them. I have plenty of storage.

I had the dishwasher in the peninsula and no one like the fact that with door down I only had 20" in front of the sink. What do you think?

I get to the lower drawer in one motion by pushing the upper drawer back with my thumb as I open the main drawer. I shut them both at the same time by pushing the overall front of the drawer back. Easy access to LOTS of gadgets.

There is the key right there. The slider mechanism right inside the second drawer. Magnets would be a retrofit only.

@rebunky I just realized what you are referring to with your comments about a second sink and chair. Those two photos are inspo pics not renderings. I wish I had that kind of space!

Regarding your idea of putting a display case in where I planned the bar... it is 24" deep so there would be some wasted space but I could put deep drawers on the bottom and a shallower 14" glass door display on the top with no counter. Next to the pantry door I could put the double 24" frig drawers with an 18" wine cooler next to it with a counter... not quite in line with the peninsula. Glass upper wall mount display there as well?

I think if you wanted to give a closer appearance to uniformity, if not symmetry, you could have that single door off to the right be detailed like a drawer stack.

In my previous (form over function) kitchen--which was essentially part of my LR, I made the DW look like a drawer at the top to match the rest.

Alright so I'm leaning toward swapping the bar with the china cabinet as suggested. The bar would just be another 24" deep counter and have the wine cooler and the double frig drawers.

The dishwasher with the trash were swapped.

The new counter is offset with the peninsula however.

I like that idea so much better.

I also like the DW swap. Either spot has it’s cons, but in your case I would pick the peninsula. I did not like the sink and dw being squished tight in the corners. Now you can have a nice size sink and have it centered on the window.

I would do a three drawer stack on the end of the peninsula next to the dw for dishes and silverware. So easy to unload dw right into the drawer next to it. Glassware would go in uppers above the bar or on open shelves as you inpiration photo.

Here is something that popped in my head. Probably won’t work but I will post anyways.

What about a secret murphy door under the stairs to access the pantry instead? They can be made in-swing or out. But in swing would be better. There are so many styles to choose from and you can even do custom. You would never know it is a door. They even have an app for your phone, hidden locks, etc… Check them out at Murphydoor.com. Lots of funny videos too. Here is one showing a wine rack.

Then with a little more space for the Bar, you would be able to fit the double fridge drawers, the wine cooler and a prep sink with trash pullout. I wasn’t sure where the prep sink should go, but you could play with the configuration. With a prep sink it becomes a secondary prep zone, coffee station, or a serve as baking center that is across from the ovens, etc etc…

I do not think it would be too much counter space. Not even close! Try to think in terms of a useable decent sized stretches of counter space for prepping that is near a sink. 4’ or more is nice. You would have the pennisula for your main prep and then the bar counter as secondary prep. The corner between the main sink and the cooktop would normally be the main prep, but due to the cabinet to the counter it is broken up and not ideal for prep. This way, I can picture several people working in the kitchen at the same time. The two counters flanking the cooktop are big enough for cooking, but not really for prep imo.

@rebunky I don't know how I'm missing your posts. You must edit in more great ideas to your posts after the fact! I'm glad I come back to read.

I've considered the murphy door for the pantry door where it is. Unfortunately, it won't work as passage at the bar because I will lose so much pantry space by doing it. I know my drawing makes it look huge but it is chopped up into 3 shelve columns... the back of the bar area wall being the largest. Not to mention I would have to dip my head to walk into it. I'm going to call M. door tomorrow to see if they can make a 28" door for the existing pantry opening however.

Thank you!