CORNER CABINET ANALYSIS PART II
Hello, GW/Houzz forum dwellers. This is an informational post, not a request for help, but I welcome posts that add to the age-old question: what the heck do I do with this damned corner?!?
About 11.5 years ago, I did exhaustive research and analysis of corner base cabinet solutions. I considered the corner drawer, the 35" Super Susan, the Hafele Magic Corner, the half moon, the dead corner (just leave the corner blocked off), and compared efficiency vs the gold standard, drawer banks. I analyzed the cabinet footprint and usable space of each solution. I did not analyze space lost due to inaccessible areas. We went with what I called the "Comatose corner," not quite dead, but very inaccessible. Turned out we could store a lot of stuff, we just couldn't get it back out.
We're now planning a remodel in a new kitchen, and it turns out 1) there aren't too many new options now that we didn't have in 2011, and 2) my calculations were a bit off (I somehow assumed 25" depth rather than the standard 24"). The basic gist was correct, but I really didn't get to the crux of the question: what is the bottom line best, based on usable space AND accessibility? And which loses the least amount of usable/accessible space?
So I've updated my analyses to narrow the options to just 36" corner cabinets (L-shaped) vs 48" blind cabinet (linear with approx. 19.5" opening). I did not do 33" corners or <48" blind cabs for the same reason: the openings are too small to access anything.
Last time, I chickened out on the overall best solution, what I called the "Custom Corner", which was inspired by the Magic Corner, but with much larger baskets/shelves. It was too hard to build. This time, I was 99% decided on simply leaving the 24 x 24" corner dead so I could maximize the remaining base cabinets (I had massive 30" wide drawer banks AND 12" pullouts!). But then I pulled out my old drawings and tinkered a bit. This time, I'm working with a carpenter to build what I now call the "XY Slide," because it pulls out (Y axis), then slide right (X axis).
I think my XY Slide is nearly ideal for corners. It allows use of 80% of the footprint (the gold standard 24" wide drawer bank uses 83%), and gives full access to the two outer shelves, and 75% access to the inner larger shelves. This solution is great for large bulky items like big stock pots, etc., not so great for small items.
Edit 2-25-2024: I added a second version of my XY Slide because it will be hard to reach the deeper parts of the large sliding tray, so I shrank the inside tray to also pull out. I'm still not sure if I want to maximize storage for large bulky items or for accessibility.
EDIT 2-25-2024 for accuracy/completeness:
Made notations in the diagrams more consistent in language
Uploaded better formatted images, divided into existing options vs my proposed XY Slide option
Updated the XY Slide into 2 versions: max space vs max access.
Added a bit more to the XY slide paragraph above.
NEW ANALYSES:
Let's be clear: corners suck. All the "solutions" have severe tradeoffs between space and accessibility. Even drawers lose space compared to shelves, yet everyone chooses them because the accessibility trumps the loss of space. The important thing may not even be that you have the "best" solution, but rather the best attitude about its strengths outweighing its weaknesses.
The most accessible solution, the corner drawers, offer the least space, losing 725 s.i. and offering only 30.6% of the space compared to shelves.
Objectively, the dead corner (blocking off the corner) and simply adding 9" to the drawer banks on either side (compared to a 36" corner cab) or 21" to one side (compared to a 48" blind cabinet) offers more additional storage ((373.5 s.i. and 436 s.i. respectively, vs. 321 s.i.) and less space loss (675.5 vs 725 s.i.) than the corner drawer solution, and have the benefit of equally easy access but wider, rectangular (and therefore more usable) drawers than the corner drawers. This was a surprisingly not sucky option IMHO.
The next most wasteful is the comatose corner, if you just count the accessible space, but it still offers more accessible space than the corner drawer (347 vs 321 s.i., but 3-4 corner drawers easily outdoes 2 pullouts). But the large but difficult to reach inner trays offer WAY more large item storage for a total of 78.4% of shelves.
The Hafele Magic Corner loses 513 s.i. of space, and is just 51% efficient compared to shelves, primarily because it's designed for 19" deep cabinets and loses storage in the deepest recesses d/t the shelves having to fit through the 19" door opening. Definitely more space efficient than the corner drawer, but still abysmal IMO.
The Super Susan (assuming shelves under the susan) offers relatively inaccessible corners, so I won't count them, but still not too shabby at 65% of the storage of shelves, but significantly more accessible than shelves. (Incidentally, a 9" wide drawer bank offers 65% of the storage of shelves, but as you go wider, drawers get much more efficient, going up to 86% by 36" width.)
The LeMans was too funky shaped for me to get into the math, sorry! I struggled to try to estimate the pie shape of the Susan, LOL.
Image 1 Link (Comparison)
Image 2 Link (XY Slide)
Comments (26)
Monique
2 months agoRelated Discussions
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Comments (18)With so much space left by the mudroom doorway, consider making a shallow message center/drop zone on the side of the fridge in plan #1. A shallow cabinet with doors facing the breakfast nook and with electrical outlets can hold cell phones and other household gadgets that need charging. The counter can hold the immediate mail until you sort out what needs to go to file 13 or to the office to be paid. Put in some hooks on the backsplash area for keys, and use a shallow depth wall cabinet (also facing the breakfast nook) fitted with an interior corkboard and some "retaining bar slots" for take out menus and coupons. You don't need much depth for all of this to work and work well at keeping your clutter buildup to a minimum. I definately vote for a prep sink on the island. It simplifies traffic patterns during prep and keeps you from crossing 2 aisles when washing and cutting up veggies for instance. It also minimizes the chances of crowding and cross traffic to the fridge if you have a sink on the island. You only have to "shop" for ingredients from the fridge and unload them to the island where they will stay until added to the cooking zone from the prep zone. Without the prep sink, you have to unload to the island, cross to the sink to wash or rinse your hands, and then back to the island. A prep sink adds a ton of functionality and makes for lots of steps saved. I'd explore option #1 but with the fridge located next to the family room, which will cut out the "snack traffic" from getting in the way of either clean up or cooking. Put the pantry to the right side of the configuration with the message center on it's side. That cuts down on the cabinetry on that wall, but make those uppers glass cabs that really showcase your "pretties" and your actual dishes and it'll be a nice focal point. YOu then have more room on your range wall to store spices, plastic containers and other stuff that isn't so lovely to look at but which is most of the "kitchen stuff" that needs housing. Would it be possible to have overhang on the island next to the living room? That would make the island seating more user friendly. I love the idea of the banquette seating by the window, but consider making the island seating more usable for everyday dining and making that sunny spot by the window more of a "lounge" area with the banquette and maybe a nice coffee table instead of a dining height table. (For maximum versatility, you could make the legs adjustable for both functions.) With the banquette wrapping all 3 walls, it'd be like having a couple of chaise lounges there in the sun to relax on and scan your cookbooks for a recipe for the evening or a nice place to enjoy the Sunday paper and coffee....See MoreKate Cowers
2 months ago
cpartist
2 months agoI'm very happy with my corner drawers. Top drawer is my knife storage and below are potholders and dish towels with rarely used glassware on the bottom drawer. I've had lazy susans and hated them because it meant I had to bend down to see what I needed to take out.
PRODiana Bier Interiors, LLC
2 months agoI have two corner cabinets with the LeMans drawers. LOVE THEM!!!
Much preferred to Lazy Susans.
Adirondack in Blue · More Info
Toni Hamlett
2 months agoI love my lazy Susan with the sides. Never had anything fall. My kitchen is small and I preferred the design of the door rotating inside the cabinet. I did custom cabinets to maximize my space since my kitchen is small.
HU-910663146
2 months agoI am remodeling right now and agree with Diana about the Lemans.
My cabinet person STRONGLY disliked using the design shown by cpartist. Said that it wastes a lot of space. I did not verify that comment, because I liked the look of the Lemans anyway.
HU-910663146
2 months agoAnnKH
2 months agoRoyHobbs
2 months ago
PRODebbi Washburn
2 months agocpartist
2 months ago- PRO
Diana Bier Interiors, LLC
2 months ago HU-910663146
2 months agovinmarks
2 months ago- PRO
Diana Bier Interiors, LLC
2 months ago 
acm
2 months agoKate Cowers
2 months agocpartist
2 months agoD Ahn
2 months ago- PRO
Diana Bier Interiors, LLC
2 months ago blueskysunnyday
2 months ago
chinacatpeekin
2 months agoHere’s the Hafele Magic Corner in my very small 1914 Craftsman kitchen. I think it’s great!
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Diana Bier Interiors, LLC
2 months agolast modified: 2 months ago HU-505073710
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Patricia Colwell Consulting