Shallow End Cabinets Offer a Sliver of Highly Functional Space
Keys, notes, calendars — just 3 inches of depth can help you declutter and stay organized
Becky Harris
August 15, 2018
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia.
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More
If you have trouble keeping track of your keys or preventing them from adding to a pile of clutter, a shallow cabinet installed at the end of a cabinet run may do the trick. See how designers are turning this often-overlooked space into a place to keep keychains, work IDs, notes and more both handy and hidden away.
Cabinetmaker Stan Tucker of Tucker Cabinets has noticed that many of his clients are taking advantage of an extra 2 or 3 inches of space they find at the end of a cabinet run. They are turning those inches into a recess just deep enough for a mini landing zone, such as the set of hooks shown here.
Tip: Assign specific hooks for each family member for easy use. Add labels to help keep track of keys to mailboxes, the shed, neighbors’ homes and all those other random keys that tend to become mystery keys.
Tip: Assign specific hooks for each family member for easy use. Add labels to help keep track of keys to mailboxes, the shed, neighbors’ homes and all those other random keys that tend to become mystery keys.
Even though these cabinets are quite shallow, thought must be given to how one will look from the side. The upper left cabinet shown here is the same cabinet in the previous photo, with the door closed. The edge seamlessly blends with the cabinetry holding the microwave.
To create this cabinet, Tucker used a half-inch solid back (the board that the hooks are screwed into) and a 4-inch face frame (which serves as the sides of the cabinet). Then he made a second face frame for the cabinet door and used short-arm hinges to attach it.
Pegboard is another good option for the back of the cabinet, Tucker says, as it makes the hooks easy to install and rearrange.
Find a cabinet pro in your area
To create this cabinet, Tucker used a half-inch solid back (the board that the hooks are screwed into) and a 4-inch face frame (which serves as the sides of the cabinet). Then he made a second face frame for the cabinet door and used short-arm hinges to attach it.
Pegboard is another good option for the back of the cabinet, Tucker says, as it makes the hooks easy to install and rearrange.
Find a cabinet pro in your area
Here, the designer stacked two shallow cabinets to create a hideaway with room for keys, a calendar and a step stool.
A fluted column along the side of the ovens integrates the shallow cabinet with the rest of the kitchen.
A fluted column along the side of the ovens integrates the shallow cabinet with the rest of the kitchen.
This family expanded the usefulness of their shallow cabinet by using the back of the door to post important numbers and messages on sticky notes.
Tip: Use small adhesive hooks if the back of your slim cabinet cannot handle screw-in hooks.
Tip: Use small adhesive hooks if the back of your slim cabinet cannot handle screw-in hooks.
The sticky notes in the previous photo can be seen as a precursor to the next evolution of the shallow cabinet: including a dry-erase or cork board on the door’s inner surface. This one even has room for a writing utensil holder and papers, making it an easy spot to leave notes and reminders and add to a grocery list.
Tip: Hang key hooks within reach of anyone who will need them, and stash lesser-used items in your tippy-toe/stepladder territory.
Browse cabinet knobs
Tip: Hang key hooks within reach of anyone who will need them, and stash lesser-used items in your tippy-toe/stepladder territory.
Browse cabinet knobs
This may be the queen of the shallow end cabinets. More than half a million people have added this photo to their Houzz ideabooks.
This double decker has hooks for keys and cork board on the upper door, a dry-erase board and room for markers on top and file sorters for every member of the family below.
This is great for sorting mail, keeping track of permission slips and homework assignments and stashing favorite magazines, catalogs and coloring books.
This double decker has hooks for keys and cork board on the upper door, a dry-erase board and room for markers on top and file sorters for every member of the family below.
This is great for sorting mail, keeping track of permission slips and homework assignments and stashing favorite magazines, catalogs and coloring books.
Bonus: Around the corner, there’s a charging station for personal devices and mail slots.
The designer worked the thickness of the shallow cabinet right into the design. Looking at the storage unit from this angle, the trim on both sides is the same thickness, creating a pleasing symmetry.
Your turn: Have you sneaked clever storage into your kitchen cabinets? Kitchen designers and homeowners, please show us your small-space storage solution in the Comments!
More
Cabinets 101: How to Get the Storage You Want
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The designer worked the thickness of the shallow cabinet right into the design. Looking at the storage unit from this angle, the trim on both sides is the same thickness, creating a pleasing symmetry.
Your turn: Have you sneaked clever storage into your kitchen cabinets? Kitchen designers and homeowners, please show us your small-space storage solution in the Comments!
More
Cabinets 101: How to Get the Storage You Want
Find a kitchen designer near you
KA Builders is a dedicated and innovative remodeling company based in the heart of your city. With our years of... Read More
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Haven Design, love it!
The Best 3" of your Kitchen's Design Layout!
Yes, you have to borrow 3" from the adjacent cabinets but what you lose, you'll maximize on in organization and decluttering. We even outfit the space with slots, hooks and shelves. Take a que from Kitchen Designer Jill Moskowitz, it's the little details that homeowners want and what makes a kitchen custom, functional and beautiful.
GET MORE KITCHEN INSPIRATION: https://www.kitchenmagic.com/gallery
Kitchen Details: Cherry - Natural Stain with Nutmeg Glaze/Grannite countertops
ACCESSORIES: https://www.kitchenmagic.com/accessories
I provided my client with a cute side cabinet to store their keys as part of their kitchen - I thought it worked great for them and they were happy!