question about fillers

18 years ago

My cabinets will go along one wall and then turn out to form a penninsula. The penninsula will have my sink and dishwasher in that order and that's all. A KD has told me that a filler would have to be on the left side of my sink cabinet(first thing in penn.) in order for the door not to hit the cabinet that's along the wall. Also, he says I need a filler on the right side between the sink and the DW to support the counter. Are they really needed? Will my sink cabinet door hit the drawers along the other wall and isn't the sink and dishwasher cabinets enough to support the counter?

I understand now that there are two types of fillers. One that is decorative and others that are filled(?) to support some of the weight. He didn't say which filler needed to be there and at the time I didn't know there was a difference. I think he truly believes the reasons he gave me for using them and isn't just trying to sell me extras.

I have looked at so many pictures on here and the finished kitchen site and I don't see where people are using these fillers. I'd appreciate any thoughts on this. I am concerned that if I insist on no fillers, he won't guarantee the counter which could either be SS or granite, if that should make a difference.

Thanks, Zoey

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Comments (4)

User
18 years ago
Your KD is right on this one. You are paying for his expertise. Let him use it to help you. THis isn't a place to second guess him. You'll also need a DW end panel, or box filler at the end run of your DW to help support the coutnertop and finish off the cabinet run. And, depending on what type of cabinets you are using and what type of corner cabinet, you may need a filler on the cabinet run that is 90 to your sink/DW leg. Fillers aren't "space wasters". They are necessary ingredients to proper design with most cabinet lines. Unless you are going custom cabinets, or using extended stiles in your design, clearances for cabinets need to be accounted for in some way. Otherwise, the kitchen becomes decorative only and can't be used because it isn't functional.
green-zeus
18 years ago
You don't "see" the fillers because they are incorporated right into the cabinets. They look just like more cabinet. As the above poster said, lean on the cabinet shop for this decision. It will be beautiful. My kitchen has some fillers in it--most do.
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Buehl
18 years ago
Live_wire_oak...do some KDs specify larger filler than needed to give them "wiggle room" on measuring issues? My KD had specified 3-3/4" filler b/w my double oven cabinet and corner step-in pantry. But, when we encountered several measuring "issues" on that wall, she commented that I really only needed 1/2" filler there...is she correct? The corner pantry has a wall slightly deeper than 24" (not done yet, so I don't know the exact depth) so it will stick out slightly past the cabinets on that wall.

I don't mean to hijack, but it brings up questions about using all the space you can on a run of cabinets vs not being able to use all your space b/c of "planning" (or expecting) measuring issues and filling in w/fillers, in addition to needing fillers b/w cabinets and/or appliances for clearance issues.
zoey_neohio
Original Author
18 years ago
Live_wire_oak and green zeus, thanks for your answers. The fact that the fillers are incorporated already into the cabinet could be why I am not seeing them.

Here is my kitchen now. It appears that there "could" be a filler to the right of the wall cabinet. I just can't tell on the sink cabinet. Again, thanks for the help.