Layout change?

17 years ago

My layout has been finished for quite some time now. In fact, the cabinets are sitting in my living room! However, I'm starting to second-guess one of the choices I made. The layout now includes two 18" four-drawer units side-by-side. I planned to use the drawers to store my flatware, small gadgets, cooking utensils, plastic wrap/foil/wax paper/large storage bags, smaller bags/paper bags, trash bags, bread, snacks.

My question is this:

Should I get one 36" four-drawer unit instead? I would gain storage space (about 4" per level of drawers) due to the cabinet box/frame/slide space that would no longer be there with two units.

I could combine the storage along these lines using dividers or boxes:

flatware/small gadgets

cooking utensils

plastic wrap/foil/wax paper/large storage bags/small storage bags/paper bags/trash bags

bread/snacks

or something like that.

The cost for the units would be about the same, even given the 15% restocking fee.

Would one 36" unit look better than two 18" units? Would it function better?

If it helps (I don't have a scan of that side of the kitchen) the line of cabinets is

36" three-drawer pot and pan unit

30" range

18" four-drawer unit

18" four-drawer unit

dishwasher

sink base

trash pullout

corner cabinet

I'd appreciate any thoughts you all might have!

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Comments (4)

footballmom
17 years ago
Don't change anything. It would be more difficult to have the flatware in a larger drawer without dividers and it would require dividers for the wraps too. It will look just fine as is. I think it is quite common to get a panic streak this close to install, but really, you would not get 4" of extra space and the larger cabinet will cost more than the two you have sitting there. Maybe it would have seemed better and you probably would have gotten a prep cabinet(they are 36" wide with two drawers on top and a cutting board installed, but I don't think the difference is worth worrying about. Please post install pice! You know how we lust after pics!
rhome410
17 years ago
I think neatly organizing and dividing things into the smaller drawer units will be better than wide drawers trying to be multipurpose.
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sweeby
17 years ago
You've already got your cabinets, which argues strongly for doing nothing.

But if the cost is a wash and you have the time, it doesn't hurt to think about it...

What did you plan to store there? Are there large items that may not fit well and waste space in small drawers? (Placemats, trivets, kitchen towels, menues) Or do you have dissimilar items that you might not want to group together in a larger drawer? (Silverware with cooking utensils? Kitchen towels with foil?)
And how much shallow storage space do you need? More is only better if you need more.

36" wide drawers are fabulously flexible, and there are so many storage dividers available out there (or make your own) that I'd be tempted to switch.
sprengle1
Original Author
17 years ago
I had to work to find this thread!

I'm going to leave them go. I would gain a good amount of space, but it will end up costing me a bit (under $100) to switch them. Either way, I feel like I'm starting to second-guess my choices (faucet, hardware, sink...) and will make myself crazy if I start giving in to that behavior.

I do have quite a few shallow drawers, all but one small like these. That's why I thought it might be better to go wider, but I'll control myself! But I hadn't thought of menus! Now I'm excited that they'll have a home, too!