I have this same picture saved. Previous discussions have pointed out that the cubbies would be really hard to clean out if the whole thing isn't removable. Additionally shorter flatware pieces(salad forks, dessert spoons) would be harder to grab and it might be difficult for someone unfamiliar with your kitchen to grab what they wanted without first grabbing at several handles if you didn't pop some p-touch labels on the dividers.

I still like the concept a lot and might try to find a workaround to those issues should I ever do another kitchen.

When we discussed this before, I thought it was a great idea. Now, after going through the (almost) whole remodel, i think i would buy new silverware, it would be bigger, and not fit in those lots anymore......yeah, I'm tired....

Nancy

hi laxsupermom,
i had been reading about the issue of cleaning.

i would definitely have it removable. I had been thinking it would be open at the bottom so that a nice absorbent cloth could be laid down first and this on top of it since I am not one to dry off cutlery as it comes out of the DW.

I had been thinking one of two things to counter the issue of different lengths of cutlery.

First option: all the bins are short enough to make grabbing the shorter items easy - maybe the sides are 4-1/2" tall. This would mean that the knives will not be standing straight up and down - not sure I would want to make the drawer deep enough for that to happen anyway.

Second option: a combo of vertical bins for shorter items with horizontal bins for taller items. Had to do a sketch to convey my point on this:

maybe there are better ideas though? would love feedback - thanks

Measuring spoons? Paring knives? My measuring spoons are only about 3" tall so the dividers would have to be very short. Plus I wouldn't want to have my paring knives stored point down (which they'd have to be for safety) in a drawer that was opened a lot because I think it would deform their points and dull their edges over time. Where are your dinner or place knives?

The other issue is that I keep my measuring spoons and paring knives closer to where they're used (prep area)and my flatware closer to the table-setting starting point and the sink.

L.

hi lirio-
thanks for your input... i will post the elevation for where this drawer would be (highlighted in yellow on elevation). It is my prime area for prepping but is also my best area for unloading the dishwasher which is my preference for storage of my cutlery (vs. table setting area... most of our family meals are eaten in the dining room anyway).

re: the tips of the paring knives - I've got a bunch of them as I use them all day everyday for mostly peeling apples for the kids, or potatoes for dinner or chopping onions if I don't want to use one of my big knives. My paring knives (some date back to my college days!) aren't precious - if I were to pursue this idea (which at this point is questionable as I am just not sure it is the right way to go) I'm not so worried about their points and I would have some sort of soft absorbant towel underneath this set up which would keep points from meeting wood.

Re: butter knives - should have said dinner knives. I don't really have any butter knives but use the dinner knives all the time for buttering toast, etc.

I don't know... maybe this will work? not too sure about it.

Looks like you've addressed both of the major issues. Looking forward to seeing it in action if you go ahead with it.

re: measuring spoons in a vertical cubby - I suppose it could work, but my first thought was that it might make it hard to know at a glance which one was which.