my tray base is 9". I have framed/inset cabinets. it is the minimum in my opinion as well... wouldn't be enough usable space in a 6" cab.

Perhaps you could do a pull out with shelving for cleaning products or food, or something that would make sense in that area of your kitchen.

We are wanting to use a corner space this way, but it's very small. Somewhere I have seen the space with a face frame but no door. The top was attractive, a valance I believe it would be called. Was that you mamadadapaige? You have one of my all time favorite kitchens. The space was narrow, flanking a range I think. No business with a door. It would be messy to have too much there, but as you are thinking abergdc, just several of the most often used. I hope someone recalls or claims this feature and posts a pic.

My KD said 9" in framed cabinets and she would leave out the divider.
Mock it up, it just may fit your unique situation.
Should it work, you might consider leaving one shelf at the bottom with enough room to slide your BBQ tools below on the floor of the cabinet. That gets your trays up a bit for easier access.

Minimum? Well, I think a three inch opening would be enough to get a hand in. It depends on how much stuff you want to put in there! It might work in your kitchen. It might work better as a pull out. Obviously, it's going to have less use per framing than a larger cabinet.

I had a six in wide cabinet that came in a previous house (rental). In a corner. It had a fixed shelf. It was pretty useless. It would have been much more useful if it could have been a vertical tray cabinet.

Thanks for all the replies. A pull-out would be very small too, of course. Could we do something clever for lids? It's not a great place for spices, and anyway we plan a sort-of a built-in mini-wall cabinet (about 4" deep shelves, trimmed out like a window, against a wall we are not using for cabinets, close to the range) for the the spices.

I'm still thinking a bit like plllog. But we'll see what our KD says next week . . .

It just occurred to me: maybe join up with the trash cabinet, make that one 24". Then either keep two doors and you'd have a 4.5" opening, or even keep one door. No good for trays, then, but maybe cleaning supplies? Or join with the micro cabinet on the left. More versatile for storage, as it wouldnt' be in the trash bin, if it works structurally.

I don't see why a 6" wide base cabinet wouldn't work for trays. Maybe not for a pull-out, but for a basic slot to slide trays in and out, it would work fine.

To give you an idea of the space available in a framed 6" wide cabinet, these cabinets of mine are exactly 6" wide (outside dimensions). If you ignore the shelves and the depth since they're wall cabs, there would be plenty of space to store trays. That's not to say that your 6" couldn't be used better for something else, but if you want a tray base, don't discount it just because it's 6" wide.

I also still do not understand why everyone thinks that framed cabinets have less space than frameless. The interior space for a basic cabinet (not drawers or pull-outs) is the same, the opening is just a little smaller. And for something like vertical trays, I think it would work very well, even if the opening is smaller. I have no problem getting my hand in these cabs to grab fat items - and trays are skinny.

Don't know what your style is, but could you leave the door off and finish or paint the inside? Maybe put an upright thin divider in the middle?

The 3/4" door is slightly blocking the end of the 6" cabinet shown above. It's not critical, but is it necessaary?

Thanks, those pictures (and all the comments) are very useful.

Andy

With face framed cabinets you lose approx 1-1/2" in the cabinet opening...leaving you with a 4-1/2" opening in a 6" cabinet.

But, there's a way you can get all 6" of the opening even in face framed cabinets...use what's known as a "filler pullout". These are pullouts that are installed by attaching them to the walls of the cabinets on either side. I.e., it's not a 6" cabinet, it's a 6" opening b/w two cabinets w/a pullout installed in the space.

This is a great way to utilize every inch, especially for those narrow places. They're available for a space as narrow as 3" (like those pesky 3" fillers you need here & there...you might be able to install these in some of them!)

I have two 6" ones in my kitchen...flanking my cooktop. One thing, though, get the one w/adjustable shelves. That's what I thought I was getting, but it didn't turn out that way. There are also some w/open tops...a big plus as well.

Here's s thread from about 18 months ago about this subject:

Thread: Rev-A-Shelf Spice Racks for Fillers -- Have you seen these!!!! http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg1020292023561.html

Also, see the link below for Rev-A-Shelf's base filler pullouts (they also have wall/upper cabinet pullouts, btw). Oh, and you can get them much cheaper elsewhere! (Try OvisOnline, KitchenSource, TheHardwareHut, CabinetParts, etc.)

And, of course, the pictures!

Here is a link that might be useful: Rev-A-Shelf Base Filler Pullouts

Beautiful buehl! I love it.