I've never had a base pullout of any sort, but from what I hear from my friends who have them (only a couple), they wish they hadn't put them in. They say it's irritating to reach down so low to get the needed items. Based on their recommendations, I'm not going with base pullouts for frequently used items or small ones like spices. Usually when I need a spice, I need it quickly. I would bug me to stoop down and have to survey my dozens of spice containers to find the right one. I vote drawer!

I have a base pullout , which I love, but I don't use it for spices. I use it for vinegars, soy sauce, coconut oil, peanut butter and packaged ingredients like baking soda, bread crumbs, and rice. I find it to be a really good use of the space. It's a little over 10" wide, with about 7.5" of that usable. I keep my spices in a spice drawer, and use stainless steel canisters for them. (The photo in the link below is a little blurry, sorry.)

Here is a link that might be useful:

Hi,

I make most of my design decisions based on my back problems. It would be a no-go for me & the spice pull out. I'm even putting in a raised dishwasher in the house we plan to build this Spring.

If you like drawers and they work well for you, I'd stick with that. I think a prep sink would be way more useful than something you're not sure about.

Good luck in whatever you do :)

Personally, I would skip the base pullout. It would drive me nuts to bend down to read the labels. A drawer sounds much better.

In my last kitchen, I had plenty of space in the upper cabinets, so I arranged my spices alphabetically on 2 10" plastic lazy susans. They were right at eye level, and it was so easy to find what I needed with a quick spin.

My vote is also for the drawer over the pullout. Mine are in a drawer and it's quick and easy to locate what I want/need.

If you like the spice drawer, then keep it. The fact that it also lets you have a prep sink makes it an easy decision!

I have two 6-inch "spice pullout" cabinets that I do like since I can store & see items from both sides (easier than having to move things around), but they are the result of my KD's measuring mistakes that she wanted to be filler...the pullouts are much better than filler!

If you do get a pullout, though, be sure the shelves are adjustable. Mine are not (I thought they were going to be) so I cannot fit my oils or vinegars on them. I can fit molasses, honey, etc., but no tall items.

I am doing a pretty carousel rack for spices on the counter and the lesser used ones will be in a top drawer near the stove. My current set up is far from my prep and stove and up high on a lazy susan which means moving others to find what I want. Many short spice bottles can't be seen without lifting them up.
I am not sure if I will use a drawer spice organizer (like steps) or just label the tops and stand them up.

I color code & label my tops & zone them. Green are herbs, red can be hot, curries...another color for baking & so on. Works great for me. You could do this either laying down the jars or standing them up.

I put a 9" spice pullout in my kitchen. It didn't work very well to store spices - I ended up putting my canned goods in it (it works great for that!) The spices are now in a large top drawer in my prep area. Make sure you have a good idea how your spice rack is configured before you commit. My KD originally wanted me to use the narrow space for cookie sheet storage. If you don't have many pans to store this would be another option for you.

I always had spices on lazy susans in the upper cabinets, or in the upper, upper cabinet over the range hood. But inthe rmodel we did away with the upper cabinets. I moved the spices into a drawer and the oils and vinegars into the pantry, a few steps away. Works like a charm.

I had a 30" wide spice drawer for years...the kind with steps cut in to hold the spices so all labels are visible. I LOVED it. So easy, so convenient. I also had a 9" wide pullout that I also loved....but not for spices, for oils, vinegars, soy sauce, etc. Definitely the way to go, IMO.

Here's a classic thread!

Here is a link that might be useful: Thread: How do you store a LARGE collection of spices?