Hi Mdal,

Our company designed and had this cabinet made. The shelf was part of the design.

Normally, you need to have overhead cupboards about 550-600mm above a bench of 900mm - above eye height, so that you can work at the bench without feeling like the cupboard above is in the way.

So there is always a large space on the back wall, which becomes unused space although it is in prime location. I find these small utility shelves - about 200mm deep and 200mm high - that sit under the overhead cupboards are really useful for sugar bowls, tea caddy, teapot, spices, salt and pepper... all those small things you use regularly and are at a handy arm's length away without opening a door.

Yes, you can add one to your existing cabinet. Make an L-shape shelf so you can screw the vertical back part to the back wall.

Hope this info helps!

Regards

Mark

Thank you Mark! Your kitchen looks great and very functional. I totally agree - we tend to have all these things you mentioned occupying our counter space since we used them everyday, and utilizing the space under the cabinets for these small items is a brilliant idea! And I appreciate your advice on the L-shape shelf, which seems doable. We're planning on having our kitchen renovated, and I don't think our cabinet company has this kind of thing in their standard cabinet line. I am sticking with standard cabinets to keep my cost down, so maybe I just need to find L-shape shelves and add them under the cabinets once they're installed. I only found the shelf in the image below online, but I think something like this would work. I'm planning on installing one under the cabinet left of the stove (rendering for reference).

After looking at your plan...

it would be good if the line of the new shelf was at the same level as the bottom of the microwave shelf on the other side.

But be careful with how close the shelf is to the stove top. There is a regulation as to how close combustible material can be from the stove top. So you may have to cut it short on the right hand side.