Idk, but just asking if you have measured your pots and pans....I suppose either look is fine, but the symmetrical seems a bit better...

What would you keep in the drawers?

Clicking on More Info, then on the drawer, shows they placed recycling there- maybe take a look:

Elm Grove Farmhouse Kitchen · More Info

I've had pot and pan drawers for many years and from a functional POV, your second illustration works best (for me). The more important thing is what is important to you for function. The idea to measure the pots and pans is a good one.

The problem with the drawers being too small is that it becomes a wasted space then - as you can only fit your pots and pans in a limited way. I like to be able to see instantly which pot or pan I want to use and easily access it without taking out a bunch of cookware. For me, the wider drawers work best, but it depends on you and how you use your kitchen. Here is an article:

https://www.houzz.com/magazine/pulling-power-clever-drawer-tactics-for-a-kitchen-stsetivw-vs~45324259

If you like symmetry, you could use 2 24" cabinets and a large 36" pots and pans drawer in the middle.

Wider pot drawers are much, much better.

I'd go for more drawers -- we use one for all the bakeware (which nests pretty well) and another for all the glass and plastic storage containers (that used to spill out of a cupboard). So even if your pots and pans aren't completely efficient, you probably won't waste any of that space. The only thing we have in a cupboard is tall appliances (food processer, say). However, we do have some lazy susan storage that's carrying the load of most of our fry and sauce pans, so I can't speak from personal experience as to how much space they would need in a drawer...

Idea: get a box in each of the widths and try putting your specific cookware in. Should give you a pretty good idea of whether the extra width actually gains you a pan, say. But I still say more drawers over more cabinets, in almost every instance, so if i wanted the larger size, I'd stick with a double bank of those, axing the extra cupboard on the left.

I double-checked, and my super-useful pan and tupperware drawers are 27 inches -- we use them like 95% efficiently.

New Kitchen 2016 -- wall 4 left · More Info

Pan handles make things messy, so making those drawers 30" seems good to me, in a vacuum -- I'd do 2x30" and make the leftmost cabinet slim, for serving trays, cookie sheets, cheese boards, and other slim things. I have one of those here, to the right of the stove, and it's super-useful!

New Kitchen 2016 -- wall 3 after · More Info

Here. You could add a couple inches to island length if you wanted more cupboard on the left, or you could widen the sink base to 24"; otherwise, I think the additional functionality of the drawers is totally worth the nonsymmetry of look!

I have pots ranging from 7" to 13" (not including handles). If the interior of the 24" is 18 3/4" then it would be difficult to put two Large pots/pans next to each other. If you had two Medium (~9"), it would be a tight fit. You could do one large/medium and one small. So Large ones would only be able to fit on its own or next to a small pot.

By the way the two 18" cabinets on the side are pull out after you open the door, if this helps anyone's decision making. I could put my Large and special pieces (rice cooker, Large stock pot etc) in the side 18" which would leave more room in the 24"s for pots/pans.

@M&R Kitchens + Baths, the maker can only do 18" and 24", 36" isn't possible, that would also either decrease the island size or increase the two side cabinets. Total cabinet room is 18" + 48" + 18".

I don't care about symmetry - I AM concerned about functionality. I am ordering cabinets (we are building our own island) - a 30" 3 drawer, and a 18" or 24 (probably will be 24) 4 drawer. For my pots and pans, 24" is just a bit small for me. I don't want any cabinets - only drawers, as I really don't want to go beyond 54" long.

@acm this isn't entirely custom, I'm working with a builder and my only option are the two I stated above but I do like your idea of a slim cabinet for baking pans. I can't change the island size or the side 18" cabinet size.

As I'm thinking about it, I would prefer functionality over symmetry.

I like the option presented by M&R Kitchens.

It's odd he can't do a 30" cabinet. I wonder where he gets his cabinets from? 30" is a pretty standard size.

@Chess, they can do 30" but only one 30" would fit, I cannot do two 30" next to each other. See the images in the post.

Understood. I would just do one though, that's what I meant. Other cab would just be smaller. I would want at least one 30" set of drawers. My own preference woukd be for 2, but I don't have room.

Mine are about 40" x 12". These are the perfect size.

I have two 36" wide, deep drawers directly under my cooktop. Love them, as all of my favorites are direct-access. Very large pans with long handles, sauce pans, smaller sauté pans to 8 and 12 quart pots- all is right there for access.

I will say that it took a bit of hinge adjustment to help the soft-close feature work properly- heavy content, big drawers. But 2 years in and going strong. Worth it, to me.

Wow those are some big@ss drawers you guys have. I am jealous of your space!

Bigger really is better.

Chess- re: skinny cabinet for baking pans etc. With limited options for custom sized cabinets, maybe talk to the builder about interior customization. Something simple- dividers, in the same material as the interior cabinets, that will give you the same concept, without changing the configuration. I have two cabinets in my kitchen where we did that. One of them houses baking sheets etc, and is a mess I'd rather not share :) This one houses some awkwardly sized platters, bowls etc.

Maybe you can work it out with the builder.