Software
Houzz Logo Print
hzdeleted_28126706

Cabinets: your most useful options ?

8 years ago

What options did you add to your cabinets that have proven most useful ?

Comments (31)

  • 8 years ago

    Dual level silverware drawer, tray divider, trash/recycling pullout and most surprisingly because I didn't think I would like it, super Susan. Thought it would waste space, but I easily fit every single small appliance I on on there, and I have a lot!

  • 8 years ago

    My trash pullout (with trash, recycling, and composting) is great......


    I love it

  • 8 years ago

    I bought my cabs used and retro fitted them so didn't have the opportunity to select each feature, however, I can tell you I'm super excited to move into them though because they have so many drawers! I went from almost no drawers to almost all drawers in the base cabs. I've also enjoyed the pull out garbage and recycle we added, very nice if you have dogs especially.

  • 8 years ago

    I love pullouts above the fridge

    And a pullout cutting board

    I used to have a desk in the kitchen, but I never sat at it (the kitchen table was 2 steps away, and more comfortable), so it was a dumping ground. I put tall cabinets in the space where the desk was, and built in all the function of a desk, behind closed doors.

    File drawers, and small drawers above for pens, stapler, scissors, etc.

    Finally, the "command center" - calendar, magnetic white board, space for dog treats and food, notebooks, scratch paper (it's not so empty anymore). There are two outlets on the left side, so this is also a charging area - I love not having chargers on the counter in the kitchen!

  • 8 years ago

    I don't have a picture, but I also have a file drawer in my kitchen and I love it. When my kids were younger, it provided me with an easy place to put all their school paperwork/projects when they got home. I also keep a notebook with coupons and menus for local restaurants, etc. in the file drawer so I don't have that stuff laying all over the counters.

  • PRO
    8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Drawers, drawers, drawers. Did I mention drawers? :-)

    Thank you to GW for teaching me about them. The KD my builder sent me to never even mentioned the option.

  • 8 years ago

    Do pull-out cutting boards tend to jiggle?

  • 8 years ago

    I had a 9" cabinet for trays down low and then more tray storage above the wall oven. I didn't have tray dividers built in and the plastic/metal dividers don't work as well as full height wood ones for muffin tins, cooling racks, etc.

    I loved both my super susans--I know people speak poorly of them but I really loved mine.

    Drawers. Drawers. Drawers.

    Pullout trash/recycling.

    Drawer dividers (purchased at Container Store, but this time I'm going to make my own)

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Trash pull-out, mixer lift (I'm getting old!), Super Susan. Drawers go without saying!!

  • 8 years ago

    Drawers- we have 32 in a 12-1/2 X 14-1/2 kitchen. I incorporated the toe kick into the bottom drawers, making them 4" deeper. I made a diagonal prep corner with no cabinet under it, so you can sit and do prep work. I made a rolling bin on the DR side of our peninsula, regaining the space lost by the DW being near a corner. Our spice drawer holds 100 jars (!) vertically, with labels on the lids. One of my favorite thing about our kitchen is a lack of cabinets- uppers, that is. No uppers at all, and lots of windows!

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Wood tray dividers over the wall oven, mixer lift in island, rev-a-shelf heavy duty wire pullout for pot and pans. I reserved one lower cabinet NOT to be drawers for this . I prefer the ability to adjust and the air circulation for pots and pans over drawers or solid pullouts. I'm not a fan of options. Every "option" I got is after market. I also ended up with a space that was best for a 9" tall deep utility cab. I was going to do it as a pullout. Common sense prevailed and I changed my mind. I ordered extra shelving and I was able to find long plastic bins that fit each shelf perfectly. Saved a lot of real estate and made a cab that would otherwise be a dark hole functional.

    Actually I ordered extra shelving for any unit that took shelves.

    I am also in the minority regarding drawer organizers. I prefer removable and washable organizers to built-ins for sanitary reasons. I'm a messy cook. I drip, reach in to grab something with damp hands etc.

    User thanked wildchild2x2
  • 8 years ago

    Lot of very good input and @ Anglophilia thank you for the photos. LOTS more input MORE thank welcome and photos GREATLY appreciated.

  • 8 years ago

    @Anglophilia - I love your cabinets and pulls! What brand cabinets?

  • 8 years ago

    " I prefer removable and washable organizers to built-ins for sanitary
    reasons. I'm a messy cook. I drip, reach in to grab something with damp
    hands etc."
    Me too! Even my tray and pot-lid dividers are add-ins that are easily removable (and cleanable).


    My KD added two narrow pull-outs like Anglophilia posted (with utensils and oils) and I thought I would like them, but everything shifts and rattles when I pulled out those drawers/pull-outs/shelves; I was worried the bottles would fall over all the time. I hate them, as it turns out, and I'm trying to find a good way of using them. Right now I've got them lined with a plastic tray on the bottom that fits well (like this one: http://www.kitchenstuffplus.com/made-smart-tidy-storage-bin-granite), and I'm storing my utensils in them horizontally. So far, that's working out pretty well -- I don't store them too densely so I can see what I want and grab it easily.


    Seeing the photo of the spice storage reminded me of my spice storage, which isn't at all like that. I don't buy those highly-priced but regularly sized bottles of spices and seasonings; instead, I buy mine in bulk and store them in re-used jars I have from other foods. I store them in a cupboard, using some of these tiered shelf organizers (kind of like this one: https://www.containerstore.com/s/kitchen/pantry-organizers/pantry-storage/3-tier-silver-mesh-cabinet-organizer/123d?productId=10018251) to help me see everything. I also like using re-used jars because I can more easily reach in for the amount of the spice I want, rather than using the shaker-thing. That's just how I cook -- I also use a salt cellar (or salt pig) rather than a salt shaker.

  • 8 years ago

    My Mom had a pullout cutting board in her kitchen for 40 years; I've had mine for 4. Both are stable during use.

    One small regret in our kitchen is that we didn't put another pullout cutting board on the other side of the kitchen, closer to the fridge, for making sandwiches. We have a narrow base cab for cutting boards and cookie sheets nearby, but another pullout would have been handy.

    And I love my super susan. Like some others here, mine is loaded with small appliances. I put mine in an angled corner, so I could put a drawer above it, for a knife insert. This also gives me more space on the counter for a small microwave.

  • 8 years ago

    One of my best discoveries was adding after-market hanging file racks to my 10" deep kitchen drawers: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00006IAKO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 So helpful in corralling the paper/mail/homework clutter off my island! I also bought a small paper shredder that fits over my pull-out trashcan and its easy to store in a nearby kitchen drawer. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01E3KVF7O/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    My kitchen and mudroom/laundry connect as a large room so some of the things I used wouldn't necessarily belong in a typical kitchen

    This has a couple things in it 1) toe kick drawer for dog dishes (swallow enough dishes to fit were tough to find but doable) 2) pull out under sink (has dog food, treats, some hand towels, leash, etc) 3) bar to hang laundry on.

    This is double trash repurposed as a hamper. It's next to the laundry sink.

    Another pull out under my kitchen main "clean up" sink. LOVE this. Under sink storage was always a mess before. I have three sinks (main, prep, laundry) they all got pull outs. The prep sink in island is a 24" cab and has a garbage disposal so there isn't a ton of vertical space, but still useful enough to have been worth it.

    Cutting boards, baking sheets and some metal serving trays. I have some additional vertical divider storage in the pantry.

    Of course all the drawers that could fit and trash/recycle pullout were musts too.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    One of my goals when I renovated was to be able to not have anything out on the counters - knife block, espresso machine, toaster, etc. So I love the double deep knife drawer, which allows me to store my large stash of good knives properly but out of sight (other items are behind closed doors). I also really appreciate being able to store cookware in cabinets that have pullout shelves so I never have to sit on the floor and dig to find something. I also had my cabinetmaker put shelving inside the upper cabinet doors on either side of the range, one side for oils/vinegars (and therefore taller) and one side for spice bottles (I bought a set of empty ones and just refill with small amounts bought from markets).

  • PRO
    8 years ago

    For those who can't fit a lazy susan cabinet, this is a nice option:

    And my new favorite to show people - a tupperware/pyrex organizer!

  • 8 years ago

    Anglophilia - I can't imagine having a drawer filled with pet food. The ants would be having a field day in my kitchen!

  • 8 years ago

    Drawers of course.

    I was inspired by Ann's over-the-fridge pullout (and have a matching one over the tall pantry cabinet next to it which works even better because it's lower and I can see inside it).

    Can I get stuff out of my fridge pullout without a stool? NO! But I can get it out with one, and that's a big deal when you're talking about a 36 wide x 30" deep cabinet that starts more than a foot over my head. It's good for canning stuff that I use infrequently.

    I don't like cabinet trash either--not if there's a spot for a can--so my pullout trash is now a dogfood pullout. In many kitchens, though, you kinda need a good trash pullout. Don't get a cheap one or a small one. Get a good one.


  • 8 years ago

    Thanks, Fori! I was sure that I had come up with something unique when I thought of it, but when I described it to my cabinetmaker, he said "Oh, sure, I've done that before - like a drawer on its side!"

    I can reach into mine, as long as the thing I'm reaching for is close to the edge (cereal box or paper towels). For stock pots or things further back, I need a stool or my 6'4" hubby. Since those things aren't used often, it's not an inconvenience.

    I have storage elsewhere for trays, so the pullout is the most efficient use of space in my kitchen. And that, of course, is the bottom line - how to get the most out or YOUR kitchen space.

  • 8 years ago

    A pullout above the fridge is a really cool idea--I'll ask my husband if he wants one. It's immaterial to me since I could barely reach above the oven. :-)

    One of the best solutions to organizing leftover plastic container storage is to throw out/give away every piece of mismatched stuff you have and buy this set: Rubbermaid Premier (I do not work for Rubbermaid but wow, did this clean up my kitchen storage) I used to have way more of these than I needed--but now I have exactly the right amount. (If I need more than this for leftovers it means I need to clean out the fridge).

    This wouldn't be enough for freezing pre-made meals, but it's definitely enough for daily use--and all of it fits in a single drawer. If I start freezing meals that won't work in ziploc bags I'd buy a set of freezer containers--but make them stackable.

    In fact, the best solution to storage and organization and deciding how to get options for your cabinets is to get rid of stuff :-). In my much-smaller-size kitchen, I'm learning quickly what I use regularly!

  • 8 years ago

    Dividers above my fridge for trays, cookie sheets, and muffin tins. A divider in a lower cabinet for cutting boards. Cooking utensil divider in a large drawer. Spice drawer. Trash pull out. I have two trash cans. I wish it were one big one. It It's near the sink so i wash veggies and cut there, and the scraps can go right in. I don't have a garage disposal since we have a septic system so all of my food scraps have to go somewhere, preferably not dripping across the floor to get to the trash.

    I have one super Susan, near my stove. My other corner is Easy Reach. It works fine because I have very large, rarely used pans and bowls back there. I need them for processing garden veggies, but they aren't used often. I also have one section of lowers without drawers, to save money. This is fine because I have my huge Tupperware bowls there, so stuff isn't lost on the back. It's on the far side of the room from my work triangle.

  • 8 years ago

    Some of the items we're talking about, of course, are best purchased on their own and NOT from the cabinet company!

  • 8 years ago

    I love my drawers. I made mine shallower than most of what I see
    because for me, the deep drawers are either a waste of space or require
    stacking of items. And guaranteed, the item I need is always on the
    bottom of the stack!! So most are 4 drawer stacks rather than 3. I do
    have some pullouts because of the height of items that I need to store.
    My trash pullout is not my favourite thing, although I prefer it to
    having the Simple Human trash can that sat out in my previous kitchen.
    My pantry is a door with pullout shelves. I'm so glad that I went that
    route rather than the full height pullout. I know it's an extra step,
    but the fact that I can "look down on" the items on each shelf totally
    justifies it. I have a pullout similar to AnnKH over my wall
    ovens for cereals and above that, the tray dividers. Works well. My
    spices are in a narrow full height pullout tucked into a space that
    otherwise would have been unusable. Not my favourite, but was my best
    option and it's okay. I learned from my previous kitchen that after
    market drawer dividers are the way to go.

    One of my favourite features of my kitchen is a small curved cabinet. It's just large enough to hold a fabric basket (something like this) on each shelf. Great for my potatoes and onions, etc.

  • PRO
    8 years ago

    Boah, my cabinets were by Shiloh. The cabinet with the pull-out drawer above the tray storage was custom built by them - a copy of one I had had custom built 32 years previously - it had worked very well. This one is far more refined and elegant but I couldn't live with that cabinet and the spice drawer above.

    Toronto Vet, I wonder if your Rev-a-Shelf unit was properly installed. Mine glides in and out smoothly and seamlessly, - not rattling and no bottles jiggle or fall over. I'd have them come take a look and make adjustments. I adore this unit as it keeps my utensils off my counter top and saves footsteps to a cabinet for my oils and vinegars. I just pivot to use it.

    Chess, no ants, no roaches, no rodents! The drawer has a custom made stainless steel liner with a sliding lid. I've had it now a year - all seasons and no problems at all. Also, no kibble odor!

  • 8 years ago

    Anglophilia - I have no roaches or rodents LOL. But ants are impossible to keep out, best I can to is hit them when they show up, usually after a few days of heavy rain. I have to make sure keep food sealed - cuz these ants WILL find it. They had completely decimated a package of wrapped hard candies, that were unopened, in a drawer, before I realized they were even there.

  • PRO
    8 years ago

    My daughter and I get ants about once each year - usually in the spring. They come in somewhere near the kitchen door to the outside. But they stay in that part of the kitchen, only moving over to the kitchen sink. We've both tried ant traps on the kitchen counter - I think they consider them hors d'oeuvres. We both have pets - she has cats, I have a dog. We finally discovered that the only way to get rid of them was to use ant spray. We use it at night and just close off the kitchen to pets until we can wipe down the counter and floor in the morning. That always works. I've NEVER had ants get in my kitchen cabinets in the 33 years I've lived in this house! It has not happened at my daughter's, either.

    Now mice is a different story! We battled them in our bottom cabinets for years. We had moved the kitchen sink when we moved into the house and the builder did not cover the hole for the pipes at the back of the cabinet. There was a rail down the middle of the double sink cabinet, so access was difficult. We tried hardware cloth but could only "stuff" it into the 5" hole. We added steel wool and that helped for a while. I finally convinced my plumber that the dead-end pipe that had gone to the sink and now went nowhere, had to go, even though it had been capped off at the end. The mice got in the basement (no one ever knows how mice get in, but they can), climbed a pipe and walked across this one. That helped but still no cure.

    Finally, I hired my eldest grandson to come help me totally clean out these bottom cabinets, sanitize them and then put everything back inside. When he did this, he said, "Gram, did you know there is a hole in this cabinet?" I said of course I did - it was filled with hardware cloth and steel wool. "No", says he. "There is one on the bottom of the cabinet, too and the Contact paper had been eaten through." Apparently, when we did all the work on the kitchen after moving in 32 years earlier, I had just papered over that hole and not given it another thought. When the mice lost their previous entry place, they discovered this one. I went down the basement and found a thin piece of very hard, still plastic and we Gorilla-glued it to the bottom, covering that hole. No more mice!

    When we gutted the kitchen last year, we discovered multiple holes in around that area - ones in the walls as well. All were carefully covered so no mice in my bottom kitchen cabinets anymore!!!

  • 8 years ago

    Really appreciate y'alls help making the choices easier !