Pull out Pantry without a cabinet. Am I being too cheap?

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We are in the middle of a reno using a combination of existing and new cabinets, refacing the existing ones. This is somewhat of a budget reno. We have done an entire demo down to studs and subfloor in a 1935 home. We refigured the previous design and are using many existing cabinets (woodmode Brookhaven). We have done everything ourselves except the electrical. We are splurging for soapstone countertops and are using most of our high end appliances that we already have.

We are slipping in a pull out pantry between our wall oven and fridge cabinets. It is a 15" space. We plan on using a 15" wall cabinet above the pullout pantry.

I am considering putting the pullout directly between the ref and oven cabinet without a cabinet. We would build a base for it and install a horizontal upper attaching to the two side cabinets. I am having a hard time justifying $1,000 for the cabinet, when we already in fact have it because of the floor to ceiling ref and oven.

Thoughts? Am I just being too cheap? What are the benefits of spending $1,000 for a cabinet that no one will ever see inside of?

Comments (11)

PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
You need a cabinet to mount the hardware and I have no idea how you would do this any other way.
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Jennifer Jones
We are creating the "cabinet" by building our own base and upper inside the cavity., facing it as well. The sides of the fridge and oven would complete the cabinet. In essence we are creating a cabinet in that cavity. Does that make sense?
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PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
I guess but it in not the actual cabinet that costs the money it is the hardware and shelves that cost the money and you will still need those so not really sure what the real advantage is .
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Jennifer Jones thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
mama goose_gw zn6OH
Is the pull-out counter height? Does it need to be pantry storage, or could you use a trash/recycle can in that space?
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Jennifer Jones thanked mama goose_gw zn6OH
Jennifer Jones
Patricia, we have priced the Halfele pull out hardware and shelves at about $900 and the wooden cabinet is an additional $1,000. I have seen much cheaper pull out hardware, but wary of the quality. Halfele seems to be a solid choice for the hardware. It is hard for me to justify the cabinet portion when we can create that easily and cheaply between the two other cabinets. The other issue is that we would be giving up storage space to more wooden cabinets. So instead of 14" wide shelves, we'd need to go with 11". Are there other brands of pull outs you know of that are less expensive? Thank for you thoughts!

Mama goose, the pull out will be 60" tall with a 30" tall cabinet above. We do need the pantry storage. The entire run are tall cabinets. Thank you!
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live_wire_oak
The hardware itself is 1K. If you’re sourcing the stuff that holds up, and not the import stuff. Be sure that you understand the installation instructions. Side panels can only have so many things attached. Having an independent support, that isn’t attached to each other, top and bottom, for attachment points, can easily lead to racking with the heavy weight stresses placed on them, and no side walls to provide any stability or lateral resistance to that racking. You are taking on the responsibility of re-engineering something that was not designed to work how you are planning to install it.

And you need clearances factored in. When you open that fridge, the doors and handles need to not hit the pantry or handle. Unless you’re doing a SubZero, which it doesn't sound as though is the case. The oven needs a bit of room for its doors to not rub against the wall or pantry. You do not have any room for math mistakes. At all. This is where most design mistakes are made. Clearances.
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Jennifer Jones
All great points. But the weight is not on the sides. The weight is on the base, which would be made as strong as any cabinet. The upper is more of a support glide for the rack, rather than load bearing, right? It does not touch the sides. Just thinking this through, not arguing.

No we do not have a sub zero, but a whirlpool french door fridge that extends out beyond the other cabinets. The doors of the fridge are 4 - 6" out past the rest of the 24" cabs. We have the ability to make the door any size we want for the pull out. So It might be 14.5 to allow for 1/4" on each side.

Thank you for confirming the importance of spending more for the Hafele. We may go ahead with a cabinet. I am still not convinced it is necessary.....
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acm
Also, would you not have a door, and have to look at all the mess?
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Jennifer Jones
Ok, we decided to listen to your suggestions and are going with the cabinet and pull out. In the grand scheme, this is not a great deal more money to do it right. I'll find another way to say some $. Thank you for taking the time to answer folks.
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Oliviag/ bring back Sophie
I'm sure in the long run you will be much happier with your decision.
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Jennifer Jones
acm, yes we are ordering doors in order to reuse some of our existing cabinets and would just buy a door for this, but we decided less work for us is worth the $.

Thank you Oliviag. :)
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Pull out Pantry without a cabinet. Am I being too cheap?

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