Would you make use of this dead space in the kitchen?

last month

last modified: last month

While doing demo in my kitchen the crew discovered this dead space behind the corner wall. It is about 4’x4’ and is the space above the stairwall. It can’t really be incorporated into the actual kitchen as it is in a corner where the roof dips down. However, it occured to me that I could have a box built at counter height and create an appliance garage recessed into the backsplash. I will have a small pantry where I will be keeping most of my small appliances but maybe I could keep a few in this spot. Maybe the toaster, a blender, or the handmixer? I have a coffee station going in so already have a dedicated spot for coffee and tea stuff.

Or maybe just a recesssed paper towel holder?

Here is the plan, there are no uppers on this wall just a plate rack over the sink. I put s little door in where I could put this appliance garage.

Featured Answer

Jennifer Hogan

last month

Okay, so this is the space under the stairs.

It is in the corner, so accessing the space would be kind of a PITA, but it could be used to store small appliances that you seldom use or make it the right size to hold a couple of bins that you could pull out onto the counter that are filled with things you seldom use but don't want to get rid of.

You would want to block in the space so that nothing could fall into the void and be inadvertently lost forever (or until the next demo).

My sister has a backsplash that opens to a counter in her pantry - something similar could work.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

John Liu
last month
That looks like a pretty significant volume to lose. You could practically recess a refrigerator in there! What are its dimensions, in particular how deep does it go?

I would build deep drawers - I mean really deep, as deep as the space goes. Accuride make 40” super heavy duty full extension slides, someone likely makes deeper. I’d also move the studs there, at least the one that the electrical box is on, and of course the cables. Then you could have the mother of all appliance garages. Like Mary Poppins’ bottomless bag. You could store anything, even a brace of house elves.
vacaytime thanked John Liu
vacaytime
Original Author
last month
😂I’m pictring a Willy Wonka-esq conveyor belt of appliances emerging from the wall.
Related Professionals
Magna Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Southampton Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Adelphi Bathroom Remodelers · Allouez Bathroom Remodelers · Auburn Bathroom Remodelers · Charlottesville Bathroom Remodelers · Folsom Bathroom Remodelers · Hanover Township Bathroom Remodelers · Lisle Bathroom Remodelers · Newberg Bathroom Remodelers · Phoenix Bathroom Remodelers · Portage Bathroom Remodelers · Homer Glen Cabinets & Cabinetry · Red Bank Cabinets & Cabinetry · Pendleton Tile and Stone Contractors
John Liu
last month
Oooo, you could get those overhead conveyor racks that dry cleaners use!

If I’m counting the studs inside the space correctly, you have 8 feet of depth? Is that possible? That much volume cannot be wasted! Unless your house is 3000 sf and you live alone. Is there enough headroom for a stooping pantry? You could have an 8 foot long “drawer” that rolls on the counter rather than using slides. But then what about the volume under counter level? Maybe a panic room? Home invaders, you open the base cabinet and army-crawl into your BatCave?
Kendrah
last month
I thought I hit the jackpot when I discovered an extra 6" of space behind my kitchen wall. I cannot imagine ignoring this extra space, but we don't know anything else about your kitchen or home to know how this space can be best used. It would be helpful to see an actual floor plan for your kitchen and surrounding area.

Do you have a need for more storage, for more floor space, would you reconfigure things differently to allow for more eating or sitting space elsewhere if you could better utilize this extra space?
Jennifer Hogan
last month
What room is next to this space? Can you create an access for the space in the room that backs up to the kitchen?

Having a recessed appliance garage is great, but this would be behind the corner cabinet. Not very accessible.
vacaytime
Original Author
last month
I have a walk in pantry so don’t need to have a whole room added. As you can see from the photos in my original post, the roof dips down in that corner so there are no uppers on that wall, just a shelf above the sink. Also, if you did try to make it part of the kitchen, you would have to crouch down to get into it. Once you are in there is it full height

The space is partof the stairwell. You walk under the dead space when heading up the stairs into the apartment. The other walls of the dead space are exterior walls, second story so no way to get into it really.