Materials: Akurum pantry & drawer kits
Description: We took the Akurum WRD refrigerator cabinet & Akurum HD pantry & modified them to use Rationell pull-out drawers for storage items. these cabinets typically don't have drawers in the top, just shelf storage. we figured, we won't be getting up there very often, but when we do, we want it to be somewhat convenient.
The pantry was pretty easy since it already used the Rationell drawers for the main storage. We just ordered an extra drawer & fit it into the top.
The refrigerator cabinet does not typically have drawers & is 36" wide. They don't make a 36" wide pantry so we had to use a 36" wide drawer from a base cabinet to fit this. The only thing different about that drawer was no "bar" going across the top & we were fine with that.
See more of the top cabinet pull out.
~ DeNacho, Illinois
So now you have a cabinet which is too high to look into and now with a drawer with is too high to look in too. Lol!
ReplyDeleteMacMama did you read the hack? It was done to create convenient storage for items not used very often. This is a great hack - reaching the back of deep cabinets is always a problem. This solves the problem. Good job DeNacho!
ReplyDeleteMac Mama: Think different! ;-)
ReplyDeleteA good opportunity to do exactly t h a t.
DeNacho: fine Idea
I agree with MacMama - this is impractical. There's a reason kitchen makers don't offer drawers for cabinets above head height.
ReplyDeleteThe practical way to reach the back of deep cabinets which are high up is to use boxes that fit into the cabinet and go all the way back. Then you simply take the box out and down when you want the stuff. Instead of sliding a drawer which you can't look into and then taking the stuff out without being able to look. I bet that DeNacho will end up using boxes inside those drawers - well, then you could have used just boxes in the first place and saved the space that the drawer mechanism eats up.
Seems to me that you can see into this particular drawer very well, you just don't have to reach way back. Boxes on the other hand typically don't let you see inside.....
ReplyDeleteI don't always use cabinets that we don't get up to very often and typically don't have drawers in the top, just shelf storage; but when I do I prefer the Akurum WRD refrigerator cabinet & Akurum HD pantry modified to use Rationell pull-out drawers for storage items.
ReplyDeleteVery clever. Tho I would probably have just used a drawer front rather than have the drawer raised above the base of the cabinet. That said in my previous house, I used a non-Ikea drawer pullout and a sheet of MDF to achieve a pull out shelf. Idiotically I did not put a back on the shelf so every time I pulled it out things fell off the back. But as it wasn't used very often it wasn't a major issue. This is a better solution. I am surprised Ikea haven't come up with a solution for this often useless cupboard. Maybe a pull forward then down type thing?
ReplyDeletei like that idea as well. i considered using a drawer front instead of the doors, but thought i wanted to be able to see & get to the front of the shelf, not just the sides. the cabinet doors open all the way flush so i can get to the drawers from either side or the front. the one over the fridge is even easier since it's somewhat "open" in the front. i still thing the drawer front would look just as nice though!
DeleteI also use this cabinet for seldom used items and when I need something kept there, I have to unload the cabinet to get what I need. It would be nice to be able to just pull out a drawer and pick out what I'm after and push the drawer back in. I think this is one of those "Duh! Why didn't I think of that" moments.
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ReplyDeletein case you are interested, HERE is how we went 1 step further to make accessing those top storage areas very convenient. sorry i didn't post this along with the original hack, but it took some time for me to find the right ladder!
ReplyDeleteHey- i totally gef it and think its a great idea. someone suggested doing exactly what you did but using a drawer front rather than doors. Would that be possible? I want to add a bank of floor cabinets but really only want them to be 12 inches deep. But I also want to have pull out trash held in them. I was thinking of doing exactly what you did, but it would be better (for me) to have it be a drawer front. So you pull out the whole drawer (but its only 12 inches deep, rather than the traditional 24). Any advice appreciated!
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