Kitchen: corner cabinets and storage.
Before I opine on the eternal question of the Lazy Susan:
Convenience? Or the visual presence of Satan?
First, we must address the elephant in the room:
Your lack of trust in me.
I expected some surprise over The Kingdom Mirror’s eviction… But I did not realize that some of you (apparently?) believe that I might divorce my trophy… to replace it… with something from Homegoods?
That WOULD be CONCERNING.
But that is not what is happening.
To bolster your confidence, would it help to know that coming-behemoth’s blog post includes the phrase: The Nuclear War Of Fanciness?
Also, *please note* that because I write too many words, I confuse people… I am NOT selling The Kingdom Mirror for a chandelier… the chandelier was something I mentioned at the end BECAUSE I HAVE ALL OF THE WORDS.
THE BEST WORDS.
WORDS WORDS WORDS.
words.
words.
Moving on to kitchen corner cabinets and storage.
Our choices for the door/drawer combo dictates what we have inside.
Ugly?
Or.
Ugly?
Bins of ugly.
Racks of ugly.
Ugly things that rotate.
Or Paul’s favorite: unadorned ugly.
For me, because the face of a full-door-corner-cabinet deviates from visual symmetry– by forgoing the drawer above the cupboard door… it is unacceptable.
And once something is unacceptable, it is not permitted, NO MATTER HOW SENSIBLE.
Paul’s opinion is that we should still do the lazy susan anyway… despite the PROCLAMATION AGAINST IT.
Which (obviously) is not how proclamations work.
But I am a reasonable person; so I recognize that compromise is important… so I said we could have the INSIDE of a Lazy Susan, but the FACE of a NOT Lazy Susan.
Paul’s face underwent like three expressions… before he said simply– no. that is not convenient.
So, that’s confusing– with whom has HE been living?
The other option is a blind cabinet… meaning that it extends far back into the corner, but your point of access is restricted to the cabinet door opening.
So getting IN there is not compatible with full-size humans.
Cabinet manufacturers offer pullouts and “solutions”… but we are not allowed to have them because they offend Paul’s sensibilities.
Paul’s sensibilities are MOST outraged when he perceives failure to adhere to the number one principle: economy.
Paul loves economy.
Of anything! Space! Design! Money!
He is soothed by that which is most economical.
Enraged by that which violates his principles.
OFTEN, I AM THE VIOLATION.
He thinks the pullouts take up more space than they create and they are wasteful and thus prohibited.
So obviously, also we cannot have drawers; Paul gets rigor mortis thinking about all of the wasted space.
Literally, the cabinet guy didn’t even finish the sentence and Paul had died of OBJECTION.
So we are doing a blind cabinet in the corner, with no bells or whistles.
Paul will cut out the sides where the wall cabinet meets the blind cabinet at the turn… So we can pretend that space will be accessible.
Unless you have some suggestion I’ve overlooked, I’m not going to pretend to care further about any of this.
Professionalism… it’s what I have to offer.
ps– this question: HOW are you living without a kitchen?
We’re not! But I see how it appears this way!
We have a working sink, garbage disposal, dishwasher, stove, and a place to prep food. This IS a kitchen. It’s not pretty, but it’s completely usable… I have restrained myself from telling Paul how fast I would make decisions if I were reduced to making sauerkraut in the bathtub.
pps– I finally watched “Advanced Style” which so many of you recommended… and you were SO RIGHT. I totally loved it; thank you for sharing it with me!!
ppps– it’s spring! go read some of my garden posts!
April 23, 2018 @ 7:52 pm
I would highly recommend going with corner drawers. Ours are v-cut at the back which almost makes up for any wasted space in the other 2 corners versus the lazy susan configuration. We use our corner drawers everyday while anything I have ever placed in a blind corner or lazy susan stays in there for all eternity or until we move house.
This diagram is a good illustration:
https://www.houzz.com/discussions/2472094/corner-cabinet-space-calculations-and-analysis
April 23, 2018 @ 9:16 pm
::: Shakes head in total befuddlement :::
I must not be ‘getting it’. I see no good reason for not having a carousel corner. when the doors are closed no one sees what’s behind the doors. Why waste the space? You will need that space, too.
It is your kitchen and you want what you want, but sometimes the universe speaks and it’s wise to listen.
Be Well
April 23, 2018 @ 10:04 pm
I have a dead corner and I love it due to the access from the diningroom.
April 23, 2018 @ 10:38 pm
Well, gotta admit I’m a little confused as to what each of you wants but we have one of those corner partial lazy Susan thingies and I love it. I have no idea why anyone wouldn’t. I put a lot of my baking supplies on the two shelves and they are always easily accessible.
Good Luck with your decision!
P.S. Glad you’re getting the induction; you’ll never go back!
April 23, 2018 @ 11:03 pm
I was DEEEEEPLY against a lazy susan. It offended my beautiful senses. I spent hours looking at alternatives and discussing this. However, in the end there were so many issues popping up in various reno places, I gave in to the loud pro-susan folks and I am glad for it. I never put hardware on it, so most times it doesn’t even catch your eye. The storage that the two round shelves offers is fabulous. I’m constantly amazed at how I can cram more big unwieldy things there. I’m a fan, unexpectedly.
April 24, 2018 @ 1:16 am
I use my lazy Susan to hold all my spices in alphabetical order. But you can’t spin too fast or they all fall over. On the lower shelf I use it to hold baking ingredients. Works for me but I still think that they are quite useless.
April 24, 2018 @ 6:03 am
Why not use fake drawers at the top of the door panels on the two doors in front of the lazy susan? So it looks like the front of all the other ones. And FYI, the stainless pull out things are a pain in the ass and not worth the money.
April 24, 2018 @ 8:01 am
That Kingdom Mirror is what rocketed you to fame. Seems like it deserves more respect.
Lucky Dube’s words are ringing in my head–if he were still with us perhaps he’d adjust his lyrics:
Now that you got what you wanted
You don’ t even know my name
It’ s so funny, we don’ t talk anymore
Be good to the [Kingdom Mirrors] on your
Way up the ladder
Cause you’ ll need them on your way down
That’ s the way it is
April 24, 2018 @ 9:51 am
Look at Houzz – Glenvale Kitchens in the UK has this photo. THIS is how you do a corner cabinet with the drawers
Photo by Glenvale Kitchens – Look for kitchen pictures
April 24, 2018 @ 9:52 am
The shaker gray one.
April 24, 2018 @ 10:04 am
We have a lazy susan in our kitchen – it’s our pantry for canned and dry goods. The only thing I would recommend with a lazy susan is to put a lip on the inside shelf so cans don’t fall off it. (But we’re pretty good about not overloading it.) We have another blind corner in our kitchen (next to the dishwasher) and knowing that there’s empty space not being used drives me nuts. I can’t imagine Paul wouldn’t go through the same sort of feeling after it’s done if you go the empty corner route. I’ve always wanted lifts for heavy things like my mixer. I think he’s wrong about the space they take up. It looks like you guys are using a designer (based on the drawings) – ask them!
April 24, 2018 @ 10:24 am
I have blind corners. They make me rage daily with their lack of usefulness and vast waste of space. I can’t fathom someone opting into such a decision.
April 24, 2018 @ 11:24 am
I first had a lazy susan cabinet and then we redid our cabinets without them, do not get a lazy susan cabinet, you still have wasted space in them too, the fixed corner cabinets no matter which configuration you decide on are just better all the way around.
April 24, 2018 @ 12:00 pm
I have a lazy susan cabinet in my lake house and I added vertical holders along both sides in the wasted space. My cutting boards now stand between he wall and the holder on one side and my cookie sheets on the other.
April 24, 2018 @ 11:57 am
I have a blind cabinet in the corner of my laundry room/ computer desk area. The blind cabinet actually makes a great space to store bulk products like paper towels, tissue boxes, you could even store toilet paper in there if you needed to. Looking in mine right now, I think I’m good on paper towels for a LONG time 😉
April 24, 2018 @ 6:21 pm
What about a LeMans blind corner insert? We are getting them…one on top of the other, sort of kidney bean shaped. My husband watched the video after he saw the unit demonstrated in Ferguson’s showroom. You open the cabinet door, give a little pull on either shelf and it just floats right out! He was hooked! He loves gadgets though….all Apple products, Teslas, etc. As for me I like paying to have my old 1842 stick built windows taken out and replaced by new stick built windows! Do they look old? Yes! Do they have ropes and pulleys? No! Might the air blow through? Probably. Do you have to put up custom made interior storms? Of course!!!
April 25, 2018 @ 11:43 am
Forget the space in the corner, put on each side one lower cabinet with big drawers. Simple. Cheap. Lot of accessible storage. Like Shirley said in the first comment, maybe you can use the corner space on the other side of the wall. No one needs so much stuff in the kitchen! When I look at American kitchens, I always wonder, what are all those cabinets for? Kitchen in Europe are mostly much smaller, and we cook too!
April 25, 2018 @ 11:49 am
Please tell me the new fancy thing is the Mirror of Erised.
Also, when we moved into our house, the lazy susan was so dirty, I wedged my hugely pregnant self into the cabinet, disassembled it, and chucked it in the recycling bin. Ten years later, I have no regrets.
April 25, 2018 @ 4:08 pm
Sometimes the beauty of asymmetry is in its usefulness. I know…I know… But a truly useful kitchen, designed and built for you, to hold the things that YOU use? Well, I call that beauty. I forwent symmetry for my lazy susan corner cabinet and I am SO glad I did. Things don’t fall off and they all are front and center when I need them.
Think of who you are impressing – you’ll be impressed with yourself every time you open that cabinet and don’t have to reach, squat or bend to get your 12-cup food processor! I’ve had a couple of unsuccessful back surgeries. Make it easy on yourself –
April 25, 2018 @ 4:16 pm
I recommend altering the corner. Change it. Change it from a 90degree annoying corner to something brilliant! My neighbor -the ever inventive rocket scientist – had the kitchen planner and contractor change the shape. I don’t know how to post the pictures … but I do have the before and after. It makes a nicer run of counter too … I am happy to share the pics if I can figure it out
April 25, 2018 @ 5:09 pm
What about a garbage can storage that has a fold out door for easy removal and a space cut in the counter for use. Sort of like those in bathrooms at department stores. I would like to have easy access to a garbage can why’all n I am cutting up veggies, etc. just a thought.
April 25, 2018 @ 5:16 pm
I am GASPING at the idea that the magic corner pull-out wastes space! I loooove them, and working in an architecture office (humble brag), it’s what we specify in all our clients’ kitchens. I think whatever inch or two they lose in hardware space is resoundingly made up for with how easy it is to pull it out; no crouching, no digging for fallen items, less mechanical strain on the moving parts and therefore longer lifespan. Plus, the slightly annoying cabinet becomes the cabinet you learn to simply live around as if it did not exist. Then it’s a waste of space on a whole other level. This is also why I have fully converted to the Church of All Lower Drawers (Never Cabinets). Easier to access, nothing lost in the back, no crouching. Doors with pull-outs are just… drawers with something in the way. Drawer me, baby.
My I grew up with a lazy susan corner that acted like a black hole (hate hate hate) and can’t remember ever coming across one that bucked the trend. It’s all fallen boxes of tea and wedged tupperware and parts you gotta whack into service after a few years of use. Are all these other commenters just way more organized than I am? I don’t know, but I would like to advocate for the magic corner style pull-out, for the record.