Replies

1. 
   cowtown | Feb 25, 2008 08:30am | #1

   for some years now there have been pull out mechanisms which can provide alternatives to lazy susan kind of corners.

   http://www.cabinetparts.com/shop_2008/item_grouping/?cat=1528

   but watch yer dimensions. some of this stuff is designed to fit specific cabinet sizes, (vs designed to fit custom sized cabinets.....)

   To my mind, in general the cost of these hardware items is well in excess of any reasonable cost of the convenience they offer, and if they break down in ten years, and the parts aren't available, the cost of convenience becomes even higher.....

   however, if they do fit, more better eh? they make the client happy.

   I like to make my clients happy, likely so do you, but if they are just "imagining" what might be available, and expect you to go shopping in order to fufill their wishes on yer dim; , well, the fact of the matter is that you just gotta charge them for the time and effort if there are no clear communications ( eg we want a bl*m XYZ corner pull out." vs "we want something different, so what is available to fit?")

   and moreover tell them that it's gonna cost them to go shopping for them. That cost factor generally brings folks back to reality in my experience.

   Eric

2. 
   ring | Feb 25, 2008 08:57am | #2

   Bob,

   We haven't installed a lazy susan corner in 5 years, even if the customer wants one. Ask them if, in their golden years, they really want to crawl on the floor trying to retrieve ketchup bottles that fell off into the rear corner...

   We try first to convince them that the corner is best left as dead space. If the kitchen is not some tiny apartment where every inch counts, then this is usually true. If you actually calculate how much storage you get from a lazy susan, you can get the same results in a much more accessible and cheaper way. For instance - corner units often have a double door, 12" each wing. If you rearrange the cabinets somewhat to "kill" the corner and use that same 24" of opening together as a drawer unit, you'll find that it holds no less than the corner you "lost". I've proven this many times to unbelieving clients who cannot bear to lose the corner.

   If they cannot, on an emotional level, accept losing the corner cabinet, then we use the full pullout units. They are expensive, and only marginally better than lazy susans as far as net storage is concerned, but at least the baskets can be accessed and easily removed to clear the cabinet if needed.

   If they still insist that they want a lazy susan, then they weren't listening and need to get their kitchen elsewhere. Don't be afraid to dictate what is best for them.

   David Ring

   http://www.touchwood.co.il/?id=1&lang=e

   Just realized that I was ranting against lazy susans when you didn't need convincing...sorry 'bout that.

   
   

   ---

   Edited 2/25/2008 1:00 am by ring

1. 
   SignGuy2772 | Feb 25, 2008 09:24am | #3

   Speaking towards the dead space in the back corner - we have in some cases suggested to the client that it be used as a recycling chute.  Install 6" ducting from the counter down through the floor with a nice lid/cover on the counter, and run the duct down to about 36" off floor in the basement (this whole idea assumes a basement), and place the recycling bin under the duct.  Cans/bottles get rinsed and tossed down the chute, straight into the recycling bin.  No good for food stuffs tho...

1. 
   ring | Feb 25, 2008 01:12pm | #6

   That's a great idea if the basement lines up as you say. I've also suggested to clients that they stash their bars of gold in the "dead" corner space...David Ring

   http://www.touchwood.co.il/?id=1&lang=e

2. 
   loucarabasi | Feb 25, 2008 12:45pm | #5

   Daves right, I took his advice on the lS. Have not built one yet since. How have you been Dave? By the way- nice work, I checked your site out.

   -Lou

1. 
   ring | Feb 25, 2008 01:27pm | #8

   Lou,I'm fine thank you. I was extremely busy with a project in Africa for the last few months. Now I've got a few weeks of "in between time" so I can be on line again. Just mainly helping out around the shop for now. Probably going to Angola for the month of April, and "disappearing" again for a while...regards,David Ring

   http://www.touchwood.co.il/?id=1&lang=e

3. 
   oldusty | Feb 25, 2008 10:47am | #4

        I've seen the corner shaped drawers in pictures .

                In  the custom work I do the sizes  vary and I get an uneven corner sometimes , so one door is wider then the other .

                I call them space saver corners , I make a fixed shelf L shaped stepped back about 3" from the face . The pair of doors gets the lazy susan Euro hinges with a self closing spring action and plenty of adjustment , I use Mepla , Blum do the same thing .

          The lead door opens about 60° you can use that area for sheet goods storage or every day stuff and pack the popcorn machine way back .No wasted space .

                      dusty

    

1. 
   ring | Feb 25, 2008 01:24pm | #7

   Hi Dusty,Fixed shelves in corner cabinets are still a solution that actually uses the space effectively. We do it in 2 cases - 1) If the kitchen is so small that every inch has to be used (lots of apartments in Manhattan are like that), or 2) if it's a young couple with low budget who will still be able to crawl around on the floor for years to come. The trend in general, launched by Blum marketing and which we also support, is that every bit of storage under the counter level is pull-out of one kind or another. For some strange reason, the US market in kitchens is some years behind the Europeans. I can't figure out why, but US clients seem to have very low expectations in this field compared to European customers.BTW, we've started installing Blum's automatic drawer openers now. It's an electrically operated arm in the rear of the cabinet that is activated by touching the drawer front, and pushes the drawer open. Eliminates the need for pulls.regards,David Ring

   http://www.touchwood.co.il/?id=1&lang=e