Yes, I have to go back in the next couple of days to measure the depth of the drawers... I think the bottom one may be ok for larger pots, but it's the middle one I'm a bit concerned about as I want to be able to store medium size pans, etc in them... haha, don't worry I know exactly what you mean, the other day hubby pointed out to the SS that some of the roof tiles in the second row of the left facade in the bottom right hand corner didn't look quite level and flush... I couldn't see it and loved the look on SS face trying to find it lol

The bottom one looks looks it will hold just about anything. It's way bigger than my pot drawers, all of which are 240 cm, which is sufficient to hold a dutch oven. Not so sure about the other two, though.

Found you!! Pazz, I stewed like mad over my kitchen drawers but once I measured anything awkward and it fitted, I just left it to the kitchen guy. I may have been really lucky, he really knew what he was doing and everything came out perfectly. As it turned out when I came to put everything back in the kitchen I changed half the things around anyway. You can always invert a lid too to make it fit.

telperien - you are not anal, you are a true woman.

I guess the top draw at 184 would be good for frying pans and the like only. I'd almost say that 2 draws at 212 each would be better than a narrow one at 184 and one at 240.....

Thanks all... measured the tallest thing I've got which is the slow cooker and it's 28cm high with the lid, but that should fit in the bottom drawer no problem... I was going to use the top drawers for cuttlery, cooking utensils, spice drawer, etc that's why I didn't want them too deep and better use the space with the second drawer... I should mention there are 5x sets of the three-pot drawers, so maybe I could ask them to just change a couple of them, maybe the two sets behind the breakfast bench and leave the three near the oven as is... anyway, going to the house tomorrow to measure then meeting with the builder on Tuesday... we'll have to discuss timing/delay too as this change could mean the difference between a pre xmas completion and after trades January break... lots to think about :/

Pazz - my shallow top drawers are 210 and it is amazing the things they hold. I only did enough to have one for cutlery and things like bottle openers and the like and the other is under the hotplates for all the cooking utensils. My deeper drawers are 230, one I use for crockery but even with 8 piece settings, I have oodles of space to have piled things higher. I really could have had more drawers 210 deep.

Are you having a pantry at all? I have a walk in one and had it done with all adjustable shelving that is just deep enough to take large baking dishes and frying pans. With the adjustable shelves, I have them just high enough for one item to slide in so everything is readily accessible without me having to crawl around. I also have another shelf the extra height to allow for my dutch oven and taller items. All the food is then at hip height and above, again so I don't have problems getting to anything.

Do you have an Ikea near you? They sell very good rolls of plastic for lining your drawers - a must to stop things moving around. It also has a flat surface to make it easier to wipe the inevitable crumbs and bits that get into drawers. Just thought I would mention that so you have it ready.

Thanks olldroo... yes there will be a walk in pantry through the opening to the left, and yes there will be plenty of storage space in there, I also have normal standard base cabinets in other parts of the kitchen and pantry so there'll always be a spot to keep bigger items... just a bit ticked off they got it wrong in the first place, and even if the cabinet maker thought this would be better they should have run it past me first... noted re your drawers depth but looking back at the picture I have a feeling the two top drawers could be 2x 180... always intended to line the drawers so thanks for the tip, gotta love ikea :)

I'm very happy with my 240 drawers because they hold everything (mind you I don't have a stock pot and the slow cooker lives in the pantry) but I agree that your original plan was a good one. Mind you, if those drawers are 180 they'd be good for plates and coffee mugs.

That was my thoughts... given I've got five sets of those drawers, it would give me more flexibility/options and make more sense to have 5x 240 and 5x 180 rather than having 10x drawers the same size :/

My coffee mugs don't fit into my 210 drawers - too tall - a 180 would only be good for tea cups. Pazz, I'm just starting to gel with the measurements now - has he given you two drawers at 184 or two at 240? If he has given you 240s then these would hold everything the 184 would hold so it really won't matter. If he has only allowed 184 for the two top drawers then I would definitely have them changed. At this time of year the delay will be a pain I know but long term, I think it could be a problem. However, looking at your photo, your bench top height is governed by the window so unless you reduced your baseboard then you really have no choice. It almost seems like someone has botched up the measure.

With drawer banks, there are no 'typical' drawer configurations, only ones that work better than others. From my design experience, the three drawer banks are more useful than the double, because the ratio is, 180mm for top drawer, generally a utensil, crockery or lid drawer, the bottom two both being 250mm, which is enough to house the pots lids removed, which generally is clutter free using the top drawers for those. Occasionally, there is need for a single large soup pot to be housed, and generally each kitchen will have a bank of double under a wall oven, or, adjoining an oven to accomodate this.

myself, I prefer your drawer banks above, and feel, the only compromise is that your top drawer may be too large for what you will use it for. He bottom drawer is great. The middle drawer is ideal crockery or plastic store

I wouldn't change it for the delay, based on aesthetics, it is a far more contemporary configuration. Personally, I like to install double drawers throughout symmetrical lengths of bench, and install an internal top drawer for lids etc, that way the design isn't compromised, and the drawer lines keep it looking neat.

I would however point out the error, and ask for something to compensate your delay etc perhaps a spice insert for one of these top drawers, which are so handy, and removable too.

I don't think the look or the function here is compromised. They look great!

myself, I'd leave them but make the point.

good luck with it

Thanks mldesign... I don't want 2 drawers and prefer 3 drawers too... but what I had in mind and what's on the drawings is the combo 18/24/32... but what they've installed appears (yet to measure) to be 18/18/36 x five sets of drawers... feels a bit useless to have that many drawers (×10) that are only 18 deep?

I have three sets of drawers at 15/30/30 with three different widths 120, 100 and 60. I have quite a bit of large pots and pans. At 30 height, it accommodates some of the larger pots easily, and I also stack smaller pots and pans up in the drawers.

Pazz, given you know what you need to store in them, perhaps it will be better to have them changed to your original plans. I myself find 180 drawers to be fine, although I tend to not like them heavy and overloaded, less pressure on the hardware, and easier to operate.

Pit does sound like the small,med,leg combo would work best for you after reading your comments. Go with your gut

Pazz, come back when you have a chance to measure them. Looking at the photo and the measurements, I agree with you and really feel they are all 180 and that worries me. The 320 drawers are good to have, but I think you will find you don't need a lot of them. Keep some by all means, but in the rest of the area maybe keep the 180 on top and divide the remaining space into two even sized drawers. This should give you 240 at least, I think a much more versatile size. Measure as much of what you have as you can too, that helps.

Ok, so eventually managed to get to the house (after a first failed attempt coz of the trades on site on a public holiday! not complaining), measured those drawers and as suspected (well almost) they are 180/190/360! a bit odd... anyway, also took one of our everyday tall drinking glasses with me and it fits in the second drawer but just, literally with 2mm to spare, not sure if I'm comfortable with that :/... back home I used the glass as the reference and basically only 2-3 big breakfast bowls stacked up will fit, and makes no sense for everyday use crockery to end up in the bottom drawer... so I think the conclusion is:

- see if possible to keep the top drawer only as it's fine for all cutlery, utensils, spice drawer, etc

- see if possible to change only the middle & bottom drawers from 190/360 to 240/330 and what delay/timeframe

- consider maybe leaving the 3x sets of drawers near the oven as is for frying pans, etc and changing just the 2x sets at the breakfast bench for everyday use glasses, crockery, etc

Anyway, what a headache! Meeting with the builder on Tuesday morning so will give you all an update after then.

Thanks again everyone!

I think that would be very workable leaving the drawers as they are near the oven, and changing the ones at the breakfast bench where it makes sense to keep your crockery. They have made the mistake here and you would be within your rights to demand them all changed, but in the circumstances, I often find compromising goes a long way to getting what you want - but do so grudgingly. Good luck Tuesday - you should be enjoying this weekend, not having all this stress over your head.

Thanks olldroo... I think I've come to terms with it and enjoying the sunny weekend now... what will be will be, we are so far ahead of the build schedule that another 1.5 month or so won't be a deal breaker, any longer than that we'll have to consider... in any event, we're at most 10 weeks from completion & at best 6 weeks, so if they really wanted to push through I believe they could still get it done before xmas, not to mention and get paid before xmas so hopefully that's motivation enough :)

Oh, yes, money always talks - especially at Christmas.

Hi All!... a bit of a late update on our meeting with the SS, but it was moved from yesterday to this morning... so I pointed out the kitchen pot drawers to him... he had a look at the drawings, took out his measuring tape and said...

"Yeah, that's fine, we'll just get him [cabinet maker] to change them, the drawings are there for a reason, it will be fixed, not a problem at all"

:/ I was even a bit caught off guard, and when I asked about time frame, he said there won't be any delays, it's just a matter of redoing the front panels and lowering the second runner.

Couldn't be happier with the result and glad I didn't have to argue my case, so great outcome!... thanks again everyone for your input :)

Oh Pazz - LOL I can so relate. Isn't it amazing when we get ourselves all steamed up over something and then you get a "no problem" like this. I am absolutely thrilled for you. What a relief and you obviously have a very good builder - ones with attitudes like this are not always easy to find. Give him a review on Houzz, he sounds a treasure.

Indeed... tho easy to stress out about the little things when you're so invested in your forever home!... like our builder always say, "you're not buying a fridge or even a car"... so yes, I think they get it & have been great so far, there hasn't been a single issue raised that they haven't addressed (unless it was virtually impossible/too late to change)... but I'll reserve any review until after completion ;)

That sounded like a good outcome.

Thanks brizcs... yes, I totally agree, a kitchen has to be designed around the main user and not necessarily what looks good (although a certain level of aesthetic doesn't go astray)... this was a custom build so no standard pot drawers as such... the builder actually had two larger/deeper pot drawers on the initial drawings, but I'm the one who changed it to three of different sizes based on the kitchen items we already have... most of our pots and pans are copper or stainless steel so even the bigger ones are not that heavy... I plan to use a couple of the bottom drawers for plastics too and the others for bulkier items that aren't used every day... we'll also have plenty of space in the walk in butlers pantry to keep the heavier/bulkier items at easy reach level :)

brian5552 ??

I have to agree with the comment on symmetrical. I really thought that was something I should be pedantic about but then I had to take into consideration what storage I needed and as my kitchen is only small, there was no way I could even begin to think symmetrical. I chose to have finger pulls on my drawers which unlike handles does not draw attention to the unevenness, but even then I actually prefer the fact that each of my drawers are different, to me it is more interesting, and better still, helps OLD minds like mine remember where I put things.

Just a little update on the drawers which have now been replaced without delay and we're still looking good for a pre-xmas handover... I must say I'm glad I got them to change it as I'm much happier with the result now :)

Thanks for the update Pazz - you will have to put that guy on Houzz, he should be rewarded for doing such a good job for you and to your complete satisfaction. Well done for persevering with it too.

So, are we all invited to the storm you will be cooking up for Christmas Day?

Hahaha, it will have to be a "byo stool or cushion" gathering as there won't be much furniture in there on Christmas Day... probably not much cooking either but lots of moving and unpacking! :/ ... one thing's for sure it will be a xmas like no other before, cannot wait! :)

Sounds like a plan :)

Some of our best memories are the early days in our home when BYO chair and indoor picnics were the order of the day. My kitchen was finished this time last year and when the family all arrived for Christmas we had a lot of fun using all the new appliances, cooking dishes we hadn't been able to for ages but the most laughs were putting everything in their new homes ....................... and then remembering where they were.

Best wishes, your Christmas will be very special.

Thanks Olldroo :)