[Kayla]

Ever lament the wasted space in a sink base? There's really no need to consider the space a lost cause, even with multiple pipes, reverse osmosis, disposal, deep sinks and/or an instant hot. There are options! Following are 2 modifications that are relatively simple to accomplish for a handy DIYer and should be a piece of cake for an experienced DIYer or installer.

Please note that these are general guidelines rather than precise tutorials. Take your own supply lines and waste pipes into account and make your measurements carefully.

[BREAK=pollyq's Mod - Functional Pull-Outs]
pollyq's modification offers 2 pull-out drawers with full 30" high doors as opposed to the standard 24" high door with 2 false drawer fronts. Please note: If your supply and waste pipes come through the bottom of the cabinet, or low on the back, measure carefully. You need 4 1/2" clearance from the bottom of the cabinet and 3 1/2" clearance from the back of the cabinet.

Required items:

1 24" 30" or 36" base cabinet,
2 30"x12" or 30"x15" or 30"x18" doors,
2 12", 15" or 18" deep drawer boxes,
1 drawer partition (akurum part #900.492.43)

The first step is to install the drawer partition on the bottom of the cabinet. The drawer partition is installed with two bolts that screw in with a provided allen wrench. Measure carefully and drill two holes for the bolts in the bottom of the cabinet.

The drawer glides are attached in the regular fashion, utilizing the cabinet side walls and the partition in the middle. The door is attached using the same methods as those employed in constructing a base pullout or high cabinet/pantry. That's it!

[BREAK=DulcineaK's Mod - Functional Drawers on the Bottom]
DulcineaK's modification offers 2 doors and 2 drawers, with the 2 drawers usable at the bottom of the cabinet, with a shelf on top to provide additional storage inside the sink base cabinet. Please note: If your supply and waste pipes come through the bottom of the cabinet, or low on the back, measure carefully. You need 6 1/2" clearance from the bottom of the cabinet and 3 1/2" clearance from the back of the cabinet.

Required items

1 24" 30" or 36" base cabinet,
2 24"x12" or 24"x15" or 24"x18" doors,
2 12", 15" or 18" shallow drawer boxes,
2 12", 15" or 18" drawer fronts,
1 drawer partition (akurum part #900.492.43)
1 24", 30", or 36" shelf

This modification is similar to the previous, in that you first install the partition and drawers, but in this case the regular shallow drawers are fronted with the standard drawer fronts. Once the drawers are installed, install the shelf above the drawers - if necessary, trim the shelf to allow supply and waste pipes to clear. The doors are attached at the top of the cabinet, and you're done!

[karenaviva]

We wanted to do Dulci's mod, but the store did not have 2 little drawers in stock, so we ordered up one big one & will use the false front hardware to attach the two "false" drawer fronts together to make one large drawer pull out (but with two handles for aesthetic purposes). Our Ikean thought that was very cool.

[C.B]

Thanks for the great ideas! I really like Karen's take on the matter too.

[Kayla]

karen, i never even noticed your comment. i like the 2 drawer front, i hate 2 drawer boxes because of wasted space and plus the extra effort of the partition, so that is a really good idea (since there are almost always extra shallow drawer fronts laying about!)

[karenaviva]

Ah! and I was sad that mine wasn't just like Dulci's!

[Kayla]

i'm actually doing a similar "binding" of two shallows for my sister's kitchenette since there are 3 door styles, using an Applad Blue and White will give some character

[cz9h3d]

I assume one has to re-drill the holes for the drawer front brackets, in order to get the correct offset of the drawer front to the cabinet bottom - no?

[Kayla]

cz, there used to be an entire step by step article of how to do my mod, i'm trying to locate it right now, must have been lost in the shuffle
you don't need to redrill the holes, that's the beauty of the mod, you just flip the drawer front upside down and it fits perfectly
i'll link in the article if we're able to find it. i also have a system of drilling the holes for the bottom mounted partition which make it much more "mistake proof"

[kathydean214]

This is awesome! With just some cursory brainstorming (and without taking my plumbing into account--fingers crossed), I wonder if this would work on Domsjo double sink base (36") with a 36" shelf, 18" doors and shallow drawers. If I've done the math correctly (with exact measurements), it seems like it could work. But what about the holes for the hinges, etc? Maybe I'm letting my brain and lack of sleep run wild.

[Kayla]

you would need 18x18 doors for this to work in that installation.... i'm trying to think if they are made, i don't think they are... too late for me to look now. my brain is shutting down too