[j7muse]

I know the drawer bases are either 15" or 18", but what is the useable inside drawer space? Could someone with a cabinet measure for me? Thanks!

[Tim_and_Joyce]

The 15" drawers are 11-1/2" W x 20" L.
The 18" drawers are 14-1/2" W x 20" L.

You have about 4-1/2" of depth before something might hit the cabinet frame. The drawers are not square inside - they slope in slightly on the sides and are kind of curved at the bottom, so the bottom width will be about 1/2" less than my numbers above which were measured at the top of the drawer frame. Hope that helps!

[laurie]

WOW! you lose 3-1/2 inches on the width? I didn't realize the sides were so thick. I'll have to rethink the size of cabinets I get. I realize I haven't built my IKEA cabinets yet, but why would the drawers not be square?

[DesignDiva]

You lose 1 1/2 inches from the cabinet sides alone...another half inch for the slide and the drawer sides are another inch, so yeah...3-3 1/2 inches.

The drawers are not wood, they are metal construction. The metal is designed with a small bevel at the bottom, and the melamine bottom slides into a channel under that bevel. The shape makes it easier to clean and also allows for the connection mechanism to put the drawer front on.There's a big snap-in part that the drawer receives.

[laurie]

It will be sooooooo much better when I get to actually see the cabinets in person. Right now, it's just a dream.

Eva, is an 18" drawer (since it will be 14-1/2" inside) big enough for cooking utensils? Or will I need two?

[DesignDiva]

Well...that all depends! I have two 15" drawers (the top two drawers of my 30" base) and I have towels and potholders in one and ladles, spatulas and tongs in the other, along with some smaller things in the front compartment. I keep my bamboo spoons and a couple other long handled tools in a crock near the stove, though, because I always have. I don't have a huge amount of utensils, but they'd all fit in two 18" drawers with no problem.

Now of course, those are only COOKING utensils I'm talking about here. Other stuff, like my measuring cups and spoons, reamers, graters, peelers etc. live in one of the two drawers above my baking center (again, 2 15" drawers) and they are happy there. The other 15" drawer holds plastic stuff, corks, bottle tops, twist ties, etc.; the usual stuff you have in one drawer like that! And then I have the 18" drawer next to those which contains all my wraps and bag boxes. The 18" drawer will hold the giant foil box from Costco, and all the long wrap boxes like wax paper, plastic wrap etc. sideways. I put them in there and use them straight from the drawer, so convenient!

[j7muse]

Thanks, everyone.