[boykster]

I know there are already a couple of threads re: the Lee Valley unit, but I wanted to share a couple of pics of my newly installed unit. I installed it in an already installed 49" blind corner cabinet, countertops and everything already there. It is possible, and actually pretty easy to fit it in. I can see it being quite a bit more difficult in a smaller cabinet though

Here's the cabinet with door/drawer removed

Lee Valley Blind Corner unit install in 49" blind corner cab 

Here's the hard bracket to install. this installs to the "back" of the cabinet, but the rub is that the "back" is hardboard, not wood and doesn't provide much support. It also screws in from the sides into the side of the cabinet, but in the 49" blind corner cab, the bracket doesn't reach the deep end.

Lee Valley Blind Corner unit install in 49" blind corner cab 

My solution was to cut and install a 2x2 vertically to provide a screw support for the hanging back end. I measured the width of the bracket and installed the 2x2 so that it fit nice and snug

Lee Valley Blind Corner unit install in 49" blind corner cab 

Here's the bracket installed up against the 2x2

Lee Valley Blind Corner unit install in 49" blind corner cab 

and here's the other side

Lee Valley Blind Corner unit install in 49" blind corner cab 

I skipped photos for a couple of steps (got excited things were moving along), but here is the extension bracket installed. Next to installing the back bracket, getting the sliding bracket "just right" was a bit touchy. Just go slow and figure out how it all goes together, and it just magically works

Lee Valley Blind Corner unit install in 49" blind corner cab 

Here's the door installed and closed

Lee Valley Blind Corner unit install in 49" blind corner cab 

1/2 way open

Lee Valley Blind Corner unit install in 49" blind corner cab 

all the way open...NICE!

Lee Valley Blind Corner unit install in 49" blind corner cab 

all in all, took about an hour to install it. I had to fiddle with the door mounting a bit to get it "just right" and might need a bit more tweaking. But overall I'm very impressed with this hardware and would definately recommend it to anyone.

The install sheet is a bit thin, and the measurements are all in mm, but for the most part you can just install as you go. The only critical measurements are the door mounting, and of course the overall dimensions for installation.

Cheers!

Rich

[woodswell]

Rich,
Sweet! Thank you so much for the great photos of your installation! This will be a big help to the rest of us.

How wide is the door to your cabinet?

[boykster]

Originally Posted by woodswell

Rich,
Sweet! Thank you so much for the great photos of your installation! This will be a big help to the rest of us.

How wide is the door to your cabinet?

I can take some closesups of a couple of the other "tricky" steps. The instruction sheet really doesn't layout how the door panel bracket attaches to the pullout part. You kinda have to just figure it out.

I believe the door on a 49" blind corner unit is 21"....someone correct me if I'm wrong on that one.

Oh, and the wife really likes it, so time and money well spent!

[woodswell]

Originally Posted by boykster

I can take some closesups of a couple of the other "tricky" steps. The instruction sheet really doesn't layout how the door panel bracket attaches to the pullout part. You kinda have to just figure it out.

That would be great if you have the time.

I believe the door on a 49" blind corner unit is 21"....someone correct me if I'm wrong on that one.

I think that is what Torrus told me so it should be correct. I'm just forgetful these days.

[drlith]

This is the first time I'd heard of the Lee Valley blind corner unit....intriguing!

Being the data junkie I am, I had to figure out how it compared, spacewise, to the Ikea blind corner lazy susan. It seemed a shame to keep this info to myself, so here it is:

The Lee system seems to give you ~1027 sq inches of shelf space, or 7.13 sq feet (18.5x12x2+ 18.5x15.75x2)/144. The IKEA half-round lazy susan gives you 990 sq. inches, or 6.87 sq ft--(pi*17.5^2)/144.

So, if you're putting it into a 49-in blind corner unit, it doesn't gain you a ton of raw space. But maybe the square shelf fits items better? I'm curious how it fares vs. lazy susan in terms of ease of operation and the overall k00l factor.
989.798
989.798

[boykster]

Originally Posted by drlith

So, if you're putting it into a 49-in blind corner unit, it doesn't gain you a ton of raw space. But maybe the square shelf fits items better? I'm curious how it fares vs. lazy susan in terms of ease of operation and the overall k00l factor.
989.798
989.798

It doesn't give you a ton MORE space, but from just having it installed for less than a day, it is a LOT easier to get to items that are further "back" in the cabinet, and it also does give easier access to the "dead" space. I put an oven roasting pan back in the dead space, and it's really easy to get to. Just fully extend the shelves, and I can reach back and pull it in or out. I'm thinking of putting a "divider" back there so I can stand things up and know they won't tip over.

For me at least, the square'ish shelves also do seem to "fit" items better, but that could very well just be my optimistic perception silently justifying the cost of the unit

[gwen]

Rich,

Thanks so much for sharing your detailed pics and experience installing the Lee Valley Corner Unit! Dh and I installed one of these in an already installed 49" cabinet too and appreciate the skill required to navigate through the directions.

And, yes, you're correct that the door and drawer above are 21".

We use the blind unit for mixing bowls in front and bulky, less used appliances (like our griddle and waffle maker) on the shelves in the back. The empty space behind the unit is also great, like Rich mentions, for tucking away items that you may want access to but don't need (or care) to see all the time.

Gwen

[GardenOfDarwin]

Boykster! Excellent! I'd love to turn this into an article for the Library! Great photos - thanks for uploading and for giving us all the rundown.

Susan

[boykster]

Sounds good!

let me take a couple of detail pics of the later "tricky" parts. I got out of 'document the process mode' and into 'wow this is cool finish it up' mode

2 areas I think more detailed pics would be helpful is the attaching of the pullout bracket, and attaching the door bracket to the pullout. Those both took some headscratching to get just right.

I'll take those pics today and add em here (as well as in my gallery)

[OnlyMostlyDead]

First time posting here, so I'd like to thank everyone that's shared information on this site. It's all useful and the enthusiasm here is great! Lots of great ideas (particularly the toekick drawers, which I hadn't thought of) to keep me busy for a while.

I'm just about to install two of these puppies in our new kitchen. I'm very grateful to see this post, as the pictures help a great deal. Between the other Lee Valley threads and this one, I have no fear...

(ok, a little fear )

Thanks again everyone!