Customize Your Kitchen With Tall Cabinets - Drawers That Fit Your Life

Dreaming of a kitchen that truly caters to your lifestyle? With the right tall cabinetry and drawer configuration, you can customize your cooking space for maximum convenience, storage, and style. Read on to explore how tall cabinets and drawers can transform the heart of your home.

Gone are the days of generic kitchens with cookie-cutter cabinetry. Today's options make it simple to craft a kitchen that suits your family's needs, from accessible storage for seniors to spacious pantries for avid cooks. The key lies in selecting taller-than-average cabinetry paired with customizable drawers and inserts.

Why Choose Tall Kitchen Cabinets?

Standard kitchen cabinets top out around 36 inches high. At this height, the top shelves are inconvenient to reach and wasted space abounds. By contrast, tall cabinets soar to 42, 48 or even 60 inches high. This expanded vertical storage offers many benefits compared to ordinary cabinetry.

First, tall cabinets increase your overall storage capacity exponentially. You can comfortably stack dishes, house bulky appliances, and store a bounty of dry goods. Second, the additional height makes upper shelves readily accessible. No more climbing on countertops or straining with a step stool. Finally, tall cabinets lend a modern, sleek aesthetic to any kitchen. Their streamlined look perfectly complements the clean lines of contemporary homes.

Benefits of Added Storage Space

The abundance of storage space tall cabinets provide resolves many kitchen headaches. No longer will pots and pans claim every inch of precious countertop real estate. These bulky items can finally migrate to deep drawers built for their dimensions. Appliances like stand mixers seamlessly tuck into cabinet interiors rather than cluttering up counters. With plenty of vertical room, you can neatly arrange dishes, mugs and glassware on shelves sized to fit them.

The extra space also enables you to carve out a dedicated pantry within your existing footprint. Stock up on spices, baking ingredients and packaged goods so they're on hand when cooking. Consider using a tall cabinet or two to conceal small appliances when not in use, for a decluttered look.

Benefits of Increased Accessibility

Another major perk of tall kitchen cabinets is effortless access to upper shelves. No more precarious climbing or reaching that strains your shoulders. Install pull-out shelves at an ergonomic height tailored to your needs. This accommodates users of all mobility levels, an important factor for multi-generational homes. Forward-gliding drawers place items right at your fingertips.

For seniors and those with disabilities, accessible storage fosters independence in the kitchen. Family members can help prep meals knowing necessities are within easy grasp. The elderly can cook safely on their own terms. Tall cabinets open new possibilities for maximizing usability.

Maximizing Storage in Tall Kitchen Cabinets

While tall cabinets inherently provide more storage than standard sizes, thoughtful interior fittings transform the space into a powerhouse of organization. Customize drawers, shelves and other inserts to make the most of your newfound vertical volume.

Large Drawers for Pots, Pans and Bakeware

Pots, pans and bulky bakeware demand deep, wide drawers to contain their heft. Fortunately, tall cabinets easily accommodate custom sizing. Specify drawer height and width during planning to perfectly fit these items. Consider including dividers, racks and other organizers to prevent contents from shifting during opening and closing.

For ultimate convenience, opt for full-extension drawer slides. These allow you to access every inch of the interior without any wheeled gymnastics. Soft-closing mechanisms eliminate slamming, and integrated lighting illuminates contents.

Pull-Out Shelves for Easy Access

While drawers excel for sturdy cooking gear, adjustable pull-out shelves better suit dishes, food staples and other lighter items. The sliding shelves give you immediate access without the need to bend down or reach overhead.

Install shelves at different heights tailored to various users' reaches. Consider open-fronted shelving for visibility of what's inside. For a streamlined look, choose shelves that match the depth of your cabinet boxes and extend fully when opened.

Interior Cabinet Organizers and Accessories

Beyond drawers and shelves, numerous accessories maximize usable space within tall cabinets. Spice racks and tilt-out trays on the interior of doors put flavors and condiments at your fingertips. Spinning "lazy Susan" corner cabinets effortlessly swivel contents within reach. Tiered inserts double your vertical storage real estate.

For blind corner cabinets, L-shaped pull-outs and swing-out shelves deliver storage that's otherwise dead space. Diagonal corner organizers hold spices, cans and other small items. With all these space-saving innovations, your tall cabinets become hyper-efficient.

Customization Options for Tall Kitchen Cabinets

Given their expanded dimensions, tall cabinets offer numerous possibilities for customization. Dial in the ideal height, width, depth and interior accessories based on your cooking style, family's needs and kitchen layout.

Selecting the Perfect Height

First, determine the appropriate overall height for your tall cabinets. Standard kitchen counters sit 36 inches from the floor. For a uniform look, select tall cabinets that align with your countertop height. Common tall cabinet heights range from 42 to 48 inches. But you can go even taller if ceilings allow. Just ensure adequate room remains for crown molding.

Factor in the height of your tallest family members as well. Shelves and storage should be easily accessible for all users. A height around 60 inches accommodates most configurations comfortably. Just don't block or impinge on overhead lighting or vents.

Choosing the Right Depth

Standard cabinet depths ring in around 24 inches deep. While shallow cabinets do minimize how far you need to reach in, the deeper the better when aiming for high storage capacity. Just take care not to go too deep, or the contents in the very back will be inaccessible.

Drawers tend to need significant depth, especially for accommodating large pots and pans. Base cabinets might range from 26 to 30 inches deep. For wall cabinets, steer clear of depths exceeding 16 inches or retrieving items becomes tricky. Settle on a middle ground that maximizes space yet remains user-friendly.

Determining the Optimal Width

Tall cabinet widths echo standards for base cabinets, generally ranging between 12 and 24 inches wide. Wider spans increase storage space for large platters and appliances. But don't overlook the versatility narrower units allow. Mixing up widths creates visual interest, and tight spaces may dictate sleeker profiles.

Varying the sequence of cabinet widths prevents monotonous repetition. Place specific widths strategically to hold designated items. For example, position a 30-inch wide pantry cabinet next to a narrower 15-inch spice pull-out. This custom tailored look fits your lifestyle like a glove.

Integrating Tall Cabinets Into Your Kitchen Remodel

Installing tall cabinets impacts the whole kitchen footprint. Carefully plan their placement when remodeling to avoid any pitfalls. A professional designer helps optimize layout, but keep these key factors in mind.

Layout Considerations

Locate tall cabinets near cooking hubs for convenient access while prepping meals. Ensure they don't crowd aisles, limit traffic patterns or block appliances from fully opening. Ceilings, overhead vents and lighting dictate whether tall cabinets are viable in a given area.

Allow adequate clearance so tall cabinet doors and drawers can open without obstruction. If your kitchen has soffits or changes in ceiling height, position tall cabinets accordingly. An experienced contractor can modify soffits and ceilings to accommodate taller cabinets if needed.

Counter and Backsplash Pairings

For a cohesive look, install countertops that align with the top of tall cabinets. Custom fabricated counters seamlessly integrate with cabinetry. Matching up the countertop and tall cabinet heights prevents uneven transitions.

Likewise, consider complementing tall cabinet finishes by using the same material or palette for the backsplash. This creates visual continuity. Just ensure your choice of backsplash tile or panels spans the entire height of tall cabinets to protect the wall.

The locations of plumbing, vents, conduits and lighting may need tweaking when going taller. Ensure no pipes or wires run where new cabinets will go. For sink plumbing, reference the exact cabinet height during rough-in. Adjust overhead lighting layouts to illuminate taller cabinets.

A professional kitchen designer handles these technical aspects of the remodeling process. With diligent planning and expert installation, tall cabinets infuse customized function into your dream kitchen.

By selecting taller cabinetry backed by smart drawer configurations, you can craft a kitchen that truly caters to your family's lifestyle. Gain expanded storage, easier accessibility and modern styling through the power of customization. With some thoughtful planning during your remodel, tall cabinets and drawers offer the perfect recipe for cooking convenience.