this post was submitted on 29 Jul 2025
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Making the most of a totally dead cabinet corner? (infosec.pub)
submitted 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) by agamemnonymous@sh.itjust.works to c/homeimprovement@lemmy.world
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There's an approximately 24"×24"×32" space in the corner of my kitchen between the actual cabinet and the range.

I'm at a loss. The house is fairly small, and I'm an efficiency nut, so 10ft³ of totally useless space bugs me. The proximity to the oven would make extending the cabinet back that way and using some kind of blind-corner storage solution impractical.

We've been thinking about getting a new water heater, the current one is ancient and lives in a little enclosure outside, about 12' away. Can we get one of those short ones and tuck it in there or is that likely to overheat?

We've also been talking about a whole-house water fountain system, but I'm worried that changing filters would be incredibly annoying.

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[–] Reverendender@sh.itjust.works 43 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I vote for housing a glasses-wearing orphan boy

[–] 01189998819991197253 6 points 4 days ago

He must have a peculiar scar on his forehead.

[–] expatriado@lemmy.world 35 points 4 days ago (2 children)

that's where you put your safe, so in few decades someone can post "i found a safe"

[–] Zachariah@lemmy.world 9 points 4 days ago

…and is never seen again.

[–] DarrinBrunner@lemmy.world 7 points 4 days ago

Of course, the only thing in is the You Mad Bro? meme.

[–] nulluser@lemmy.world 27 points 4 days ago (1 children)

What's on the other side of that wall? Maybe that room could use some extra (secret/hidden?) storage.

[–] agamemnonymous@sh.itjust.works 18 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I was thinking about that. On the other side of the wall opposite the range is a little linen closet/alcove. It's pretty narrow, so it would be a bit awkward to access, but it could work for extra pillows and comforters. It's certainly an option to consider.

[–] Tylerdurdon@lemmy.world 10 points 4 days ago

That sounds like a good option. Might be a good place for sneaky storage.

[–] Unleaded8163@fedia.io 14 points 4 days ago (2 children)

I had something like this in that kind of corner: https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/p/utrusta-corner-base-cab-pull-out-fitting-gray-50596762/ Mine was right next to the range as well, it was a little awkward because the cupboard door couldn't quite open all the way. You could also just extend a cupboard back into the void. Some of the stuff at the back gets hard to reach, but most people have kitchen stuff they only need once in a while, so it's not too bad to have to go deep for some things.

[–] Dozzi92@lemmy.world 3 points 4 days ago

This is it. My mother has the exact (maybe not exact, but really similar) setup, and she's got some pullouts like these. $190 seems pretty reasonable too, these things can get expensive AF.

[–] ramenshaman@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

Holy crap that's awesome, probably going to get some of those

[–] David_Eight@lemmy.world 14 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

Sounds like you're looking for something like this?

I'm pretty confident the water heater idea would've be up to code 🤔. Do they even make ones that would fit back there? If you have one in mind, link it.

[–] Lag@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

I worked on a project recently that had a water heater in that corner with the same exact setup. It's pretty close at the sides but since it's round there is plenty of room around it.

Edit: and no pull out there works because the door needs clearance to fully open. They do make blind corner pull outs that pull with the door in another direction but it would still need to be smaller to clear the range.

[–] jqubed@lemmy.world 12 points 4 days ago (2 children)

I don’t know how practical it would be to expand the cabinet, but if you can extend it into the empty space there are companies that make hinged units that can rotate back into an empty space like that, then pull all the way out for relatively easy access. Maybe store some less-used pots and pans in there.

[–] agamemnonymous@sh.itjust.works 5 points 4 days ago

I looked into those for a similar situation in a previous house, but like I said, the proximity to the oven would make that really awkward. It's possible, but not really an ideal use of the space.

[–] Albbi@lemmy.ca 5 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

Oh wow, I have the exact same setup, with the same airfryer in that corner. When we bought the house, it already had a blind corner cabinet pullout. When you open the cabinet door, it pulls to the side with storage attached to the door and pulls out what is kept in the corner. Pretty cool. Here's a picture of something similar as I can't find the exact one.

Oh, just saw you said a blind cabinet solution is impractical. Can I ask why? I guess you'd have to rework your existing cabinetry, but mine is right next to the stove, just like your picture. You'd just have to reverse the door opening direction.

[–] agamemnonymous@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 days ago

Mostly the hassle involved to extend the cabinet (color matching, retrofitting, etc), but also the super tight clearance. I already had to cut a notch out of the drawer to clear the range knobs, and even then I still have to open the oven to clear the handle.

I could do a blind cabinet, but I feel like it's not the optimal use of the space, since those pullout solutions tend not to utilize the full space. That's why I was leaning towards a short water heater or extending the lower portion of the linen closet on the other side of the wall.

[–] FerretyFever0@fedia.io 6 points 4 days ago

Secret passageway leading into the underground? Argonian torture chamber?

[–] ikidd@lemmy.world 6 points 4 days ago

Those electric point-of-use water heaters are built to be in a cabinet, I'd say it would be fine in there. They're generally like 5-8 gallons, and you'll have to wire another 240V line into there.

[–] ileftreddit@piefed.social 6 points 4 days ago (2 children)

My first thoughts were ice maker or mini fridge

[–] talentedkiwi@sh.itjust.works 6 points 4 days ago

Same, until I saw it was behind the stove.

[–] agamemnonymous@sh.itjust.works 6 points 4 days ago (2 children)

It's normally inaccessible. I had to pull the range out to take the picture.

[–] ileftreddit@piefed.social 1 points 3 days ago

Oh! I see now

[–] Beacon@fedia.io 1 points 4 days ago

I would use it for storage of things you almost never need to get to, and just pull the range out on the once-a-year occasion when you need to get something that's in there.

[–] fubarx@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago (1 children)

How about a top-loading dishwasher? https://us.fotileglobal.com/products/2-in-1-top-load-dishwasher

This has a picture of one that pops up: https://www.kitchensurfing.com/top-loading-dishwasher/

[–] agamemnonymous@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 days ago

That's super cool, and we do need a dishwasher, but I'm not really keen on sacrificing that much countertop, both figuratively (the space thereon) and literally (the actual granite countertop).