Self build "pull out larder" solution - source for parts ?

[Jethro]

Am turning attention, and bit of cash from matured investments to kitchen ... when we moved in, we scrapped the old boiler which was fitted into a cupboard in the kitchen, giving us a nuisance storage space which is wide (21") and high (door is 6'4" but head space is another foot), but annoyingly deep (28"). I fitted some wooden shelves, but it's always been a pig to use on account of the depth.

Have finally discovered the concept of the pull-out larder, and would like to adapt this space to have something like this fitted. However as far as I can see, the B&Q type stuff is intended for use in their cabinets - I don't want that. I want to build one into the cupboard, and fix the (currently) hinged door back onto the pull out.

Anyone any idea if anyone supplies parts to built your own in a modular way ... i.e. specify what length runners and framework and baskets, for fitting into non-standard spaces ?

[Ronald Raygun]

If you DIY it, you stand a good chance of getting something decent. But what I've seen of the ones which come with standard kitchens (even high-end ones) tend to be pretty poor in terms of ergonomics. To wit, they don't pull out very far. You can only access the front half of the baskets directly, the back half only by contorting your arms and being careful not knock anything over that's in the way.

I reckon you should be thinking along the lines of something that starts off as a trolley with nice big wheels on the floor, and take it from there.

[JTM]

This is something on my 'to do' list for later this year, so I'll be watching this thread with interest

John

[The Natural Philosopher]

That's one way

Another is to massively hinge the door itself and build shelves-with-a-lip on the back of that - that gives you maybe half the space easy to access, like a fridge.

The you can uses standard drawer runners to make pull out shelves for other stuff, or simply half depth shelves.

[newshound]

That's exactly how my (home made) kitchen waste bins work, filling three otherwise rather narrow slots. I shall also be following the thread because I need to make some built in wardrobes, probably with pull-out sections. You will need good quality wheels.

[Lobster]

might be worth a shufti?

David

[S Viemeister]

As will I.

[Roger Mills]

They're designed to go into standard tall units - but ours is only fixed on the top and bottom centre-lines - so you can have what you like at the sides. Ours appears to be adjustable for height (I didn't fit it myself - otherwise I'd know for sure!).

As far as I can remember, our kitchen supplier mixed and matched - getting the cabinets and fronts from one source and the innards from another - so you don't *have* to buy the whole thing.

The main problem you'll have is that they're designed to go in 600mm deep cabinets - so you'll have some wasted space at the back. The pull-out bits of ours are only 450 deep. I think you can get different widths of tray to fit different width cabinets (or none!)

I've just discovered that Screwfix do them. Have a look at:

[Martin Hind]

Hafele, of course.

won't be able to purchase directly from Hafele, BKOnline are one on-line stockist:

[Tim Watts]

Lobster ( [e-mail]) wibbled on Thursday 13 January 2011

19:49:

Wow - looks interesting. Have bookmarked as I have a few custom jobs to do. Ta.

[Terry Casey]

As depth seems to be your main problem how about 700mm full extension drawer runner?

[Charles Fearnley]

Bought a pull out larder package from this ebay seller last year:

- see menu on the left.

I used the 300mm wide one, so the weight loading on it has been limited, but so far it has continued to run smoothly with no problems. It pulls out so that only about 30mm of the basket remains in the carcase. SWMBO loves it....

The unit is fixed only at top and bottom, and is height adjustable. The structure is square section steel tube bolted together, and quite sturdy. Baskets hang on steel pegs in holes in the main structure, and you can get extra baskets if you need them.

Not cheap, but not as eye watering as some. Delivery good, no purchase problems, and a year layer the company still exists - so that's something!

No connection with seller etc.

Charles F

[Bolted]

Isaac Lord carries a very similar range, but its pricing structure is a lot more retail friendly (i.e. Woodfit has a pretty high standard trade discount, so if you don't qualify for that, the prices are steeper than IL).

[Bolted]

Any decent one will have full-extension runners - most do, these days.

[Tim Watts]

Bolted ( [e-mail]) wibbled on Friday 14 January 2011 10:31:

Got it - cheers for that :)

[Jethro]

I have to say thanks to all, for the useful replies. Having had a quick look, it seems everyone is just selling standard stuff. AFAICS the only drawer depth is 470mm, which would waste damn near a foot of storage space.

I'm tending towards the approach mentioned in this thread by RR, of building a wheeled trolley, and fixing the cupboard door to that. I wonder if you can get a rail system to do this ?

[Jethro]

In the end, fed up with trying to bespoke a solution, we took a trip to IKEA. To our delight we found they sell 50cmx58cm wire baskets on quite heavy duty runners in the kitchen department. We then found a

50cmx201cm cabinet in the bedroom section which had the holes pre- drilled to take the runners.

Baskets: =A38.xx each Cabinet:=A340.,xx

we got 7 baskets, so total cost was under =A3100. I've just finished fitting it all .. took a bit of work to remove the old shelves (resting on battens that had been nailed into the brick) but it's the DBs ... the drawers can take 33 500ml bottles of beer full, so they're plenty strong.

Hope this helps people,

Was very impressed with IKEA, as their range seems to realise that not every space will take a 60cm unit. So they do 50,40 and 30 ....

[Roger Mills]

Well done. How about uploading a photo of the finished object somewhere, and posting a link here?