To maximize storage in my small Manhattan galley kitchen, I added dovetailed hard maple toekick drawers, sized so the height will accomodate 12 oz beverage cans, as well as canned goods. They slide on the cabinet bottom plate and floor, using low-friction tape applied to the bottom of the drawer, and side bevels on the fascia piece guide them to align with each other when pushed back in. The bottoms are screwed and glued from below into rabbets (slightly deeper than the drawer bottom 1/4″ maple ply) on the underside of the rails, which are themselves oversised to accomodate the rabbet.
Additionally, I fabricated a slide-out unit using 150-lb over-travel file-cabinet slides (installed reversed underneath) to allow easy access to very heavy items, like the cast-iron gratin pans and granite mortar and pestle shown. This is all rabbeted, glued, and screwed 1/2″ MDF, and an enamel finish. The box and slides were installed first, the front paned aligned and temporarily set with double-sided tape to ensure proper side clearences, and then screwed in place from behind.
I enjoy the work I put into this every time I reach for a jar of salsa. 😉
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I have done this several times in my home. The one problem with this solution is that when you move to another place it is easy to forget the drawers are there. Great job.
Interesting storage idea that I woulodn't have thought of! It's rather smart to put something at that height so you really have to work to get the cupboards slid open! Might want to make sure that if you've got kids that they don't find out what you've put in those storage drawers right at the bottom - wouldn't want them getting into soft drinks too often if it's within their reach!