Chapter 16
The one-inch mistake
Two intersecting drawers show how a tiny clearance becomes a daily problem.
One inch would have changed the kitchen
Our pantry and trash drawers meet at roughly 90 degrees. One can interfere with the other, and after around 14 months the colliding surfaces show visible wear. Roughly one more inch of spacing could have avoided it. That inch would barely have mattered during construction; not having it affects us almost every day.
Test the whole opening envelope
Open every drawer, fridge door, oven, and neighboring cabinet completely. Open conflicting drawers together. Leave room for handles, fingers, a person standing in front, and a usable aisle.
Pantry drawer
Trash drawer
Hit
Open both drawers in the mock-up. Roughly one extra inch between ours could have prevented the collision.