Anyone have a plate rack in their kitchen cabinets?

[kbkids]

We had our new cabinets installed yesterday but immediately saw that they had made an error on one of the wall cabinets. Long story - they're fixing it, but here's my dilemna. We're going to have to add something in a 18" area other than a cabinet. It's kinda halfway between the cooktop and the sink. We've got it narrowed down to three choices - an open cabinet with three shelves, a wine rack with an open shelf above it, or a plate rack with an open shelf about it.

Honestly, I don't like the three shelf option - it doesn't seem like it "belongs" in that spot - kinda like we're covering up a mistake, which we are.

I would be happy with either the wine rack or the plate rack. My DH wants the wine rack - but honestly, we just don't drink wine that much. It would be pretty, but honestly wouldn't get alot of practical use out of it.

I think we'd get more use of the plate rack. It would be located close to the cooktop where I could grab a plate and put the food on it - which is how we do dinner - all pots stay on the stove, and I serve them from there. But DH is concerned about the plates getting dusty, so we'd have to rinse them off each time we used them. For those that have a plate rack, is this a valid concern? I could see a plate that hadn't been used for weeks, but one that's been sitting there maybe 2-3 days???

 

[chris1gill]

We are going through a small kitchen remodel, and honestly? I think the wine rack makes good sense and will look pretty with a few bottles of wine (or sparkling grape juice!)

To me, I think those plate racks are just a decorative piece, the plates not to be used daily, but more for china... but that's just my opinion... course if you could fit a cookbook or a few bottles of different vinegars/oils on the three shelves, I would consider that... we have a similar space only it is 14" wide, it's giving us a problem, I think we'll have to go with shelving...

Oh, one question for you, where did you get your cabinets & do you have a picture to share?

 

[WDWAurora]

So...I was thinking about asking this SAME question! I'm a little frightened! I was just curious about the plate racks. How many slots is average? Just dinner plates, or other sizes, too?

I wondered about the wine rack, too. We don't drink, but I'm wondering what we could do with one if we bought a house that already had one?

 

[kbkids]

We had ours custom made locally, and no pictures yet.

I do like the look of the shelves, but I just don't think it belongs in the particular spot where it would be in our situation. We'll probably go with the wine rack at this point. Someone else on another board where I asked the same question mentioned the possibility of spiders or bugs getting on the plates. Living in Florida, that would be a huge possibility for us, so that was enough to change my mind real quickly!!

 

[kbkids]

So...I was thinking about asking this SAME question! I'm a little frightened! I was just curious about the plate racks. How many slots is average? Just dinner plates, or other sizes, too?

I wondered about the wine rack, too. We don't drink, but I'm wondering what we could do with one if we bought a house that already had one?

The ones I've seen hold about 8-10 plates. They're large enough for dinner plates, but I've also seen double ones where salad plates were kept there too.

 

[chris1gill]

We had ours custom made locally, and no pictures yet.

I do like the look of the shelves, but I just don't think it belongs in the particular spot where it would be in our situation. We'll probably go with the wine rack at this point. Someone else on another board where I asked the same question mentioned the possibility of spiders or bugs getting on the plates. Living in Florida, that would be a huge possibility for us, so that was enough to change my mind real quickly!!

Oh GROSS, that would totally change my mind too!! The wine rack is the way to go, or like I said, maybe the shelves with different vinegars and oils displayed, with perhaps a pepper mill... it would look nice....

But the wine rack can hold wine but also sparkling water or sparkling grape juice, so it can really hold any beverage with that type of a bottle... I think it might be a little bit useful...

Well, I can't wait to see the kitchen... we are agonizing over ours!

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

I didnt read the whole thread, but WE DO!

WE personally redesigned our kitchen. I'm a stickler for using every square inch. I HATE wasted space. Our plate rack is one of the smartest things weve done yet! We use it every day. It holds them vertically of course. The whole concept of keeping plates horizontal is retarded to me. We have a lid rack right beside it, and I must confess that we use plastic lids as often as plates for snacks. (The lids that come on Sams brand 5 quart ice cream cartons work best!)
We also have horizontal rack system for our pie pans, trays, cooking pans, pizza stones and pans, cutting boards, and slide drawers for all the gadgets. Our cabinets were "built into the house" and really basic. One shelf. no drawers, etc Now they have sliders, trays, shelfs, drawers, etc. We use almost every single square inch in our cabinets... all the way to the actual ceiling. (no wasted space up high).
We also have all our batteries and rechargeable item chargers (drills, dremels, cameras, battery testers, and all batteries rechargeable and non-rechargeable etc) in our kitchen cabinets. Thats where we use them most anyways. We have our TOASTER in the cabinets!!! We hid the wires, and you just open the cabinets, drop in your toast, and when it pops up you pull it out and close the cabinets. our can opener is also in the cabinets hooked up.
I like a free and clean counter space, and we have lots of small appliances, so we have them (all we can) hidden away in the cabinets.

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

SelfEmployedDebtFree- i love the sound of your kitchen- do you have any pictures?

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

Here's one to get you interested.

Heres the link to the webpage.
http://s67.photobucket.com/albums/h293/chileheadplumber/?start=all
Use the slideshow feature. There are links at the top to the other rooms that are showable so far. We hope to have it on HGTV by fall of 2007. We have a LOT of work to do!

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

If you watch the slideshow you can slow it down with a dropdown box on the upper right hand corner (Ive had this account HOW long... and I just realized that tonight!!! )
Also note, that the pictures are at different stages of completion, and its still not officially complete yet.

 

[sha_lyn]

Someone else on another board where I asked the same question mentioned the possibility of spiders or bugs getting on the plates. Living in Florida, that would be a huge possibility for us, so that was enough to change my mind real quickly!!

spiders and bugs can get inside cabinets too.
From the area you describes, a plate rack would go well. You really wouldn't be reaching from the stove for an unopened bottle of wine