POLL: Lazy Susans

[Jenise]

My designer just can't believe that I don't love Lazy Susans so much that I don't want them filling every lower-counter corner. In fact, he's so sold on them, that even after I rebuffed them as not the miracle they're touted to be, he changed the laundry room deisgn to add a corner unit just to accomodate one (or so it seemed to me). My guffaws forced him to take me seriously now so he's come up with something new: a stack of corner drawers. That is, in a northwest corner, say, these normal-width drawers are neither facing north nor west, but angle in due northwest and have v-shaped fronts, and there are cabinets immediately left and right. Which have deep angular recesses--talk about dead end corners!

A friend of mine who used to design kitchens professionally called Lazy Susans "a neccessary evil".

I'm not even sure they're that. I have had them. And I have had stuff jump off in the back and disappear, or tip over and stop the whole thing from rotating. Moreover, they use space rather inefficiently. You really can't stack much on them.

I'm thinking that for my new kitchen I might forego them altogether. I actually have a few things that only get used once a year, and frankly it just wouldn't be that awful if they disappeared into that dark hole, forgotten until their rare day of need.

I wonder how others feel about them?

Don't like them and wouldn't have one either. I do have a blind corner that is now very functional with a "magic corner" gizmo. Six stainless steel wire shelves that have an ingenious, pivot mechanism allowing the front 3 to move completely out of the cabinet while the back 3 slide into the reachable space. Moves a lot of weight with little effort and everything is reachable. Nothing falls off, everything is reachable. The only disadvantage is somewhat limited spacing of shelf height. I have ALL of my baking materials in that blind corner- all flours /sugars/corn meal/oatmeal/extra dried whole spices etc. I've found containers that work on the shorter shelves but still have enough tall space for stainless canisters for the flours- and I have a lot of flours - AP/durum/whole wheats/pastry flours/corn flours/semolina. I get much more in this blind corner now than in the old kitchen and it is all easily accessible.
Don't like the small lazy susan spice racks either. Opted for placing all spices in glass jars with labeled lids in a full
extension drawer. The drawer is packed so I can't identify the spices from the appearance but it is easy to reach down and grab what I want without disturbing anything else. I hated to rummage through stuff stacked on shelves, toppling half of bottles off to get to something in the back and leaving a messy wake. Both systems work well for us.

We have one in a corner of our kitchen that workds very well for large pots, soup kettles, dutch ovens etc.
Also have a small one on the table to hold all (well LOL not "all") my hot sauces, exotic salts and pepper blends, it's very handy.

When we did our remodel, my designer said "no more crazy corner cabinets that disappear to dark depths" and I agreed.
Actually, I opted for drawers below my counters in the kitchen. My drawers were designed to house what would be in them. Nice heavy deep drawers house all my Le Cruset cookware under the cooktop, along with some All Clad pieces. Vinegar and oil bottles were measured and drawers made to allow the tallest ones to fit. I have no cabinets below. It is awesome! Oh, yes...one large cabinet under the kitchen sinks. There are two cabinets to the right and left above the cooktop. My cabinet guy installed one double decker lazy susan into each side on the bottom. When I open the cabinet door, each lazy susan comes out to me. They both rotate and support my dried herbs and spices. I keep them in alphabetical order so I can grab what I need quickly.

In the laundry room, under my folding counter, I have a built in hamper, with a side for colors and one for whites. They allow for easy removal of dirty laundry. On the other end of the counter is a cabinet that houses a heavy duty slide out floor. I have all the pet food in small plastic tubs with lids on this unit. The water heater has it's own cabinet, a drop down ironing board and iron storage has another. Side by side refer and a freezer unit are built in and the rest of the cabinets house an overflow pantry and above the washer and dryer are laundry supplies.
My cabinet guy does not suggest those lazy susan things. I think they are a waste of space.

Oh, and about things that you use once a year. When they made my drop down ironing board, there was space behind it that would not be used. So they installed my ironing board on a door that can open when needed to the extra space behind it. I have a huge space and store all the things I use once or twice a year. The trick is to remember that the space is there and what is in it.

...my dried herbs and spices. I keep them in alphabetical order...

Gads. I have mine grouped into peppers - herbs - sweet - hot - seeds etc.

We liked 'em when the kids were still in the house. We also like them in Chinese restaurants where we can share dishes. Don't use 'em any more.

...my dried herbs and spices. I keep them in alphabetical order...

Gads. I have mine grouped into peppers - herbs - sweet - hot - seeds etc.

Never thought of that.....good way to do it. One has to work the way their mind works.....don't you think?

...my dried herbs and spices. I keep them in alphabetical order...

Gads. I have mine grouped into peppers - herbs - sweet - hot - seeds etc.

Never thought of that.....good way to do it. One has to work the way their mind works.....don't you think?

Absolutely. I find this scheme helps me because I sometimes look to the spice-rack for some quick inspiration about what to do with this bowl full of X in front of me....

Never had one in a cupboard, and don't think I can see a big attraction. We *do* have one on the table out under the pergola, which people can use to spin the picnic dishes toward them, in the manner of Chinese restaurant dining. It was just an accident that the table that was the right size and shape came with a lazy Susan, but it works ok for outdoor eating.

Matilda

We have two in the NC house (one in each corner of our "U" shaped kitchen). I'm with you. I think they are rather absurd. The only thing I store in them are rarely used items like plastic food storage thingies, and baskets for serving bread.
I once thought it would be pretty neat to have a round dining table with one in the middle, but then I thought about how rarely we serve family style...

You'll have to post pictures when your kitchen is done!

I voted "never had one..." -- but, it never occurred to me that the corner cabinet wehre my pots and pans are stacked on two shelves is a Lazy Susan. But, that't what it is, by golly! (I only thought of them in the restaurant, tabletop sense.) I also have one on the top counter (above the pots and pans) with 3 shelves with herbs and spices, boxed stuff like sugars and salts, and at the very top cornstarches, various overstocks and things I only use occassionally. They help to utilize what would otherwise be wasted space in the kitchen. I'm really interested in Karen's set up and would like to see it. Sounds like something I would do.

Totally agree with Karen about drawers. Except for under sink and the blind corner cab described above I insisted on drawers below all counters. Much more effecient. My kitchen is small so I could not afford to loose the space in the corner. It is now very functional with the gizmo.

The problem is that if you use drawers in the angles, you get 2 sets of drawers at right angles with a triangle of no man's land in between.

It seems to me that the solution is not to use lazy susans that have all the problems Jenise mentioned, but to simply not put drawers in the corners at all. Use those areas for cupboards instead, and either have no dividing partition so you can access the whole corner area, or have one of the cupboads with a deep section and the other normal. Either way, you can make use of all the space without resorting to silly-assed fallible spinning mechanisms.

My triangle problem was solved by my cabinet maker. He extended the area under the kitchen sink back into the triangle area which now is no longer a triangle but a long box. I use the hard to reach area for my huge stock pot. Since I don't use it often, it is out of the way and not taking up space at another place.
I love all my under counter drawers. My designer educated me on the waste of effort with the, "open the cabinet drawers, then bringing the pull out apparatus forward." Then you have to push it back and close both doors. With a drawer, you make two moves (open and close) and you're done. I never realized all the details of design that would go into my kitchen.....the working area is not large, but the eating area is good size. It was well worth getting a kitchen that works for me. Before I was working too hard at getting things I needed. I gained more storage area, as well.

[Jenise]

...my dried herbs and spices. I keep them in alphabetical order...

Gads. I have mine grouped into peppers - herbs - sweet - hot - seeds etc.

I'll see your groups and raise you one. I have two baskets in the pantry--one holds seeds/leafs, the other holds, well, other! Most of the things that come in leaf or powder form I buy from Penzey's and store in pint or quart ball jars on another shelf in order of what you might call popularity--whatever I use most is in front.

[Jenise]

Totally agree with Karen about drawers. Except for under sink and the blind corner cab described above I insisted on drawers below all counters. Much more effecient. My kitchen is small so I could not afford to loose the space in the corner. It is now very functional with the gizmo.

I agree with her, too and have mandated more--but not all--drawers. My architect is shocked that anyone would want that many drawers--his original sketch (never mind that I already have five stacks of four drawers each and love/use them all--only showed two stacks of drawers!

[Jenise]

I voted "never had one..." -- but, it never occurred to me that the corner cabinet wehre my pots and pans are stacked on two shelves is a Lazy Susan. But, that't what it is, by golly! (I only thought of them in the restaurant, tabletop sense.) I also have one on the top counter (above the pots and pans) with 3 shelves with herbs and spices, boxed stuff like sugars and salts, and at the very top cornstarches, various overstocks and things I only use occassionally. They help to utilize what would otherwise be wasted space in the kitchen. I'm really interested in Karen's set up and would like to see it. Sounds like something I would do.

I agree. We need pictures!

[Jenise]

The problem is that if you use drawers in the angles, you get 2 sets of drawers at right angles with a triangle of no man's land in between.

It seems to me that the solution is not to use lazy susans that have all the problems Jenise mentioned, but to simply not put drawers in the corners at all. Use those areas for cupboards instead, and either have no dividing partition so you can access the whole corner area, or have one of the cupboads with a deep section and the other normal. Either way, you can make use of all the space without resorting to silly-assed fallible spinning mechanisms.

I thought the corner drawers were awful. But the kind of lazy susans we're talking about are actually behind cupboard doors. They're just round shelves that spin instead of the typical flat, immobile shelf that is all that was thought possible when your and my current kitchens were built.

I thought the corner drawers were awful. But the kind of lazy susans we're talking about are actually behind cupboard doors. They're just round shelves that spin instead of the typical flat, immobile shelf that is all that was thought possible when your and my current kitchens were built.

I was talking about them used to 'solve' corner problems, but I don't like them in normal non-corner applications either. You are trading off shelf space (4 triangles at the edges of the rotating surface) for supposed ease in finding stuff. I'd rather just try to remember where I put things, or even have to do some minor moving of stuff in front than lose any space at all.

Of course we avoid the term 'lazy Suzanne' around my place....

[Jenise]

You are trading off shelf space (4 triangles at the edges of the rotating surface) for supposed ease in finding stuff.

Right, and stuff you can't stack or the top layer flies off. I love the general negativity toward them that this poll reveals--so much for my architect's claim that everybody loves them!

Of course we avoid the term 'lazy Suzanne' around my place....

I'll bet you do!

Right, and stuff you can't stack or the top layer flies off. I love the general negativity toward them that this poll reveals--so much for my architect's claim that everybody loves them!

One test you can use with an architect or builder that is praising something as being the best thing since sliced bread is to ask them if they have it in their homes. Many times they do not, and you can tell them to come back to you when they have personal experience because you really don't care what opinions the Great Unwashed might hold, you want a recommendation from a professional and obviously he isn't in a position to offer that.

That worked for us a couple of times when we were redoing our place.

I have had several law suits invovling new roofing materials that the contractor or architect swore were TGTSSB (the greatest thing since sliced bread). Oddly enough, they made themselves scarce when the materials started leaking....

[Jenise]

One test you can use with an architect or builder that is praising something as being the best thing since sliced bread is to ask them if they have it in their homes....

Good advice, but we don't even get that far. I simply reply "I'm not everybody". Craig and his wife don't cook, and they have a small uncomplicated kitchen. He has never done a kitchen for someone who cooks every day and well above the Betty Crocker level at that. He hasn't a clue what I might need or want, and I can forgive him for that. For not looking at the way I'm already using what's here or even asking certain questins to gauge what I need instead of falling back to some reflex about what's popular on a mass basis--not so much.

but, it never occurred to me that the corner cabinet wehre my pots and pans are stacked on two shelves is a Lazy Susan.

My mom's kitchen was carved out of an old porch in 1970. It's u shaped and has two cabinets that are lazy susans in the corners. The entire cabinet rotates. You push on the door and the entire thing revolves and reveals the two tall shelves. She keeps all her baking supplies on them.

I don't recall anything ever getting lost or falling off.

I always liked her pots and pans drawers more than the lazy susans. There are also tall narrow slotted cabinets with vertical dividers for her baking sheets and racks. I love being able to just reach in and pull out the size sheet I need without having to move other things off them.

Actually, now that I'm thinking about it, it's a really efficient and useful small kitchen with some great ideas. It has a built in "pantry" cabinet that is about 3 feet deep. The main space is from the floor to about 6 feet high, then the top has a cabinet where she stores her vases and things like that. In the main storage section it has two doors like a side by side refrigerator/freezer. The doors have shelves on the inside for things like spices, canned goods, or small boxes, then there are a larger set of doors that pivot outward and have larger shelves. Behind those are deep and tall shelves. It really holds a lot of food in a pretty compact space. I've never seen anything quite like it in anybody else's kitchen.

I'll have to ask my dad who designed the kitchen. I'm guessing he did... I know he built it. He was a professional high-end restaurant cook for many years, then became a math professor. So he has a good fix on what's needed and useful in a kitchen, and also what will work spatially and efficiently.

Our architect was pretty tone deaf. Our builder was a dream because his input was focused on what was structurally feasable/sound. He let us direct the design details and interrupted only when there were technical issues necessitating a change. Although I did consult a kitchen designer, she did exactly what I asked for. Nevertheless she was surprised at the degree to which I had things thought out because most of her other clients were focused on "the look" and not function or effeciency. She tracked down the SS wire shelves for under the cooktop and the magic corner- both German made and excellent quality.