Question
I am looking at putting in a standard corner base cabinet in my kitchen. However there will be no units on the return as this space will have a free standing washing machine. Therefore, I presume I don’t need a corner post? Do I need anything like an end panel to make the space underneath the worktop look nice?
Answer
Place an end panel or a door to the side of the appliance (butt up to the corner post) to give you a uniform look.
The blanking panel on the corner unit measures 500mm wide (depth to the wall) so you’ll need to ensure that there is a service void space as well to give you enough depth to slide your washing machine into. Please note that no matter what the width is of the standard corner base unit, that blanking panel is still the same size (500mm). The part that grows or contracts is the size of the door.
Freestanding washing machines usually have a depth of around 500mm – 600mm, so measure yours first to see what kind of space you have to play with. If you have handles on your door then you also need to make sure that these do not smash in to the washing machine as well when the unit door is opened.
With regards to a corner post, unless you are having a work surface going over the top of the appliances then no, you will not need a corner post as there will be nothing on the right for it to attach to and would just look unsightly.
An Idea
If you were to have a worktop over the appliances then you could use a corner post and an end panel as shown below to give a neat inside edge where your washing machine would butt up to. I used an image of a freezer in this example as I could not find the image for a washing machine, but you get the picture:-)
You would need to attach the end panel to either the wall, side of the corner unit at the back or anywhere else you deem suitable to ensure that it would not move, especially with a washing machine sitting next to it.
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In response to the original question, I have a similar layout where I have a washing machine that will be on the return of a corner base unit. I will install a corner post and end panel, but am I right in thinking that the corner post does not go to the floor and therefore I’ll need to install a tiny bit of plinth underneath the corner post so there’s no gap between the corner post and the end panel?
Hi, the corner post is the same height as the door, so there will be a gap below it. A bit of plinth will be needed if you want to cover the gap at the bottom.
Do we have to screw the kitchen base units to the wall? Or is joining them together and then the weight of the worktop enough?
The cabinet feet are strong enough to take granite or quartz worktops, so generally you do not need to screw the base units to the wall, unless you want to do it for your own piece of mind. We would advise using the carcase connector bolts to keep the units rigid in place though.
Hi, your idea of using a corner post and blanking panel looks very neat, but does that mean the corner unit won’t be completely sealed? It looks like there would be a gap, about the width of the corner post, between the unit and the panel for things to fall into. How would you seal this up?
Hi, to ensure that no items can fall out of the corner base unit, keep the blanking panel in place and use an additional end panel at the side of the appliance.
Mmmm some of your drawings for corner units show 130mm void the one above 100mm. If I am fitting a standard base unit off the next wall (right-angled to the corner unit) in the corner and it is 560mm wide and doors are 18-22mm and the corner post is 70mm why is the void not 60mm, (the blank is 500mm on all units)? I have no services in the corner.
Hi, we recommend a service void of 130mm now. A 70mm corner post and the 60mm need for the unit to be brought forward = 130mm.
I don’t understand this, I thought the cornerpost (70mm) made the unit deeper rather than longer as it is attached at a 90degree angle by the door hinge.
The corner unit on the left has to be brought out from the wall by 60mm so that it lines up with the other unit on the adjacent run. At this point, 60mm is not enough for doors to open and handles will clash. Therefore, we recommend that the corner unit on the left be brought out another 70mm (130mm) in total, so that doors on both units can open and handles do not clash. If you have a handless design, then you could have a small corner post but our recommendation is to have a corner post of 70mm and a service void of 130mm now.
My corner unit is going next to an neff oven with a slide and hide door so what service gap do I need to leave? With the post that comes with the corner unit be sufficient ( that is the one that attaches at 90 degrees to the cupboard door isn’t it?)
Hi, please give our technical sales team a call on 01977 608 418 who will be able to give you some more advice on this.
Hi,
Seen what appear to be pillars or small cupboards that span from the top of the wall units down to the worktop, Smallest I can find listed are 500mm but they don’t look that big in some of your built kitchens. Am I missing something? Ideally I would need some 150mm wide to not take up too much space.
thanks,
john
Hi, pilasters can be found by clicking the link below and choosing a door style on the website. The pilasters range from 772mm to 890mm in height and are 100mm wide.
https://www.diy-kitchens.com/kitchen-units/plinths-panels-and-accessories/trims/
Having asked a similar question and just waiting on a reply, I think this would apply in my case. But then you changed from an integrated washing machine to a dishwasher!
My question is that because the w/m door does not open like e.g. a fridge door. How is the 600 appliance door hinged. Will it hinge off the corner post which will need bulking up to accept the hinge? Will the appliance door also be drilled for hinges like a ‘normal’ door? Do I need to order the hinges as a seperate item, and what will the door close onto?
Hi, the washer will come with hinges, the door will need drilling to suit on-site by your kitchen fitter.
Hello, I’m doing a similar thing to this question, except my washing machine will be integrated (door-on-appliance). Looking at your diagram (a picture’s worth a thousand words!) will I just need the corner post and attach it to the corner unit, then locate the washing machine’s door to sit flush with the edge of the corner post?
Thanks in anticipation for your answer!
Hi,
You would need the corner post and an end panel either side of the washing machine so that the appliance door will go over each end panel slightly, so that it blends in with the other units in the kitchen run and there are no visible gaps either side of the appliance. I hope the quick sketch below shows what I mean.
The green part is the appliance door that will attach to the washing machine.
You could use some filler material rather than end panels, as long as they match the finish of the door as the end panels would not need to go right to the back, unless the appliance was the only thing in the kitchen run and was also at the end.
Hello again,
I’m afraid I’m more confused now! Wouldn’t end panels create gaps either side of the washing machine, rather than cover them? Looking at the dimensions of the appliance doors (597mm wide) and the width of the integrated appliances (596mm), am I correct in thinking that an integrated appliance with door occupies the same gap as a 600mm carcass with door?
I realise that the original question is for a free-standing appliance with nothing to its right, so perhaps I should change my question to this:
If the appliance was in a row of units (eg with standard carcasses either side of it) will the appliance with its door simply fit into a 600mm gap between standard carcasses either side? In the case of the left hand side of the integrated appliance being against a corner unit, would it simply need a piece of door material attached to the bottom of the corner post so that the continuous plinth has something to finish against? I’m planning for an Altino White kitchen.
Thanks again!
Hi,
Sorry for any confusion.
With regards to your new question, yes you are correct, an integrated dishwasher fits into the gap left by the 2 units either side. The door then goes on the dishwasher and if it was a slimline dishwasher (Used in this example), then it would look something like this image below from the outside (Some people do use end panels either side but you don’t have to).
With regards to the corner post, integrated appliances are recessed at the bottom to allow plinth to run right up to the adjacent kitchen run. See the image on the page below. You would not need to extend the corner post downwards.
https://advice.diy-kitchens.com/customer-questions/integrated-dishwasher-recess-of-150mm/
I hope this helps.
How do you fit a round plinth to a round base cupboard
Hi, the curved plinth comes in the correct radius and plinth clips to attach it to the legs, are supplied.