We have a current client who has watched too many episodes of Monster House and wants a unique solution for a base cabinet dead corner in a kitchen. We need a mechanism to lift a cabinet box, a pop up appliance garage of sorts, with granite top, up out of the base cabinet. Could be motorized or manual. TV lifts we’ve found are too long for the 24″x24″ space. Any suggestions or sources?
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My first thought would be to try really hard to talk them out of this idea. In time, there will be a buildup of "crud" in the seams of the pop up counter top (maybe some liquids, too) that will really gum up the works. Another consideration is that the pop up part of the counter will still be "dead space" since anything setting on it will have to be moved so it can be raised........kinda self defeating, right?
This sounds like another of those designers wet dreams that is way to "trick" to be practical.
The sissor lift styles may be too long/ big but there are others that are gear driven on vetrical supports. Google it.
F.
Best bet is still a set (a good, high quality set) of half-moon, sliding spin out shelves in the cabinet. A set of triangular box shelves, say 2-3 high in the corner will help keep is useful, too.
The 'mechanism' under the counter will "use up" a lot of the space they think they are gaining.
If you have to have the pop-up top, since it's granite, use a bit of hat channel under the edge to catch crumbs/fluids in the gap.
Now, if they really want to use the space, what's on the other side of the wall in the blind corner? "Backing" a boockcase or storage cabinet from the other side is really more effective. (A bookcase in front of a 'secret' compartment is a good choice, too; build a lip and set the false back on four touch latches.)
Try Atun Lifts. I saw thier lifts at the show last year and it looks like they have a large variety of lifts for different applications.
Jim
Over-engineer it with a hydraulic pump and cylinders. 'UP' switch (ON) to activate the pump and raise the thing, limit switch cutting out the pump at the desired height. 'DOWN' to vent the cylinders to reservoir. Or maybe compressed air instead of hydraulics? Sounds cool, though I agree with the rest that crud will get down the seam. (Reminds me of when we pull apart the kitchen table after months of neglect - ugh.) Any way to seal the seam with an overlay type of flange, rubber or otherwise?