Modular Kitchen Hardware Guide: Tandem Boxes, Pullouts, Pantry Units & More

Most homeowners spend weeks choosing kitchen tiles and cabinet finishes but give the hardware inside those cabinets about five minutes. That is a mistake. The hardware is what you touch, pull, push, and rely on every time you cook. A modular kitchen hardware setup done right means drawers that glide, corners that open fully, and tall storage you can reach without a stool. This modular kitchen accessories list covers every major category: tandem box kitchen drawers, pullout baskets, corner units, pantry units, rolling shutters, and more, explained in plain language so you know what each one does, what sizes to look for, and what you actually need vs what you can skip.

What Counts as Modular Kitchen Hardware?

Kitchen hardware refers to the functional fittings inside and around your cabinets, not the cabinets themselves. Think of the cabinet as the shell and the hardware as the organs that make it work.

A complete modular kitchen hardware list includes: tandem box drawers, pullout baskets, bottle pullouts, corner units (carousels and magic corners), pantry units, rolling shutters, bin holders, mixer lift-up stands, shutter lift-ups, pulldown systems, soft-close hinges, and drawer channels. This post covers each one, what it does, and whether you actually need it.

Tandem Box Kitchen Drawers: The Most Important Upgrade

If you change one thing about your kitchen hardware, make it this. A tandem box kitchen drawer replaces the old wire basket-and-channel system with a metal-sided, soft-close drawer that glides on concealed runners. The difference in daily use is dramatic.

Why it matters: smoother glide with no rattling, higher weight capacity (a full drawer of steel thalis and plates glides just as easily as an empty one), built-in soft-close mechanism (no slamming), and a much cleaner look when open.

Standard sizes: typically available in 300mm, 450mm, 500mm, and 600mm widths. Depth is usually standardised to fit standard cabinet carcasses (450mm or 500mm deep).

Where to use: cutlery drawers, utensil drawers, masala and spice drawers, plate and thali storage. In a well-planned kitchen, every base cabinet can use a tandem box system.

Brands at our showroom: Hettich and Ebco both carry tandem box systems. Hettich sits at the premium end with InnoTech and ArciTech systems. Ebco covers the mid-range with reliable soft-close options at a lower price point.

Browse tandem box drawers at My Home Studio.

Pullout Baskets and Bottle Pullouts

Pullout baskets are the workhorses of Indian kitchen storage. These are slide-out wire or stainless steel baskets mounted inside base cabinets that pull toward you for full access to the contents.

Modular kitchen basket types: plain basket (for vegetables, utensils, and general storage), cup-and-saucer basket (with partitioned slots), thali basket (tall, narrow slots for upright plate storage), grain pullout (deep, for rice and dal containers), and the standard pull out kitchen basket for everyday items.

Bottle pullout: a narrow pull-out shelf, typically 150mm wide, designed to fit in the dead space next to the stove or fridge. It stores oil bottles, sauces, vinegar, and tall spice containers in a single row, using space that would otherwise go completely to waste. Every Indian kitchen has at least one narrow gap that a bottle pullout can fill.

What to look for: stainless steel baskets over chrome-plated ones (they last longer in the humid, oily kitchen environment). Soft-close runners on every pullout. Full-extension runners that let you access the back of the basket without reaching blindly.

Browse bottle pullouts and kitchen baskets at My Home Studio.

Corner Units: Making Dead Corners Useful

The L-shaped or U-shaped kitchen has a structural weakness: the corner where two cabinet runs meet. That corner is deep, dark, and nearly impossible to reach with a standard shelf. Without a corner unit, it becomes a black hole where pressure cookers and old containers go to be forgotten.

Carousel (lazy susan): rotating circular trays inside the corner cabinet. You spin the tray to bring the contents to the front. Affordable, simple, and fits most 900mm corner cabinets. The most common solution in Indian kitchens.

Magic corner: a more advanced system where the inner shelf swings out and forward when you open the cabinet door, bringing the deep-corner contents to the front in one smooth motion. Extracts more usable storage from the dead zone than a carousel. Premium-priced but worth it in kitchens where every inch of storage matters.

Blind corner pullout: a simpler pull-and-slide mechanism for kitchens where the corner cabinet only opens from one side. Less expensive than a magic corner, more accessible than no solution at all.

Browse corner units at My Home Studio.

Kitchen Pantry Units: The Tall Storage Solution

A kitchen pantry unit is a tall, narrow pull-out column with multiple shelves that slides out on heavy-duty runners, giving you full visual and physical access to everything stored inside. It replaces the old overhead loft storage that requires a stool to reach and the floor-level cabinets where things disappear in the back.

Standard kitchen pantry unit size in feet: most common configurations are 1 to 2 ft wide, 1.5 to 2 ft deep, and 5.5 to 7 ft tall. Modular kitchen pantry unit widths typically come in 300mm (1 ft), 450mm (1.5 ft), and 600mm (2 ft) options.

Where to place: at the end of a kitchen cabinet run, next to the fridge, or in a dedicated pantry corner. The unit needs wall support on at least one side and enough clearance in front for the full pull-out extension.

What to store: dry groceries, canned goods, spices, cooking oils, snacks, and kitchen appliances you use weekly but not daily. A well-organised pantry unit replaces an entire overhead loft.

Brands at our showroom: Hettich, Ebco, and Hafele all carry pantry unit systems. Hettich and Hafele offer soft-close, full-extension options. Ebco covers the mid-range.

Browse pantry units at My Home Studio.

Kitchen Rolling Shutters: Clean Look, Easy Access

A kitchen rolling shutter is a tambour-style shutter that rolls up into the cabinet top when opened, instead of swinging outward like a standard door. It is one of the most practical upgrades for narrow Indian kitchens where door swing space is limited.

Why it matters: no door swing (you can stand right in front of the cabinet and open it without stepping back), clean modern look when closed, and easy access to countertop appliances stored behind it (mixer grinder, toaster, microwave, coffee machine).

Kitchen rolling shutter size: widths from 600mm to 900mm (roughly 2 to 3 ft), height typically 500mm to 700mm (1.5 to 2.5 ft). Kitchen rolling shutter dimensions need to match your cabinet opening precisely, so measure before ordering. Standard sizes fit most modular kitchen carcasses, but custom widths are available for non-standard openings.

Material options: aluminium (durable, premium look, available in multiple colours) or PVC (lighter, more affordable, limited colour range). Aluminium is the better long-term choice for a kitchen environment where heat and moisture are constant.

Brands at our showroom: Hettich and Hafele rolling shutters are available on display.

Browse rolling shutters at My Home Studio.

Bin Holders, Mixer Lift-Ups and Other Essentials

These are the smaller hardware items that round out a well-designed kitchen.

Bin holder: a concealed dustbin mounted inside a cabinet door (usually under the sink). Open the door, the bin comes with it. Keeps the kitchen floor clear and hides waste from view. Every kitchen needs one.

Mixer lift-up stand: a shelf inside a base cabinet that lifts your heavy mixer grinder to counter height when needed and drops it back below the counter when done. Saves counter space while keeping the appliance accessible without lifting.

Shutter lift-up: a gas-strut mechanism for wall cabinet doors that open upward instead of outward. No head-bump risk, the door stays open on its own, and it closes with a soft-close action. Highly recommended for all wall cabinets above counter height.

Pulldown system: brings the contents of high wall cabinets down to counter level. Useful for wall cabinets above the normal reach height, especially in kitchens used by family members of different heights.

Browse bin holders, mixer lift-up stands and shutter lift-ups at My Home Studio.

Top Modular Kitchen Hardware Brands in India

Our showroom carries hardware from 8+ brands across premium, mid-range, and value tiers, so you can compare them side by side and pick based on what your hands tell you.

Hettich (German-origin, premium)

The industry benchmark for drawer systems, soft-close hinges, and pantry units. Their InnoTech tandem box system is the most popular premium drawer solution in Indian modular kitchens. Widest range of kitchen rolling shutters and lift-up systems.

Hafele (German-origin, premium)

Strong in pantry units, rolling shutters, and built-in organisers. Particularly good for large kitchens and high-end residential projects where every fitting needs to feel precise.

Ebco (Indian, mid-range)

The best value-for-money option for most home kitchens. Reliable soft-close, good stainless steel basket quality, and competitive pricing across tandem boxes, pullouts, and pantry units. Our highest-selling kitchen hardware brand by volume.

Godrej (Indian, trusted)

Strong in basic kitchen hardware, hinges, and locks. A dependable choice for straightforward kitchen setups and builder projects.

Flybird, Hi-Gold, TS-Gold (value tier)

Budget-friendly options for rental properties, secondary kitchens, and projects where the hardware cost needs to stay low. Quality has improved in recent years, and these brands now offer soft-close options at their price tier.

What Do You Actually Need? A Kitchen Hardware Checklist

Not every kitchen needs every fitting. Here is a priority-based checklist to help you budget.

Must-have (put your budget here first)

Tandem box drawers for cutlery and utensils (minimum 2 to 3 drawers), soft-close hinges on all cabinet doors, at least 2 pullout baskets for base cabinets, and one concealed bin holder under the sink.

Highly recommended (add if budget allows)

Bottle pullout (uses dead space, costs very little), corner unit solution (carousel or magic corner, if your kitchen is L or U shaped), and shutter lift-up mechanisms for wall cabinets.

Nice to have (for well-funded projects)

Pantry unit, rolling shutter for the appliance zone, mixer lift-up stand, and a pulldown system for high wall cabinets.

Skip unless budget is generous

Full magic corner (a simple blind-corner pullout does the job at half the cost), motorised lift-ups, and integrated LED drawer lighting.

The "must-have" list alone transforms a basic kitchen into a functional one. Everything beyond it adds convenience and finish, but the core four (tandem boxes, soft-close hinges, pullout baskets, and bin holder) give you the biggest return on every rupee spent.

See and Test Kitchen Hardware at Our Bengaluru Showroom

Hardware is the one thing you need to touch and pull before you buy. The weight of a tandem box drawer, the smoothness of a soft-close hinge, the swing of a magic corner, and the glide of a pantry unit: these things only make sense when you feel them in person. A spec sheet cannot tell you how a drawer sounds when it closes.

Our BTM Layout showroom (right next to BTM metro station) displays kitchen hardware from Hettich, Hafele, Ebco, Godrej, and more alongside kitchen tiles, sanitary ware and faucets, so you can plan your entire home in one visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a tandem box in a modular kitchen?

A tandem box is a metal-sided drawer system with concealed runners and soft-close mechanism that replaces the old wire basket-and-channel setup. It glides smoothly, holds more weight, closes silently, and looks cleaner. It is the single most important hardware upgrade in a modular kitchen.

Which brand is best for modular kitchen hardware in India?

Hettich and Hafele lead the premium segment with German-engineered systems. Ebco is the best mid-range option with reliable quality at a lower price. Godrej covers basic kitchen hardware well. The right brand depends on your budget and which tier of finish you want. Visit our showroom to compare all four side by side.

What size kitchen rolling shutter do I need?

Measure the cabinet opening width and height. Standard kitchen rolling shutter sizes range from 600mm to 900mm wide and 500mm to 700mm tall. Aluminium shutters are more durable than PVC in kitchen environments. Your cabinet maker or our showroom team can confirm the exact size for your layout.

How much does modular kitchen hardware cost?

Cost depends on the brand tier and the number of fittings. A basic set (3 tandem box drawers, 2 pullout baskets, soft-close hinges, and a bin holder) in a mid-range brand like Ebco covers most standard kitchens. Premium brands like Hettich cost more per unit but offer smoother mechanisms and longer warranties. Visit or call us at +91 99008 68203 for a detailed estimate based on your kitchen layout.

What kitchen hardware do I actually need?

At minimum: tandem box drawers (2 to 3), soft-close hinges on all doors, pullout baskets (2), and a bin holder. Add a bottle pullout and corner unit if your layout allows. A pantry unit and rolling shutter are excellent additions for larger budgets. Start with the must-haves and upgrade later if needed; most hardware can be retrofitted into existing cabinets.