The cabinet designer shows a narrow filler. You see a place where another few centimetres of storage might fit. The drawer sees the door casing it is about to hit.
Open the whole assembly on the drawing
IKEA Canada's filler guidance explains clearance for doors and drawers beside walls. Its dimensions belong to its system. Check your own handles, internal drawers, and nearby projections rather than adopting a universal minimum.
Distinguish necessary clearance from an unexplained gap
Ask what the strip allows to open and whether its width also accommodates an uneven wall. A mock-up with a sample handle can be surprisingly useful. If the gap is unnecessarily large, the layout may be worth revisiting. If it is functional, give it a clean finish instead of treating it as a design defeat.
Before the next step
- Test handles and internal fittings at full opening.
- Include door casing, wall shape, and nearby appliances.
- Ask what every filler is doing before changing its width.
A slightly smaller usable cupboard can beat a larger obstructed one. Judge the space with the doors open, when the storage is doing its job. Check the floor registers beneath the proposed cabinetry too.