video Shelevator, an elevator for your shelf
I was inspired to do this when I saw my senior mother standing on a stool to reach something in the kitchen. I was worried she might fall. Although, anyone could make one in a good workshop, I wanted to make it easy for anyone who might not have access to all the required tools, so I have made the harder things available through some kits on eBay. It was recently featured on Discovery Channel Canada - Daily Planet, Feb. 15, 2012, part 3.
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There are many items in the kitchen and the rest of the house that are lightweight - these are best stored in Shelevators, eg. cereals, crackers, spices, snacks, plastic bowls & cutlery, styrofoam cups, paper towels, dish towels, baby bottles, etc.
For heavier items that must be stored high up because there is no other room, such as might be the case in a work shop, smaller drawers would be necessary, which makes it more expensive but less expensive than building a new room, I think.
However, I can suggest that, as a first step, a drawer can be constructed as per my instructable that will exactly fit any bottom shelves and can be used to at least pull out the contents of bottom shelves for easier accessibility.
If this helps, let me know and I can suggest some easy ways to affix a handle.
You can see that the person operating it uses an amount of strength to do so. The device could easily get away from itself causing the glass dishes to smash.