Dear Beth,

First, I love your kitchen -- the style and amount of function you pack into a smaller space is impressive. I wouldn't put another cabinet above your sink -- I think it would start to feel too closed in. But I do agree that it would look nice to put something there.

I'm a big fan of open shelves. I think one or two open shelves (for decorative dishware or for everyday items like coffee mugs or cereal bowls) would look nice. You could make them triangular shelves that fit in the corner or shelves that meet at a right angle; they could be painted white to match your cabinets, stainless to pickup on the ss appliances, or even (possibly) a natural wood to pick up on your floor.

If you don't like the open shelf idea, another possibility is a large, school-house style clock or some art work (to pick up on the school-house, retro vibe in your cute kitchen).

Another functional choice might be a small corner, wall pot rack, or one of those hanging wire basket things (for fruit perhaps?). I think I've seen one in Sonoma Style or Sundance Catalog that look retro in a nice way.

I do think you need something there for balance and to break up the red.

Does the picture acurately show the space? The soffit doesn't appear to be a problem. The cleanest look might be to change the light so the door doesn't have a problem and match in a cabinet exactly. Your kitchen is otherwise so uniform that this is the best way to preserve the style. But you could put a slammin' great light for the sink under the cabinet and move the ceiling fixture out of the way, though that's a bigger job than just a cabinet.

Another option, which makes your style more eclectic, would be to do the glass front cabinet. That's nicer to look at while you're working at the sink anyway. Then you can do the crown and lower the top of the cabinet so the crown fits under the existing crown. So this looks deliberate, also raise the bottom either a similar amount as the top is lowered, or to the same height as the one over the cooktop. I prefer the look of the latter, and there might be a stock cabinet that's the right size without as much alteration, but you'd lose a shelf, so it might not hold everything you need it to.

Whatever you choose, make sure you plan enough lighting for the sink.

After looking at the pics of your lovely kitchen, I'd be worried about the result of closing in that corner. The openness to the back wall adds so much depth, and accents the nearby window IMHO. Have you considered clear glass shelves? I imagine clear glass there, with the overhead light washing through them to your sink area below, and filled with the china/glasware you're looking to move to a new location. You could either support the shelves with simple white brackets, or do a floating shelf installation for a "cleaner" look.

What a beautiful space! I have to echo the idea of open shelving. It's the first thing that came to mind. I think it would look fabulous!

I also agree with the open shelving. There are alot of different types of shelving available. Maybe some with your crown molding at the edge (or something similar) could look nice.
BTW, your kitchen is beautiful.

Here is a link that might be useful: pottery barn shelves

I too agree with some sort of corner open shelving.

BTW...do you know what color/brand of grout you used for your subway tile. Thanks!

I like the idea of the cabinet. I wouldn't worry about the small soffit at all.

As plllog said, I'd add a light under the cabinet. I'm not sure you'd be forced to remove the other fixture - but you might want to for looks. One way is to switch to a recessed can - not as big a deal as relocating the existing light.

Really pretty kitchen.

Thanks, all! I just love my kitchen, even still. The only thing I'd change about it (besides what I wrote about today!) would be adding granite instead of laminate. But the entire kitchen was done on a budget ($10,000, Kraftmaid cabs), and I paid for it all myself. I had a really good job at the time and didn't want to go into debt, and this was the absolute best I could do.

I actually did think of putting up a triangular wall shelf; in fact, we tried to install one last year. But on the right-hand side of that corner, there's a pipe coming down from the bathroom, which is directly above the kitchen. So where the shelf hit on the right side, we couldn't drill into it, obviously. So that idea was lost.

Now I have two Ansel Adams prints framed in black with white mats in the space. Looks great, but like I said, I need more space. We have two small kids since the remodel, meaning more food, more everything!

I just hate to remove that light fixture, but it might be necessary. I got it from Rejuvenation, and just love it.

Wouldn't glass shelves be dangerous? As in, if I put my china there, wouldn't it have a good chance of sliding off? Is that a stupid question? LOL! My son is two and runs through my house like an elephant, causing lots of vibrations. (We have all hardwood floors).

So, I need to make an appointment at Home Depot to see what options are even available in my cabinet style. I did call, and they told me a hinged corner cabinet would be $291.

Thank you for suggesting maybe a shorter cabinet...that way, I could do the crown molding and it wouldn't interfere with the light. My cabinets are tall (42" I think), and if I got the smaller option (30", right?) that would solve it! I had not thought of that and it's a great idea!

All your ideas are great! Thank you for them. I have some thinking, planning, and saving of money to do. :) Please don't look too closely at my tile work. I did it all by myself, and probably should have used white grout. It's so uneven in many spots and my biggest pet peeve about the kitchen. I've thought about scraping it out and starting over, but heard it's very hard to do!

BTW, my tile is just regular Daltile, Rittenhouse Square, I believe. It was the cheapest option at the time for the look I wanted.

Beth

Beth,

Your kitchen is gorgeous. Well done in what looks like a limited space. I love the paneling in the breakfast room and the contrast of white, dark counters and red. (I think I have the exact same trash can as well!)

(OT - how far is it from the right side of your fridge to the corner to the left of the fridge?)

Since you asked, I will tell you what makes me uncomfortable, and that is the cabinet to the left of the window. It may not be an option, but what if you took that down? Could it go elsewhere (even to the right of the run of wall cabinets to the left of the sink)? I know that would affect the molding and probably require repainting behind, and may be way more than you're willing to consider. But standing at the sink, I'd think it obstructs any view you could have out the window. It also makes that corner with the red paint very dark. I'd feel closed in because of that more than a cabinet in the corner.

Since you asked for honest opinions, there's mine. I've had a closed-in, dark cooking alcove for years (getting ready to change it), and that's what that corner reminds me of, so I may be more sensitive to that than some.

I'd also echo the suggestions for open shelving, but in addition, I'd take down that extremely small cabinet adjacent to the window and extend the open shelving to that point. That would keep that open feeling even more so. Yes, I'd change out the light fixture to a recessed light as well, making sure it was enough wattage to illuminate your sink properly. ANd your kitchen is also crying out for undercabinet lighting to light up your beautiful countertops. That will also add to the feeling of more room, even it it doesn't actually add any additional physical space.

But, if you are in need of additional storage space, I'd sacrifice your coat rack area to a shallow pantry. It will greatly expand your food storage possiblities.

You also might consider doing away with one of the seats at your counter and making an extended shallow "sideboard" cabinet into your dining area for lesser used items.

Put a cabinet in that corner.

Space perception is based on what's going on from the waist up. The 2 cabs next to the sink already set those boundaries, and adding one more in the corner won't make it any worse. The cabinet will be mostly behind the sink, so it won't be right there in your face.

That said, I agree that glass doors on the new corner cab make sense. Put mirrors on the back cabinet wall to stretch the perception of distance even further. Candice Olsen on Divine Design is always backing her glass-door cabinets w/mirrors and it makes a big difference.

I agree with Rada about the perception of space. It'll be fine. And while I get the point people are making about opening up the area around the window, I don't suggest taking down a cabinet in a place where you're trying to add storage by putting in an additional cabinet. Adding the corner cabinet will actually improve the sleekness of the flow around the room.

And, yes, Beth, you do not want to put your china on open glass shelves. I have a friend who lost the lot that way.

But if you like the idea of open shelves you could put everyday dishes there, cups, prep bowls, anything you can find in other cupboards that won't be tragic to lose. Then you can use the opened up spaces for food, or shift things around to put your china away in a different cabinet and put the food above the fridge as planned.