What you have it an unexposed side, they would not charge for a finished end in this case. Most OTR micro's are changeable from non vented to vented. Why not just add the ductwork, change the direction of the fan/motor unit and be done with it? Was there a cost reason why you didn't vent the hood in the first place?
Good Luck!

Hi Tom,
The unexposed side is finished. It is a Brandywine stained oak instead of maple.

I wanted a vented range hood from the begining and my KD and Builder discouraged it. They said I did not need it and that the space was too small. My kitchen is not small. The 15 x 22 is after the counter depth refrigerator and built in china cabinet. The space is more like 17.5 x 22 feet. Money was never an issue.

Having an OTR Microwave is an issue for us. I am tired of reaching up high to get food out of it and hoping I do not drop the dish on the glass cook-top below.

I am sick of not being able to cook what I want due to the vent recirculating smells. I am tall and am tired of hitting my head on the micro when I try to reach a pot on the back burner.

I also have a child that is old enough to use the micro but due to it being above the stove, it is difficult for her to use it.

I was wondering why Medallion would go to the trouble to use a finished oak instead of the finished maple like the other sides and front.I am curious if this is standard among semi-custom cabinet makers.

Install the hood, then add matching raised panels to fit whats left exposed and attach them thru the cabinet sides.

Hi Rollie,
I think that would be a good idea.
Thanks!

It's awful that you had to choose your battles the first time around. I went through that on a master bed/bath addition a few years ago. Now my SIL is using that contractor for her kitchen renovation (with Medallion cabinets, no less). I keep warning her, but she won't listen. You have to insist on what you want, but sometimes this process just beats you up so badly you settle. I can't understand why in the world Medallion would have done that, but I think Rollie's idea is excellent. I hope you enjoy the new hood!

lsst, When I moved into a my new house 4 years ago, my maple cabinets had "unfinished" oak looking sides where ever the cabinets were exposed. I had no clue until I saw my friend's kitchen/house in the same development. The builder added "skins" to the ends to make it look finished. I later got them to install the skin [maple veneer bound to thin plywood] at my house too. Then the cabinets all looked the same. May be your builder forgot to add the skin before they installed the OTR microwave ?

Also, I have a vented range hood and have the skins on the adjacent cabinets, so far they have held up. I do cook almost everyday.

Hope this helps!

vegetarian is right. The KD didn't finish the sides of your cabinet because it wasn't exposed. All of your cabinet sides are like this. You just don't see them because they butt together or have a skin or finished end panel finishing them off for the exposed sides. It's a very simple matter to order a skin (make sure it's a wood veneer one rather than a melamine one that resembles wood).

Did your builder include ductwork to begin with in your home? If not, then there's no way the KD could have included a ducted hood in the plan. THat's a builder/homeowner fight, not a KD fight. THe KD's job is to design a kitchen that will fit the space. If your space didn't have ductwork, there's no way to have a vented hood unless the builder put the ductwork in place from the beginning. If this was a rehab and the KD was acting as project manager and had the authority to designate the specs to the contractor rather than the contractor dictating the shape of the space, then that's another story.

From the beginning I told my builder that I wanted a vented range hood with a wood hood to match the cabinetry.I also told him I wanted to do a tile backsplash and had even showed him and the KD a beautiful tile mural I had bought for it.
The Kd drew up a plan with the OTR Microwave. I told her that is not what I want. I met with both the KD and builder at the same time and She told me my kitchen was too small- and that the tile mural would not look good with an OTR. When I mentioned I wanted the Micro to be vented, They both told me re circ is great-they do it in all their homes and no one has complained and I would not know the difference.

I grew up in an older home that did not have a range hood.Our last house had a vented range hood which I was happy with. I have to admit I was ignorant about Kitchens and thought they knew best and I gave up that fight.

I did have several more issues with the KD and stood firm and am glad I did.

I second what livewire said.

One more point though. It's possible that your 'unfinished end' is actually a vinyl wood grained end. I love Medallion cabinets, but their vinyl wood grains are horribly matched (as oppposed to KraftMaid who does a beautiful job!). So, it's possible that this end looks like oak, because it's a horribly done brandywine vinyl end.

Other thought was maybe the builder stained an 'unfinished wood end' because part of it would be exposed under the microwave.

Will depend on which series you went with Silverline, Designer or Designer Gold.

Like I said, livewire's advice to order a 'wood skin' is the best. If you order raised panel end panels, they will be too thick to fit with a 30" hood.

Also regarding what the builder/KD designer said about recirc or vented OTR hoods? In a way they were right. You wouldn't notice much difference between the two....neither works very well.

A wood hood with liner could easily have added $1000 or more to your budget. If money wasn't an issue here, they should've designed how you wanted it.

Can you take a picture of your end panels and post here? I'm curious.

Kompy

Kompy,

My suggestion was to order the panels, after the hood was in place.

It hasnt been determined yet if the sides of the cabinets are still recessed 1/4 or 1/2" or whatever Medallion uses for a recessed side.

if in fact, it still recessed, then a simple plain panel the thickness of the recess would suffice.

It has the 1/4 recess. I really like the idea of a panel as it will give it a finished look.
I will try to take and post a pic

Here is a photo:

I felt the oak panel and it feels too smooth and thin. Why did they not use a fake maple look instead? Oh well it is done.
I really like the idea of the panels. The range hood is the KitchenAid slide out so only 1.5 inches is exposed. I think a panel on each side would make it look more "planned".

Yep, that's definitely a vinyl end....not stained at all. And that is typical for Medallion....their vinyl end matching is horrible. For this reason alone, I always order all Medallion kitchens with either wood ends or deluxe wood ends (raised panel) on all EXPOSED ends. I'm a KD, if you didn't know already.

Good luck....send us pix when you get it finished.

Kompy

We installed the Range hood this weekend. I am ready to order the raised panels or the skin for the sides of the cabinets.

I contacted Medallion and they gave me several companies to call so that I would not have to contact the original KD.
I really want a raised panel. Would Medallion be able to make a custom size raised panel? If not, I would do a skin. Would the skin come in a large sheet such as a 2x4 or would it be pre-cut to my dimensions?

Do I need to make an appt. with a KD to do this or since I know what I want to order can I just place the order in person at the cabinet shop?
Thanks!

They should be able to produce a wood raised panel to whatever specifications you want.

All it is basically, is a door without hinges.