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Input needed: light upper cabinet, dark lower cabs trend

13 years ago

I was all set on getting quartersawn white oak for our kitchen cabinets. I love that look and the house we are building is craftsman/arts and crafts style, so it would fit nicely.

However, I am also enamored with creamy white cabs. I have them in my current kitchen and I still love them after five years.

So, my most recent thought is to do quartersawn on the lowers and creamy white the the uppers. My only trepitation on this is that in a couple years the trend will pass and people will think this looks stupid. I am a very decisive person, but I also apprieciate the fact that this is a lot of money going into a new kitchen.

Attached are some rough pictures of our cabinet/kitchen layout. Do you think that with this layout, what I am discussing would look okay? The raised counter looks out on the great room with lots of windows.

Here is a link that might be useful: White upper cabs, lower wood cabs

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Comments (4)

Adrienne2011
13 years ago
Just so you know, the link needs an "h" before the url (it got cut off). I like the mix - it's the best of both... oh please don't make me finish that Hannah Montana song. Anyway - I think that with two kinds of cabinets, it's like getting two kitchens at the same time. I think a lot of us have a couple "dream kitchens" in mind but we can usually only do one at a time. I don't know if it's a fad... but you know what? It's your house. Do what makes YOU happy. If this makes you happy, you should definitely do it.
senator13
Original Author
13 years ago
Adrienne,

Thanks for the input. I agree, I just worry sometimes too much about if I like what I like right now because I am seeing it alot, or if it has some staying power. I really do love the kitchen in this picture. If I had it my way, and I could have the same cabinet space, I would have no uppers. So I like this look too because it gives that impression a little more if I blend the uppers with the paint color on the wall.

Here is a link that might be useful: White upper cabs, lower wood cabs
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I currently have creamy white upper cabinets ,two 36"wide uppers have glass doors on either side of my corner sink. ( (Yes I love my corner sink) The lowers are dark stained birch. I have creamy white travertine look porcelain floor tile and St Cecilia granite which has a lot of orangish flecks so I painted my BS pumpkin. I did this house as a flip; we're living in it while we build The House. I picked the two color cabinets because the kitchen has two north facing windows and needed light, and it's smallish at 12X16. I wanted a white kitchen but couldn't convince my DH so we compromised. White on top, stained on bottom. Funny thing is everyone who comes here loves this kitchen! From friends and family to strangers who step in the door, to the plumber to the appliance repairman. All comment positively. So I'm doing a combo in the new house.
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Soapstone, Cherry and white uppers sounds like a delicious combination. I wish I had a picture. I have a few mixes but nothing as lovely as your ideas. Maybe these images can inspire others to find one for you. I do have one pretty picture but I think it is granite not soapstone. And soapstone would be so much nicer. ~boxerpups Not Cream but a pretty combo
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try a 36 in high corner cab with just a small amt of molding at top. keep the bottoms at the same level and the cabs adjacent to the corner at 24 to 30 in high with more molding at tops. the staggered dimension will be across tops. Give yourself 21 or 24 in backsplash height for this spot. What part of the kitchen is it? Assuming it isn't the only storage area, tweaking the dimensions for "looks" won't interfere with the storage you would otherwise need. You can do something even with normal 8ft ceilings[assume the soffits are gone].
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Reading quickly through the comments, I don't see anyone mention about the 18" and building code. That 18" you mentioned the appliance specs state is also what is in the building code. It is possible that your code might read something different but generally they will be very similar. Around me, the Ontario Building Code stipulates (paraphrasing) the the distance from a cooking appliance up to "combustible" is to be 18" and that measurement must not be less within 18" from each side of the cooking appliance. Therefore outside of 18" you can bring the upper cabinets down to whatever distance off the counter you would like. Also, as your range is gas, that 18" is very important. It says "combustible" which means your light rail should not be under that 18". Please keep in mind when reading appliance specs, appliance specs should not supersede building codes. However, if they state something that is in line with a building code but actually goes even greater in distances, etc. plan with that. for example; if the code states minimum of 30" above the range, but your appliance spec states 36", plan with the 36". I would recommend you talk to a local building inspector about building codes in your area to know what is allowed and what isn't.
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ideagirl2
13 years ago
Oh, that kitchen is absolutely beautiful. It's classic, timeless. The reason it's popular is because it creates a light, open feel without overdoing it--not TOO light or TOO open, but beautifully balanced. I don't think people are going to stop liking that any time soon. :-)
senator13
Original Author
13 years ago
Thank you so much for the vote ideagirl2! My other thought is that I could do white cabs on the upper and lower on the short side of the U and have it built more like a built-in furniture piece.

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