Modifying Existing Solid Wood Cabinets?

10 years ago

Hi. We are planning a refresh of our 1956 kitchen. One of the things that drives me crazy is that the distance from the upper cabinets to the counter top is a mere 12" and so I can't fit my coffee maker or grinder underneath it and it seems to impair my ability to use the counter as a workspace because of the cabinet jutting out near my head (The cabinet is not that deep, maybe 10 or 12").

I think having the standard 18" between uppers and counter tops would be much, much better. Our cabinets are solid wood and extend to the ceiling with some nice period details so I don't want to pull them out. Maybe this is a silly question, but could a contractor simply cut them off at the bottom and cut out the shelves, add a new bottom and redistribute the shelving in shorter cabinets?

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Comments (12)

PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
10 years ago
Could a contractor alter them? Yes.

Can he do so cost-effectively? Probably not.
Fori
10 years ago
Post some photos--maybe someone can come up with something brilliant. Plus some of us like to see '50s kitchens that still have their details!
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@ci_lantro 1) smaller sink - NO. Clearly you don't cook. Or at least you never do dishes. Plus, I have no idea why you even suggested that to start with. I don't NEED to put a smaller sink there because there is already plenty of room for a full size sink. A "smaller" sink that is still big enough to manage a few dishes isn't going to give me more than a few inches of extra countertop space at most. The ONLY reason to go to a smaller single bowl sink would be if there isn't enough space at the corner for an angle-mounted full size sink. But I'm 90% sure that there is, without cutting into the drawer unit next to the fridge there. I may have to cut into the stile about 1/4" though. I'll know better when I get the existing countertop off. Angled wall cabinet is not a problem as it can easily be cut down - or rather "up", perhaps. Remember this is actual wood, not the MDF crap that is all anybody can afford these days. As I said in the OP "I may or may not have to shorten that corner cabinet where it would hang out over the new sink area." I know, it was super long, but that cabinet is not an issue. I can do the same to the wall cabinets to the right there as well, if necessary. If it's a problem, it is easily fixed. In fact regardless of what else I do, I WILL be semi deconstructing that cabinet anyway to install a lazy susan as it is virtually useless as-is. 3) CANNOT move the fridge as you say without losing ALL the upper cabinetry on the opposite side of the room. From the OP "The entire expanse of wall cabinets along the long wall is one big long open space inside, ditto the 8' of cabinets on the opposite wall." Plus, the fridge is WAY deeper than the dishwasher and would stick out too far there. I didn't post a pic of that but it is next to an exterior door and putting the fridge there would block the passage through there. That wasn't mentioned in the OP simply because the fact that there is a wall cabinet over there (single unit 8' long) precludes doing that already. 4) putting a corner sink over the current "dead space" is an excellent use of that space. Since "under the sink" is already pretty much dead space. But if I WERE going to replace cabinetry there is no way I would leave that "dead space" dead, I'd at least put in a lazy suzan corner cabinet. "Dead space" should NEVER be left "dead". Unfortunately the kitchen backs onto the bathroom there (the toilet is on the opposite side of that wall) or I would have seriously considered cutting into that wall (NOT a supporting wall) from the back and gaining access to that space that way. Honestly I think those L corners are the best place to put a sink with the least wastage. Plus that space all the way back in the corner is already too hard to reach when looked at in the context of "working" counter space. Currently it just collects kitchen "driftwood" until I get fed up and clear it out again. But it is PERFECT for putting dishwashing accoutrements behind an angle-mounted sink, that you only need to get at briefly while doing dishes. In fact if this works out I'll be making a triangular dish draining "rack" to go there with a dish draining mat under it. PERFECT for doing dishes and not taking up otherwise usable working countertop space!
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ChristyMcK
Original Author
10 years ago
Here's a photo - the detailing is in the two bars just above the cabinets - they go around the entire kitchen. There is an identical set of cabinets on the other side of the sink not shown in the picture except that is does not but up against a wall. Whadda'ya think?
User
10 years ago
Perhaps one section could be modified so you can have small appliances there, but Trebuchet is correct that the labor would not be cheap to do so.
vedazu
10 years ago
Recognize, also, that these might be built-in-place cabinets that cannot be removed without basically destroying them. that was the case in my mother's 1954 kitchen. They nailed the supports right into the wall and finished them in place. Some don't even have backs on them. I just repainted them and put on new hardware since they were sound. I have 14 inches to the counter and it is just enough. Maybe you have to just live with them--you'd have to do major surgery on the doors, too...
vedazu
10 years ago
By the way, if the second run of cabinets don't butt up against a wall, can you do what I did? Add the curved (or not) extension on the counter?
ChristyMcK
Original Author
10 years ago
Hmmmm.....maybe I should look at this another way. If I trade out my tall Technivorm Moccamaster coffee maker and burr grinder for shorter versions I wouldn't need to modify the cabinets. These are the only appliances on the counter. Might be cheaper too. I'd just have to get accept having cabinets near my head!
ChristyMcK
Original Author
10 years ago
"By the way, if the second run of cabinets don't butt up against a wall, can you do what I did? Add the curved (or not) extension on the counter?"

No, there's no space - they go right next to a door to the outside.
Fori
10 years ago
Hmm...expensive low-profile appliances might be the way to go. :)

As far as working with cabinets in your face, so you're doing some refurbishing. This may be totally unfeasible, but...

The base cabinet run is probably a single massive unit. It may or may not be removable. Perhaps, if it COULD be detached, it could be pulled forward almost up to the doorway. Counters to the wall and tada! Cabinets not in your face and since they're low, you'll still be able to reach into them. That would be a big job though. If one were to go that route, one might do better to replace the base cabinet altogether, reusing the doors and drawer fronts. Modern drawer boxes would make you happier than you know.

It is SO cute though. I hope you can figure something out!
iroll_gw
10 years ago
I am most curious about the round thing on the soffit above the sink--whatever is that? It has an Art Deco look, as do the double bands of trim. And I've not seen sink cabinet vent holes quite like those, either. More pics would be great!
ChristyMcK
Original Author
10 years ago
Iroll: That mystifying round thing above the sink is range ventilation circa 1956. You open it up and there's a fan that goes to the great outdoors that gets rid of the greasy evilness wafting from my 1956 electric coil range (across from the sink) when I cook. The cabinet vent holes below the sink? Those are to aerate the garbage I believe? Or maybe let out the heat from the heating vent that someone in 1956 unfortunately placed below the sink and next to where we place our garbage and compost today. :)

Fori: yeah, if I start considering pulling them out I think I should probably just redo the whole kitchen. We've nixed a whole remodel because of the overall cost of doing what we'd want to do. Instead we are splurging on a high end range (LaCanche, CornuFe, Gagg, oh my! - still investigating).
eandhl
10 years ago
Can you manage without the storage of one side of the sink uppers? Maybe some open shelves for daily used items. That would give you a more comfortable work area.

Modifying Existing Solid Wood Cabinets?

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