I do not have a working kit yet but we did exactly as you described. We left only a toe kick at the sink cab. I love the way it looks and know it will be so much easier to keep clean. Oh added bonus, the drawers are really bigger without the toe kick.

We plan to do the same thing, also excluding the sink like eandhl is. It really makes the cabs look more like furniture, and is more "custom" looking. I anticipate a bit more scuff marks from shoes, as I will be painting my cabs off white or cream, but a stained or dark painted cab would probably hide it for the most part.

If they'd increase the size of drawers, I'd definitely do it. Unfortunately, I believe my cabinet company (Crystal) simply extends the face and nothing functional is changed.

When I had one estimate for custom cabinets, the designer urged me to have a toe kick at the sink and cooktop. I've tried to notice where my toes are working in the kitchen. I have a range, which is flush with the floor, and never bumped the lower drawer. I think one would adapt rather quickly to not having a toe kick. I love the furniture look, and cleaning should be easier. A small molding where the cabinets meet the floor should keep scuffs off the cabinet itself.

I just went down to get some more tea, and realized I have never noticed the lack of toe kick on the back of the island. It has only 1/2'' overhang. I often work on the back side to see out the windows while I'm chopping and slicing away.

anyone have pics they can post? So the drawer/door on the bottom is all the way down to the floor? Thanks

Awhile ago, someone on this forum wrote that she put little tin boxes under her toe kick in her old kitchen to test how it would work without a toe kick. If she kicked a tin box she would hear it. She said she did it for a while and never once kicked the boxes.

I don't think I've seen the cabinets that don't have a toe kick but probably because we were doing a very budget concsious remodel. However.......I am also in the planning phase for our new home which we hope to start building within the next year (hope I can find this granite again!). So please, if you can, show me some pics of the difference or let me know where to find it.
Thanks!

When I painted my cabinets, I put a baseboard around the island, eliminating the toe kick- it does get some scuffing,but my cabinets are cream. I really like the way it looks more furniture-like- It's a bonus you get more storage w/yours.

I've got a size 14 shoe, and while I notice that my toes do occasionally go under the toe kick, I also notice that they hit the toe kick sometimes. My assumption is that I would frequently kick the toe kick if I hadn't become conditioned to sense what space is available.

I also assume that if there were no toe kick at all, I would eventually become conditioned to just position my feet further back without thinking about it.

Then again, that's a lot of assuming. ;)

I second the posting of pics. Anyone care to share?

Is this what you mean? If so, I don't regret not having any toe kick space here at all - and it's on the prep side of my island. I like the look a lot, and it works just fine for me.

Never missed a toe kick in our old house where we lived for 27+ years, and haven't put them in the new kitchen (move in in about a month.) I have them in this rental house and can't believe how much harder they make it to sweep & mop! I'm very happy with our decision to have no toe kick.

ksfaustin - would you tell me what kind of granite you have on your island? It looks a lot like the Tsunami that we just picked out for our master bath, but I can't find any info on Tsunami on the web...

Patti