Help with cabinet door sizes!

13 years ago

Hello friends! We're finalizing our cabinet layout and need advice on cabinet door sizes. No pics yet so I'll try to describe it as best I can!

We'll have some glass display cabinets stacked above our uppers. They will each be approx. 19"w x 13"h. Does anyone have similar size cabinets? I'm worried they'll look too long and skinny and they'll be worthless for displaying anything!

For lower cabinet doors, at what point do they become too wide? For ex: Would you do a single pair of doors that are 21" wide each OR 2 pair of doors that are 10.5" wide each?

Any advice or pictures would be fantastic!

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Comments (8)

eastbaymom
13 years ago
I don't have any display cabinets, so I can't help you with that question. Are the display cabinets stacked on top of standard uppers? (30 inches high) Can you line up the doors on the display cabinets with the doors on the uppers below them?

I don't think a lower cabinet door (standard 36" height) is too wide till 24-25 inches. In fact, I think the standard in the cabinet manufacturing industry is to do a single door unless the opening is more than 24 inches wide, in which case the opening is divided in half and two doors are used.

The other factor to consider when choosing between one wider door and two narrower ones is where the cabinet doors might bump when you open them... so, for instance, having an upper cabinet that will hit the edge of the vent hood when it is opened is to be avoided.
Buehl
13 years ago
By "lower cabinet doors" do you mean the upper cabinets beneath the short display cabinets or do you mean base cabinets (the ones that sit on the floor)?
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lilydixie
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks so much for the reply EBM!

Yes, the display cabs are stacked on top of 30" uppers that will match the width of the glass cabs.

The cabinet box is 42" wide so I'm trying to decide if I want 2 doors that will each be about 19" wide or 3 doors that will each be 12.5" wide.

If I go with 3 doors, the glass cabs end up being 13x13 square with the glass opening being about 8x8. Is this too small???

If I go with 2 doors, the glass opening is 15w x 8h. Too wide and skinny?

I've drawn both scenarios on the wall and I still can't decide. Drawings should be coming from the cabinet maker soon for approval so I need to be ready to make a decision. Aaaaaaah, someone help me!
eastbaymom
13 years ago
Hi LilyDixie,

you might try looking through the finished kitchens blog. If you click on the button on the right named "categories" you can look at kitchens with ceilings over 8 feet, and in there you'll find some with display cabinets/glass doors. I think the wider doors are more common, but I haven't done an exhaustive survey.

Here's one example on the Finished Kitchens Blog: http://finishedkitchens.blogspot.com/2008/05/ricklishs-kitchen.html

I would make my choice based on the function of the uppers with the solid doors, rather than based on the appearance of the display cabinets.

I am confused abbout why in the 2-door option, the glass opening is only 8 inches high. The height of the display cabinets should stay the same, shouldn't it?

(PS -- Buehl, I think the OP was talking about upper cabinets with extra display cabinets on top of them. I confused matters by talking about lower cabinets.)

Here is a link that might be useful: Ricklish's finished kitchen with glass doors on top cabs
lilydixie
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks for the link. I've been looking through the blog and also at houzz.com It's hard to tell sometimes the actual size of things in pics. I was hoping that someone with similar cabinet dimensions could tell me if they love how their's turned out.

Sorry for the confusion! Yes in both options, the glass opening is 8"h. It's the width I'm worried about.
jamesmrosas
13 years ago
Hi lilydixie,

How's your cabinet layout? Did you get any picture yet?
lilydixie
Original Author
13 years ago
Hey Jamesmrosas, thanks for asking!

No I haven't received the drawings yet. I was expecting them yesterday and I've sent him an email this morning. Patience is definitely NOT a virtue I was blessed with! Hopefully they'll come today and I can post them for some more help!
macybaby
13 years ago
My largest upper is 44" wide. I did some sketches and liked it best with four doors (to pairs). The cab needed a rail in the middle anyway. I don't like the look of door/rail/door though that is what I've got in both my lower sink and cooktop cabinets (they are 36" wide).

I also have a DH that can walk into anything - and one side of this cabinet is along the doorway into the master bedroom - the smaller the door sticking out, the less likely he'll run into it. If the cab was in the middle of the run this would not be as big of an issue.

I have not decided for sure yet, but I am leaning towards having these be glass doors so I can see all my colorful dishes and mugs. My walls are not tall so they are made to go all the way to the ceiling, with a 5" cove at the top.

BTW - I am putting a display case above my hood. It's not real tall but is 36" wide. I'm putting one door, but it hinges from the top and will have three mullions in it. Multiple doors closed the area up too much with the width of the frames needed.

Cathy

Help with cabinet door sizes!

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