Decorating the open space above kitchen cabinets
redfeatherbutt
11 years ago
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mom2sethc
11 years agoteacats
11 years agoRelated Discussions
Purpose of space above kitchen cabinets
Comments (15)Many times soffits contain not only electrical, but also plumbing to an upper floor and if you want to remove them you have to move the plumbing. Other times soffits are almost empty with maybe a few electrical wires going through (like the OP seems to have). We had 12" high soffits that we removed. Most were either empty or only had electrical that we were able to move up to the ceiling area. However, there was one area that had the waste pipes from the master bath. We were unable to move that plumbing so we put in a very shallow soffit and ran the crown molding over it where there were cabinets, but where the vent hood is you can see the soffit if you look closely. While I wish we could have gotten rid of the soffit altogether, I'm happy with how it looks now as opposed to what it looked like before. Before: Story of a Soffit Removal in Pictures: Waste Pipe that couldn't be moved (before cabinets went in): First cabinet installed: All 3 cabinets installed on one side; you can still see the waste pipe if you look closely above the cabinets: Start of Crown Molding, note that the waste pipe extends into the space b/w the vent and the cabinets. The pipe will need to be hidden here as well: Soffit between 2 taller upper cabinets that don't need it, but not behind them. It's there so the upper wall of both sets of cabinets look the same: Soffit on either side of vent: Soffit to left of vent: All crown molding, full view: All crown molding, right view: All crown molding & Light rail, full view: Note no soffit outside of cabinet run: Kitchen before paint, etc.:...See MoreSpace above kitchen cabinets
Comments (2)If it would not grow up there naturally, I would not put it up there. So, if you had a skylight and a real plant would thrive there...maybe. If it is going to be up there in the shadows, it won't look real. If you want something, maybe some baskets or pottery as suggested....See Moredecorating above kitchen cabinets
Comments (15)Well, I'm of the opinion that it's totally OK to use good quality artificial greenery . . . if it's used in a setting where that plant could actually grow. Obviously, it would be extremely difficult to grow real plants in a tipped sideways basket, though (LOL). That said, I always think that your above cabinet spaces should reflect you and your interests and/or continue the look of the room. I do think that a few larger items grouped together look better than a lot of little things lined up "like ducks in a row". It's a great space to showcase your collections, if they'll work with the rest of your kitchen decor. My own home here in New Mexico is a Contemporary Hacienda style home, with Spanish Colonial and Southwestern art, furniture and accessories. Bright Talavera-type pottery and santos (statues of saints and angels) are two of the things I like and collect and so I've used these types of things above my own cabs. BTW, I also have built-in lighting up there so that this area is lit in the evenings. But . . . my laundry room is out of the public eye and I've turned it into my little refuge filled with childhood memories from our summerhouse on Lake St.Clair outside Windsor. If my home and kitchen were of a different style, I would have used them in my kitchen instead. Above the cabs in my laundry room, I've got my inherited collection of Cottageware pieces displayed. Many are too small to look good sitting on their own above any cab, so I've put the smaller ones up on old cake pedestals, a cottage-y shelf and even a rustic doll chair. It's my solution of how lift up and showcase my smaller pieces. As you can see, I also like propping framed art up above my cabs. This wonderful retro-looking clothespin bag, like the one my mom used, hangs on another short wall and continues the cottage look. That and other chilhood memorabilia helps my Cottageware work in this room: Anyhoo, you can take any of these ideas here on this thread and apply them to fit you and your kitchen; your interests and/or your collections. Don't forget to get back to us and show us the final results! Lynn...See MoreHow can I decorate above the kitchen cabinets space??
Comments (4)Fake ivy twining all along the top would be perfect. NOT! The space is fine empty, with no decoration, usually that is best. Usually people who post with no punctuation and no photos do not return. But for others looking at this thread, IMO there is one display item that is OK on top of cabinets. (photo not mine)...See Moreredfeatherbutt
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