Help! How much space is between your upper cabinets and counter?
deniseannh
12 years ago
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breezygirl
12 years agobreezygirl
12 years agoRelated Discussions
Distance between countertop and upper cabinets?
Comments (40)I'm 5'2" and I'm actually going with cabinets 24" off the counter, (which will be 35.5" high) with a 10" deep floating shelf below it at 15" . My reasoning, besides the fact that I really really like that look, is that a lot of the daily use stuff that would go on the bottom shelf will go on the open shelf, and the the bottom shelf of the raised up cabinet is still several inches lower than the current 2nd shelf. So I will actually be able to reach more than in the existing cabinets which are about 17". Plus Sektion cabinets are 15" deep, and at 18", I think they kind of loom over the counter. It's a narrow galley kitchen, so pushing the cabinets up will open things up visually. And yes, even as a short person I absolutely care if the appliances fit under the cabinets. The 15" shelf height was specifically chosen so that the kitchenaid can fit under it. It won't live on the counter, but when it is out I want to be able to slide it back out of the way temporarily. The only thing that won't fit is the blender with the jar on, but that's the one thing I don't care about....See MoreHow much space between your upper and lower cabinets ?
Comments (11)Mine might be higher than average. I'm 5'7" so I have a decent reach. I absolutely would not allow the microwave to be placed over the stove. We have it over the counter and it's just right. If you are worried about heighth, you might consider a cabinet right on the counter. Our kitchen designer put one on the end of a line of cabinets. The bottom is a shallow drawer which I have rolled up placemats in. Since it doesn't need to be opened very often, there's just enough counter space to place bowls, plates, etc that I'm taking out of the cabinet. I really like having the plates and serving dishes within easy reach. The cabinet is right beside the doorway to the dining room. Glasses and coffee cups are next to the frig on the other end but in upper cabinets. Due to 9' ceilings, our upper shelves require a step stool so seldom used items are up there....See Morewhat space should I leave between counter top and bottom of upper cabi
Comments (8)I agree with M Miller. 18" is standard and manufacturers of small appliances use that standard to design their appliances. Another thing to factor in -- light rail. If you plan light rail, you might want to consider 18" + the height of your light rail. That way, taller small appliances will still fit. I wish we had done that. We planned for 18", not realizing the light rail would take away from our usable height. (No, our KD did not mention it.) My KA stand mixer (bowl lift) actually brushes the light rail when I slide it in/out from under the cabinets. I have a cover for it and I have to take the cover off b/f I can slide it past the light rail....See MoreHelp! Space between sink and edge of counter.
Comments (8)5" is bigger than average, 3-4" is more typical, and it may hurt your back to have to do that lean when standing at the sink for a long time. It is rare to see the tip-outs for sponges any more. That is because they fell out of favor some years ago (you also posted on another thread about tipouts from 2008 which gives an idea how long ago) because they tend to get grungy, and don't let the damp sponges breathe. You might want to look into replacing your sink with an apron front sink. One of our regular Pro posters, Joseph Corlett, has posted about this a number of times, and shown with pics how he does it. Perhaps do a search for his posts. Apron front sinks are not just the old-style fireclay anymore (which I don't recommend). They come in stainless steel and composite too, for a more current look. Or, just live with it, and see how it goes. It may be absolutely fine. Edited to add: just a quick google search turned up these threads that have photos to show what I mean: https://www.houzz.com/discussions/4454249/apron-sink-retrofit https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5380920/should-i-go-with-stainless-steel-farmhouse-sink-i-love-or-undermount...See Moreblfenton
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