Recommended height between counter and bottom of upper cabinet?
islanddevil
11 years ago
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andreak100
11 years agoRelated Discussions
16" space between counter and upper cabs too short?
Comments (25)We had 15" in our old kitchen and I hated it, but it really depends on how you're using the space. In our kitchen, it was the primary work space so I was always hitting the cabinets, and the stand mixer kept gouging the underside of the cabinet when I'd forget to pull it out all the way before flipping it back. But if, in contrast, you're using the space to house a microwave or toaster oven or what-have-you--16" will be fine (and better to have the storage space there). Don't forget that you can put three shelves in a 34" cabinet, too, though. We have three in a 32" cabinet and love it--every shelf doesn't need to have a full 12" of clearance. I can reach all of our shelves (intentionally designed that way) and we keep cans/jars on the lowest shelf since they don't need height. How tall are your ceilings? If you post that with a floor plan, I'm sure you will get lots of feedback and ideas on how to plan the cabinetry! If you're doing custom cabinetry, I wouldn't feel hemmed in by standards sizes and distances--one of the benefits is that you can mix it up and do what works best for your space....See MoreWall Cabinet and counter-top height code
Comments (2)I don't know what you intend to do regarding backsplash height (that's the distance b/w the finished counter and the bottom of the upper cabinet and light rail), but here's what I usually tell people when they're considering the height for their backsplash. The standard is 18"...regardless of the reasons why, it's still the standard.. How this affects your kitchen.... Refrigerator and other tall cabinet heights...Because wall cabinets are meant to be mounted at a standard height, cabinet manufacturers take this into account when designing tall cabinets. Tall cabinets are designed to be the same height as the installed wall cabinets so the tops all line up. When you change the height a wall cabinet is installed at, it affects cabinet top alignments. With the refrigerator you can usually mount the upper cabinet a little lower OR order a shorter upper cabinet, but be sure you don't make the alcove any shorter than 72" tall b/c newer refrigerators are 70" to 72" tall (and seem to get taller each year!) With other tall cabinets like oven cabinets and pantry cabinets, they're a standard height and designed so they're the same height as the wall cabinets when those wall cabinets are installed 18" above a 36" high counter. If you have custom cabinets, this may not be an issue b/c your cabinetmaker can adjust the cabinet heights. But, if you are using stock or even some semi-custom cabinets, you cannot change the height. You can often get taller cabinets for use w/36" or 42" tall wall cabinets, but not shorter for 30" mounted lower. But, even those that are taller are also adjusted based on standard wall cabinet heights + an 18" backsplash height. Small appliance height...Small appliance manufacturers often design their products to meet this 18" standard...for example, my KA stand mixer (bowl lift) is around 17" and many coffeemakers and blenders are just short of 18". So, you need to be sure you have room under the cabinets + light rail to fit those appliances. Small appliances... Keep in mind that if you're using an appliance on your counter, you must be sure you have room under the base cabinets to move that appliance around easily. Don't, for example, tell yourself you're only going to use it in front of your upper cabinets so you don't need to worry about its fit. In reality, you will be moving things around on your counter while you work and most likely your appliance will be moved under the cabinets at some point. You don't want to tear your light rail off or damage it (or the cabinets). Also remember that "standard" upper cabinets are 12" deep + 1" for the door...so they stick out 13" over your counter...leaving you only 12" or so of workspace in front of the upper cabinets...not much room to work in by itself! (If you have deeper upper cabinets...say 15", there's even less counter frontage in front of your upper cabinets...3" less, so 9".) Vertical workspace... Another consideration is vertical work......See MoreRecommended Distance Between Dishwasher and Counter
Comments (8)In our old kitchen, we had the same setup as AJsMama and it worked for us. While we are tall, we're not that wide (not skinny, though). We actually didn't think about it and it wasn't one of the things we set out to change. Our lazy susan was the type w/the door attached to the shelves so when we put pots & pans away we just rotated the door into the cabinet and had access to the shelves. We had a 24" cabinet perpendicular to the DW (in the short leg of the "L") that had flat/silverware that also opened over the top of the open DW and bottom rack...our utensil holders in the DW were on the bottom rack so it worked great! Our dishes were in a 36" upper cabinet above the silverware drawer, our glasses/cups/mugs in a 36" cabinet above the DW, and our Tupperware containers were in the corner upper cabinet. This setup was actually quite efficient...everything was within a half-step or less from the DW! We'd pull out the bottom rack, unload the dishes & silverware while standing either b/w the DW & cabinet or standing in front of the DW...you could reach everything except the lazy susan & corner upper cabinet from the front of the DW. Then, pull out the top DW rack and unload the glasses & dishes there...all while standing on one place for the majority of the time! (My DH occasionally complains how things are more spread out now that we have more room and I've put things in zones...works great for me, but my DH has to take a few extra steps when unloading the DW!) Ideally, I'd say to have 24" b/w the DW & the other leg, but 12" will work! Here's a pic of our old kitchen w/the lazy susan, etc.:...See MoreWindow between counter and upper cabinents
Comments (14)I put in a BS window and my aunt has one in her Florida home and loves it so much she is putting another in the new house they are building down there. They are both 18" tall. Both of ours go the entire length of the exterior wall counter. She has a fairly traditional kitchen and says the BS window brings in both a ton of light and a ton of compliments. She says it is the highlight of her kitchen. My place is still at pre-renovation, though, as we did the exterior first as part of an energy program and went ahead and installed the window. I used to have a taller window there, but we are ripping down the wall separating the kitchen and living room and so I needed the exterior wall to hold cabinets. My cabinets are 30" and will go to the ceiling with small crown of some kind. I have extremely short ceilings. The BS height will be perfect for viewing from the peninsula seating and living/entry area. My major observation so far is how much light it brings into my Alaska kitchen and how it warms up the counter. I hope mine doesn't look awkward, that would be disappointing. This style is NOT designed for an eye level view from the perimeter cabinets, though some bring the window up to eye level over a sink or range or something. Like this: [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/kitchen-modern-kitchen-san-francisco-phvw-vp~27996) [Modern Kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/modern-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2105) by San Francisco Architect Rossington Architecture Here's my aunt's first place. The new house is still under construction: Here's mine, unfinished. Pics are not great and view is filled with work zones: As you can see, cat loved it on first sight... And...just to provide some more eye candy: [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/white-laquer-and-dark-oak-kitchen-modern-kitchen-los-angeles-phvw-vp~40006) [Modern Kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/modern-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2105) by Los Angeles General Contractor See Construction [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/feldman-architecture-modern-kitchen-san-francisco-phvw-vp~18937) [Modern Kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/modern-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2105) by San Francisco Architect Feldman Architecture, Inc. I do think it leans modern, and I'm a little concerned about that with my kitchen. Many have offered assurance that it will work with whatever I want to do, but I'm in a small 50's ranch and won't be going ornate/fancy....See Moreangie_diy
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