11th hour change=more storage. Opinions if I should please!

10 years ago

Okay, here I am again with a last minute idea (big surprise) and I need some opinions/thoughts :/

I'm so close to ordering cabs and I'm going back over it all with a fine tooth comb.

Here is the dilemma: I could (always) use more storage and the only place to get it is to add 2 short uppers flanking the range hood. These would be about 36" wide x 15" tall x 10 deep.
(If I do this, I'd have DH mount small lights under these cabs.)

Adding these cabs will bork the symmetry of my sink wall cabs but I don't know if it's really a problem?

This image is of the two walls in question:

Since I can't 'turn the corner' in paint (and that's all I know how to use) I grabbed an image of someones kitchen (thank you!)layout and altered it so you can see how the short upper would run into the cabs on the sink wall:

Doing this makes my skinny open shelf on the left half the height of the one on the right, which goes to the ceiling. That's the asymmetrical part.
Here is my amateur paint rendition of the situations:

So, is the asymmetry bad enough not to get the extra storage? What else do you see that is good/not good about both choices?
I could use the extra cabs but I gotta decide pretty dang soon. It won't be the end of the world if I don't do it, either esp. since I wasn't thinking about doing it until yesterday!

As always, Thanks for the help!

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Comments (5)

ppbenn
10 years ago
I'm so excited for you to be at the drywall stage!
I would add the cabs to the range area and to help balance symmetry you should add a cabinet door to the top right hand opening. Leaving the two lower shelves open.
I wasn't loving those top openings anyway. Love the two lower ones that you can reach and use for whatever but the top ones seem to high and open anyway.
I love that stove - just cant get enough of it!
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raehelen
10 years ago
The symmetry on the sink wall is a non-issue in my opinion. I get ppbenn's point about closing the top shelf for symmetry's sake, but seeing as I think it's a non-issue, I wouldn't close it, unless you want hidden storage. I am assuming you will use that for display purposes.

I see that you opened up the shelf over the stove when you added the side mounted cupboards, and I see you have cookbooks there in your rendering. Having an open display over the stove is only suitable for things you don't mind getting covered with grease. Have you allowed for the venting for the range hood? I only ask because I have open shelving (which I had holes drilled for glass shelves and then have put in tall display items and have never used a shelf) over my stove, and had forgotten that I needed to have the venting for the stove hood up there, so DH built a false backing for my display area, which is only a few inches deep, not deep enough for books, and I wouldn't put books up there anyways. I have items that are not precious and do have to be washed regularly.
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deedles
Original Author
10 years ago
ppbenn: Okay, I'll put you down for yes with a door over the top right opening. Thanks!
raehelen: The hood will be vented but I can't draw that in paint in any believable way so I didn't try. I do have an open cab over my current (pathetic, cheap) range hood and I know what you mean about grease...although it isn't terrible there is some. I should probably use my hood everytime I fry but I don't. It would be deep enough on either side of the vent area for books, though. Wasn't really absolute on the door/no door issue yet, just playing around.
But, I'll put you down for short cabs, no small door but big doors on the range hood cab. Thanks!
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rosie
10 years ago
Deedles, you could only get at that space with a tall stool;it wouldn't exactly be prize storage space. Another choice would be to put whatever would go there a nice stroll in another direction someplace. Or even in a basement? This is entirely a personal preference, of course, but I have a stool in a closet and a pantry in the basement, and I'd rather walk downstairs any day.

I also think it'd look quite nice with more uppers, if you choose those -- like the many very handsome traditional kitchens with the uppers wrapping all around. A time-honored look.

To me the decision isn't one of symmetry (the cabinets will flow together), but of mass and coziness versus openness. Drawings are two dimensional and your new kitchen will be in three. How much is just right for you and how much is too much? Would a cozier kitchen set off the living room space even better, and vice versa? Fortunately, there are plenty of kitchens with wraparound cabinets for you to look at -- on line in two dimensions and even to go stand in -- to help make this decision.
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deedles
Original Author
10 years ago
Rosie: thank you, your big picture perspective is probably one that I needed to hear. Honestly, I was so focused on more storage: that was all I was thinking about. But what you say about openness is valid, truly. Thank you. All I have to do is look at the first picture on my drywall thread to remember how closed in that old kitchen was. I loathed it and am loathe to repeat even a little bit of that.

It was farmgirlinky's open wall that I loved so much... maybe I'll go revisit that thread again. Thanks!
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11th hour change=more storage. Opinions if I should please!

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11th hour change=more storage. Opinions if I should please!

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