How to make Uppers Look GOOD? (image layout)

12 years ago

Hello GW

I had hoped to be upper-less, but I think I will need more storage in my kitchen than what is now planned.

As is now my new normal, I have one day to consider this. Chalk it up to poor communication with GC, my time being gobbled up by work & family, etc. But again I come with scarily limited time.

That said, I can always add uppers later. Tho over the range micro/vent needs to be placed.

Looking for any / all suggestions for layout and more storage space. ** No structural changes can be made **

I am the only adult in my kitchen, but have frequent visitors from out of town, and friends/neighbors sharing meals 1 - 3 times a week. FUN ! Lots of from - scratch, not much packaged. Lots of fresh foods.

Your thoughts??? THANKS in advance, everyone.

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Comments (8)

sochi
12 years ago
If you need extra storage, open shelves are closest to no cabinets. If you don't think that will work, what about a mix of open cabinets and glass cabinets? I've posted a picture below of my last kitchen, done a while ago. We used glass on the tall pantry and open cabinets above the oven.

Try not to just do regular white uppers or regular frosted glass uppers if you want something a little different and interesting.

Consider these options perhaps:

- walnut or QS oak lower cabinets (whichever you love more)
- painted upper cabinets with cool "frosted glass" patterns like that fourth inspiration picture in the other thread. Is there a particular geometric shape that repeats in your house, or that you are drawn to? Use that shape
- paint the uppers a colour - soft colour, but colour. Celadon? Light Blue like the counters in your first inspiration picture?
- if you just want to go with frosted glass, consider the looks below - a mix of open cabinets and "pull up" frosted glass uppers
- or consider one shelf, plus glass fronted uppers above the shelf (if you're not tall this might only work if you have stuff you don't need that often)

Although I don't like all of the kitchens below, I think they all have interesting upper cabinets. I'm sure you could do one of these.

I like my uppers too, white wrapped in walnut, but honestly think the options above might be even better.
BalTra
Original Author
12 years ago
I actually really like the horizontal pull up cabs like the ones you show, Sochi. And I'd really love to find a way to bring color to the cabs. Light blue? Torquoise? (calling all OTK lovers ! Great funny thread going on that. I'm OTK in reverse for certain!

Of the ones you posted, it looks like several have 2 rows of stacked horizontals with a shelf below. And that is done all the way across, even above a sink.

The thing I am hoping to avoid is the up/down/up/down jagged look that happens when the upper cabs are all at the same height on top but vary in length in order to make room for one to work at the sink or cooktop.

I'd like to create a look for the uppers where they all have the same line at top and bottom.

Given the base can layout, can I?

The exciting thing for me with this kitchen is that it is 100% mine (my own little home post divorce- all mine feels really good!). It's also the tricky part in that, aside from budget constraints, I can do anything! Not to mention that it just feels that much more important to me for it to be beautiful and welcoming, happy, colorful, heart of my home and all that good stuff!

Really appreciate your ideas. And your last kitchen looks pretty cool too!
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chaparral
12 years ago
In the process of our planning we've discovered the Blum Aventos series of hinges for horizontal uppers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibD_cWFiE2s

A version of this (HK-S) is used by Ikea in their lift-up horizontal cabinet (limited to 15 3/4" height for that one) but these open the doors to some creative uppers like the photos posted earlier in this thread. These are about $40 online.

As soon as you go to 16" or higher then the cost just about doubles.

We found a modern kitchen design store not too far from us that had a great book of different veneers. They had an upper cabinet using the Blum HF mechanism where the cabinet front folds up, and the front is split between two materials. Really neat. The material on the lowers is a veneer with a gloss finish:

At one point I had thought of getting rid of the uppers, then realized I needed them. Then **tried** to design using horizontals, but couldn't quite make it work and was resigned to use standard upper cabinets.

I've recently given it a second go and think I figured out how to use them, such that there are essentially two rows of horizontals (though when stacked they will fold up like the photo). The upper row will have the same veneer as the bottom cabinets and then carry on across the way to a similar row of uppers above the fridge etc. The glass on the lower set near the range will hopefully "lighten up" the area a bit.

At least that's where we are nowÃ¢ÂÂ¦ meeting cabinet guy #2 tomorrow (who is veneer friendly).

One thing I'm trying to do is not obsess about getting every square inch of available space. For instance, nothing's going into the upper corners. Also, the HF hinge for this style cabinet needs some space above (5 or 6") to allow the door to lift up. So the cabinets won't run to the ceiling. Personally, we prefer this because it will expose more ceiling and give an airier look (we think).

Also, the uppers on either side of the hood (Zephyr Roma) are the same width, though the ones on the left could be made a few inches wider. I tried this once in this virtual world and was bothered by the lack of symmetry.

For this to work, all the colors will need to come together, and we've started with a counter ("River" by fuez.com) and reclaimed hardwood flooring. Backsplash under consideration is grey tile (Opera mosaic I think). On the lower right of this photo is one of the veneers we liked (bog oak ?)

Here's our blank slate:

We had hoped to be in by Christmas, but alas it doesn't look promising. Sigh...
BalTra
Original Author
12 years ago
Chaparral -- SO COOL!
I hope you do this. It looks lovely, sophisticated *and* functional. Achieves the open look while providing for plenty of storage. Will look again in more detail as I really like your materials choices.

Thanks for sharing. I spent most of the night last night not sleeping but dreaming and imagining how to use horizontal uppers like these and those posted by Sochi.
Had a few overly -anxious days, but got up this morning feeling reinvigorated.

Off to look at tiles!
BalTra
Original Author
12 years ago
Sochi and GW
Just checking in to say thanks for all the great ideas. I keep going back to look at these pictures of uppers and trying to envision the (flippin' enormous) OTR micro/covection vent in the line up.
Chaparral - keeping my eye out for anything you post. I want to see more!
Am officially TKO. Fun fun fun.
chaparral
12 years ago
Arggh... this upper design has been THE hardest thing about our kitchen. Balancing various factors: balance on the walls, balance in the room as a whole, function, room above cleanup sink...

Here is a thread that shows some evolution but now I'm on a slightly different track. Pretty crazy because base cabinets are starting to be built up today or tomorrow.

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg1211490510638.html?12

I'll post an update in a few-- probably in a new thread.
BalTra
Original Author
12 years ago
chap -
yes. difficult!!!
I just installed three horizontal uppers in my kitchen: two stacked on top of each other and one adjacent to the higher of those two.
Love the look and the storage!
Still haven't ordered cab fronts yet, or countertop. But little by little I am getting there.

Keeping an eye out for your posts.
chaparral
12 years ago
Cool! Can you post a pic? You kept the horizontals as separate units, correct? Which hardware did you use?