What if you were to place the cabs above it down lower... 3" above where the others are and then but the smaller glass ones above. It looks as if those stacked cabs are the same size and I based the idea upon that so you'd end up with the additional space above the sink yet maintain the same height. I'd rather have glass up higher... especially above a sink where there can be splashing.

I'm confused. If I lower the cabinet above the insert doors, I would reduce the space between the countertop and the cabinets even if they are reversed.

Get rid of the lower cabinet entirely. No glass doors. No wood doors. No cabinet. Use the glass door cabinet for the upper cabinet. Add a small valance and lighting underneath.

live wire,

I need storage big time. It's too small of a kitchen to get rid of the lower cabinet.

I'm sorry.... maybe I"m confused. I thought by looking at your picture that both cabs are the same size. If that were true and you were to replace on of them with a 3" shorter cab you'd still end up with 3" more height of backsplash regardless of what order you stacked them in. I was trying to ay that I'd prefer the glass up top.

I agree with LWO. I do not like the cabinets stacked. I think it looks like it was an afterthought in that spot. That cabinet will give you very minimal storage and for the asthetics( and I am not one who thinks asthetics takes precedence over function) I think it looks very odd......JMHO.

Stacked cabinets in your type of configuration (not on top of taller cabinets) only look "right" when they are the same size. If you're going to go with a smaller cabinet, then don't stack your cabinets. Use a single larger (but shorter) cabinet. When you have cabinets as short as those, the space inside is pretty minimal to begin with, and you'd be better off storage wise to combine them into a single cabinet of the height you need with the clearance above your sink. I don't do many kitchens with cabinet runs across the sink, but of those that I've done, the treatment typically falls into two categories. Either the cabinets run straight across with no height change at all, or else the cabinet at the sink is about half the height of the other cabinets in the run and has a valance across the bottom to conceal lighting. That type of cabinet treatment usually means the customer has in mind creating a small focal point on the wall behind the sink with a backsplash.

I think you should sit back and really reassess how you expect your kitchen to function, both aesthetically and functionally. You're putting a lot of money into something that may not be what you need it to be. YOu've had some issues with the height of the uppers being installed too low, and now this, and I'd be curious as to how that worked before you create more issues with this one. Don't "plan on the fly" and "work around" mistakes. YOu'll regret it every time.

I understand the small space and storage issues. But could you not put a shelf under the top cabinet, rather than a very short cupboard? Maybe even one of those plate rail things that have dowels separating the plates? Either of these would eliminate the nuisance factor of a door opening right into your face.

I'm not sure how aesthetically pleasing a shortened cabinet would be... I certainly wouldn't use glass...what would be the point?

I'm stuck with that top cabinet and the fact that they will not be the same size. Beginners mistake. Would using the glass insert doors make the irregular sizes more pleasing?
Thanks!

No, the glass only accents the mistake. Having the smaller visually lighter (glass) cabinet on the bottom rather than the top makes it look top heavy and cumbersome. If you order a shorter cabinet, make it the wood doored one and just move the glass one to the top position. But, I'd not go with the wood door cabinet at all. Just the glass one at the top. It would look so much better.

No, the glass only accents the mistake. Having the smaller visually lighter (glass) cabinet on the bottom rather than the top makes it look top heavy and cumbersome. If you order a shorter cabinet, make it the wood doored one and just move the glass one to the top position. But, I'd not go with the wood door cabinet at all. Just the glass one at the top. It would look so much better.

I remember reading that your spacing is about 18" inches. I'm curious why you think you need a shorter cabinet? I've always had that spacing between sink and uppers and it's never been an issue.

It just feels too low. 3" make a big difference.