Why is there a short cabinet between the hood and wall ovens? What's the original idea behind it?

We repurposed the cabinets off of craigslist and are trying to work with what we've got, rather than buying an all new cupboard.

i am having trouble getting past that short cabinet. I think it might be worth it to buy a single cabinet the same height as the others.

I think a long cab like the one on the other side would look better than the short cab+shelf combo (but I always dislike open shelves in kitchens, especially if they're near the range, so I'm biased).

I like green hood color.

Can you use that short cab and shelf next to the window?

I think you have to buy a longer matching cabinet. If you're going to the expense of adding gorgeous soapstone, etc., I think that short cabinet could really wreck the whole look.

The shelf doesn't work there. Nor does the short cabinet.

The mantel hood is a focal point so the cabinets around it need to be consistent and not compete for attention.

Will one of the cabs from the other wall fit there? (Replace the cab you rob from that wall with either an open shelved or glass door unit.) Can you buy a new cabinet of the correct size? Or find doors that match & build a cabinet?

Can you swap the short cabinet out with a long one? I do think it would look more balanced to have two long next to the hood. Maybe ditch the short cabinet all together and do open shelving by the window?

I'm the lone dissenter. Are the cabinets already up? I think the shelf would be a handy spot for salt and pepper and paprika, cider vinegar, a measuring cup, a small jar of flour for a quick roux, maybe a small bottle of oil if the oven cabinet doesn't get warm.

Since the sides are not exposed, you could box in that lower area (get rid of those supporting corbels) to the same height above the counter as the others and then buy longer doors to match the others. Less desirable is boxing in the lower part without doors but with a matching interior; at least the visual impact of the difference is not as jarring. For the time and money you are putting in I agree that buying the taller cabinet to match is the best. You can always put a narrow shelf under the hood for spices.

I think it would look fine, and could make a lovely cookbook shelf.

Can you add corbels to the bottom of the range hood, so that the shelf is more boxed in? (And possibly ditch the corbels under the shelf itself; instead, hang the shelf with a cleat system.)

Pics of mantle hoods w/ corbels ("legs") ... check out the "Custom K Hood" on the top row

I like it. It relieves that heavy "wall of cabinetry" look, especially as your hood is wood and boxy as well.

I don't think it looks bad. No, it won't look perfectly symmetrical, but you knew that already. I do agree with above posters who suggested boxing it in somehow. I think that would help!

Your soapstone laminate sounds interesting! I just priced soapstone for my location (boonies) and it's a little high for us:( so I will be interested to hear how you like that.

With a sleeker hood, like a plain stainless chimney hood, you could do a faux built in MW hung under the short cabinet. Just do a regular OTR, add a 3/4" side panel, and then do a filler across the bottom from the oven cabinet to the side panel.This is missing the filler across the bottom, but it should give you the idea.

Beachy Morning Kitchen · More Info

I have to join in that it all seems too off-kilter to me. Perhaps you can find a longer cabinet at a Habitat Re-Store and only need to purchase new doors to match? Or cut down the one to the right of the hood? That might work as the other cabinets then go around the corner.

I agree with tracie_erin, it breaks up the mass on that wall. And once you do a backsplash behind it, it will disappear a bit and you get to see more of the backsplash. I do like the idea to put an OTR there, though. That would be handy.

I rather like it as well. A couple of points though - whatever you put on the shelf make sure it is tall and as some presence and interest - tall salt and pepper shakers for example or a tall piece of pottery. For the corbels I would wait until you're more settled in your choices because again I think you want something with a little more presence rather than iron/metal.

The idea of a microwave shelf is also a good one if you don't already have one somewhere else.

What you want to look for is that whatever you put there is visually weighty enough to counterbalance the other side.

I am in the "like the shelf" camp. The photo you posted shows the shelf as a work in progress. It has a lot of potential. I like the break up of the cabinet wall and the opportunity to combine function and form. My initial impression was to box it in to simulate a cabinet. I do not think you need to go for the extra expense of purchasing another cabinet or doors. As Blfenton suggests select pieces with presence and size to place on the shelf but also consider it a spot to hold some good looking cooking pieces as Bpath notes. The photo of microwave on shelf that ProSource posted is also a good idea.

The problem is that a shelf with corbels repeats the hood with shelf and corbels, and not in a good way. It would be more unified if the hood weren't green. That makes it too choppy.

Or, you could do the two side panels suggested, and then paint the rear wall behind the shelf the same color as the cabinet so it coud be a single open cabinet look. But, you'd have to do a floating shelf and ditch the brackets. Brackets simply do not work next to that hood.

What if you switched the shorter cabinet to the other side so both ends would be bracketed by longer wall cabinets? Also, I would probably make the hood match those cabinets if possible since there is other things going on.

Boxing it in as scrappy recommends, and eliminating the supports would be a fantastic solution. I don't think you need tall doors. i like the microwave idea too. Good luck!

I agree with boxing in the sides to echo the other cabinets, as if it were a semi-open cabinet. Definitely lose the brackets. The idea is to give visual balance.

I like it. I actually find the uppers cabinets on the right to be large and looming and oppressive, and this one open area is a welcome break from that. I'd be doing all my cooktop-related work in front of the open area and avoiding the oppressive cramped corner.

You might also consider:
1) Glass cabinets on either side of the hood, for a lighter look. Like this:

http://www.marcypenner.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/tumblr_l0ieodmbEH1qacxkzo1_400.jpg

http://european-web.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Open-Gallery-copper-range-hood-glass-front-cabinets-kitchen-island-kitchen-shelves-mosaic-t.jpg

2) A different style of hood. Perhaps one that narrows towards the ceiling so that the hood itself is less bulky. Perhaps one that doesn't look like cabinetry so you could leave some space between it and the adjacent cabinets. (For a more airy look.) I actually like the hood style you have, but it isn't the kind of style that can stand alone -- it looks weird not built into a row of upper cabinets. But having upper cabinets everywhere pressing into me is my least favorite thing in a work space, so it may be that you have to lose the hood itself for the uppers to make more sense.

3) Swapping out the corner upper for one that sticks out less.

I have the boxed in shelf with microwave beside range in my kitchen. It has worked well for us.

Blue Bell, PA · More Info

With colors: Would you consider painting all the uppers in the Halcyon Green?

Well here's my thought. What if you used the maple shelf instead for the shelf on the hood? Lower it so it lined up with the bottom of the shorter 30" cabinet on the left. Then build some sort of an open spice rack for underneath the short cab. Do it all in the maple color so you do not see the wall color behind it. It wouldn't have to stick out much just enough to fit the oils bottles and spice containers. You could get those cool spice containers that you write the name on the labels if you wanted to get real fancy! Haha. I would love to have my go-to spices and oils I use a lot handy to grab while cooking. I like the wall oven built-in, hood, and island all in the green, not the wall color.

Just want to give you props on the craigslist find. I found my granite island top on CL. I am always looking for a deal. Your kitchen is looking great so far laughable!

Thank you all for weighing in on this decision. I read each and every comment and you gave me a lot to think about!

We ended up going to Bargain Outlet tonight to order different countertop. The Soapstone Sequoia tops that we bought ended up not being long enough (Big oops) and they won't work in the final layout that we settled on. When we changed from a range to a cooktop, we could no longer do the cut for the range, and it threw our measurements off. Somehow we missed that little detail until today until we set the counter on the cabinets and realized it was 6" short. : P (Must have been DIY dilirium.)

But...we think it might have worked out for the best. We had bought the counters months ago when a local store was going out of business, and then more recently we got the cabinets. Seeing them together showed us that while they could work, they weren't a super match for each other.

When we picked up the cabinets, they came with a few small sections of Bella Noche laminate, and they looked great together. Since we were going to have to order counter anyway, we switched directions and ordered Bella Noche instead. We never would have picked it from the little sample cards, but seeing the remnants with our cabinets helped us to know that we'd like it.

While we were at Bargain Outlet, we ordered a 30" wide x 18" tall wall cabinet to place under the short wall cabinet in our layout. Our plan is to leave the doors off of it so that I can have a little bit of open shelving, but it will be boxed in along the side of the range hood like many of you suggested. Playing around with the shelf last night made me realize I could have a lot of fun with an open area there to decorate.

We also ordered a glass door for the corner upper to help it feel airier over there om the sea of uppers, and it will give us another spot for displaying pretty serving bowls, too.

Colors for the oven cabinet, hood and island remain to be determined. I don't really want to paint all of the uppers at this point. We have a busy family that the factory finish will probably handle better than a home paint job. Maybe someday, though!

Now I have to see what colors look nice with both the cabinets and the new laminate. Should I keep it simple and do black? (Our fridge is black... and the cabinet doors have black lines along the details of the trim.) There are flecks of dark blue in this laminate too, although it's hard to see in the sample online.

Bella Noche:

Bummer about the too short laminate. Hope you can find a buyer for it. But I really like your new choice. And I'm thrilled you're finding an inexpensive cabinet to make that tricky spot work. Also glad to hear you're getting a glass-front for that corner. It will really break up that wall of cabinets. Also glad to hear that you're making good progress on your kitchen.

Unlike mine. Way too many business trips for DH has us in stall mode for the last month and for at least another month. The niche for the fridge has been cut out but not finished and no power hook-up yet so, darn, the fridge still sits in the old spot while I anxiously envision how open my kitchen will feel when it's tucked in its niche. Getting antsy.

Best wishes! I really look forward to your reveal.

Laughable it sounds like everything worked out great in the end. Adding the glass for the corner cab is a great idea.

I'd have to see the black mocked up to give an opinion. But I was immediately on board with the idea of tieing in the blue flecks in the new counter choice. You always have had such great ideas for others, I have no doubt your kitchen will be fabulous!

Love the Bella Noche and so happy you found a cabinet box to go under the short cabinet. I really think having an actual box will balance everything and be more visually appealing.

I liked the blue you had in the original mock up, but whatever you choose, I don't think it has to be all the cabinets. I liked the pop from just the hood and side cabinet.

For the open cabinet, be sure that you ordered the interior to match! That's not automatic, and cabinets come with maple melamine interiors as standard. If you're going to paint the interor to match, as I'm assuming that you will be doing for the corner cabinet that you will be doing glass in, then be sure to get a really good primer that will stick to melamine. And then a good durable top coat, like Cabinet Coat.

I'm sorry to hear your kitchen is at a standstill, Funky. It can be tough to wait. I tried to look at those impositions as opportunities to really think things through. Sometimes a better kitchen comes into being because of the extra thinking time.

I got used to the slower pace of remodeling when we lived at the farm. Other than a slowdown because of influenza, DH has been clicking right along at this project. His pace has been dizzying as I try to run and catch up. He's throwing me questions that need decisions left and right, and I can hardly catch my breath!

Thanks for your vote of confidence, wifeoferp. I hope the open cabinet looks nice. I think it's going to be fun to work with. : )

DH brought the remnant Bella Noche in and set it on top of the (wrong sized) Soapstone Sequoia this morning. Uh-Oh. I thought I liked it. It turns out I was completely disappointed with it in this space. It was too dark. It was too shiny. We held the UCL's up and lit the counter, and there was a terrible glare. I viewed it from other areas of the house so I could stand farther back and take it all in at once and it wasn't working for me. It gave me a "hands off; stay out" feeling.

The Soapstone Sequoia, on the other hand, looked soft and inviting. It said, "Come. Let's bake something yummy together!" It has more of a honed appearance, and gave virtually no glare from either the window or the UCL's. It might not be the "perfect" match to our cabinets, but I like it a whole lot better.

We called and changed the order at the store. Now I'm so glad that the order didn't get placed last night. The countertop manufacturer won't be open again until Monday morning, so the order doesn't go in until then. Phew!

Good point about the backs of the cabinets, Sophie! These cabinets have plywood sides and backs, with a finish that matches the cabinets on all of those surfaces. But, if we'd ordered a different line, then yes, I'd need to make sure it was right inside! (And who knows who else that comment might help? : ))

Thank you all again for speaking up and sharing your take on things, and for the encouragement on the kitchen progress. That all means a lot to me.

Oh, no worries, I'm used to projects taking forever. With a few rentals and elderly parents' homes to help take care of, our own home always seems to get the attention last. I'm just hoping to be close enough to being done by Thanksgiving to host without being torn apart then. :)

Oh, so glad you caught the laminate change before it was too late! I'm sure that will look great, too.