Upper cabinets too close to adjacent window
I have already talked to homeowner, the cabinet maker, and the GC about this oversight. I'm really pissed at all 3 of them for not catching it sooner, but the good news is that they will do whatever it takes to solve the problem. It's an easy conversation because are all 3 of them are the same person...ME! The window was installed too close to the corner and I only have 12" to the inside of the window's rough opening. I should have had a smaller window there for proper clearances from the window trim. I just missed it, so here I am. Sheetrock and paint are done. Window trim, siding and cabinets are not done. I would prefer not to change or move the window, but I will if I can't come up with a good creative solution that doesn't look like a mistake was made!
I'm looking for suggestions (and examples) on how to redesign the uppers to deal with the problem. Let's get creative! I can build anything you can dream up.
So far, my options are...
1. REDESIGN: hold the uppers away from that corner and make some sort of corner shelf, I'm afraid this will just look weird and unbalanced.
2. AS IS: just squeeze the upper in as is. The cabinet door will be about flush with inside plane of the window frame.
2. CHANGE DEPTH: build 10" or 11" shallow uppers (yuk)
3. OPEN SHELVING: open shelving instead of upper cabinets (wife vetoed)
4. LAST RESORT: replace/move the window
Comments (26)
Climb On
6 years agoRelated Discussions
Is 23 " wide upper cabinet door too wide?
Comments (9)Don't do a 23" door. My 24" uppers have single doors, and at 21" wide, they are one of the things I can't wait to replace! They're very much in my face when opening and closing them, so awkward to use. I'd go for the piano hinge style. : )...See MoreIs kitchen vent too close to bedroom window?
Comments (22)I don't know where the middle window was. Still not sure where the vent is either. The right side of the porch shows 5 windows on that wall. The middle window no longer exists. It's a wall with the range hood on the other side. Directly above it, about four feet from the exterior wall, and about two feet below the ridge, the vent exits the porch roof. (not far from where the triangle shows the roof pitch on the second drawing). But if the sheetrock is up and painted, your ship has sailed, because nobody is going to want to open up the sheetrock and repaint to fix something they don't think needs fixing. If there were a good fix, I'd do it on my dime. It would be worth it to me. The volume of air you exhaust and the relatively low odor of most foods I don't think is an issue. If this wasn't pre-planned to specifically go somewhere (and it appears that it wasn't), I think this is about the best / least intrusive solution This is my first build and probably my last. But, if I ever build again, it will be with the HVAC contractor working with the architect during the design phase. Why this isn't standard I don't know. The architect designed this house with no regard to HVAC at all! Live and learn. It was tricky from the start to vent the hood and I'm not faulting the HVAC contractor. He did his best but I do wish I had been part of the decision. I'm going to leave it where it is. The windows should be tight enough to keep the smell out when closed and they won't be open often. Thanks again. You have all been very helpful....See MoreHow close to a window can kitchen cabinets get?
Comments (16)Perhaps EIK has been relegated to lower priority but I think on top wall between full depth counter and window I would place some open counter . I might extend the 24 in deep counter a bit more and you can do clever things like raise the counter height /obviously reduce the depth from 24 inches/ change the material/ for this continuation to window end. Computer use /phone use time/coffee/morning and other small meal times/etc at counter with good stools/natural height for you folks/pendant lights and/or open shelving etc. I think with the space being so walled in that delegating at least some footage for open counter if you don't want a small table would be wise. Once a couple people are in the space it will be used I think and expand the dynamic generally. What about betwe 5-7 ft for this??? On sink side I'd extend 24 in deep counter a bit more/then cut back depth and install what you think you need/full height storage/ more counter with upper/lower cabs? End at a logical point before window and place a couple plants and wall art in the last 2 or 3 feet. Single bowl sink in 27 or 30 in cab should be good for townhouse property/ your sink size looks enormous....See MoreAre 20” wide upper cabinet doors too big?
Comments (17)separating pantries allows distinguishing items into different zones. also I would personally want a buffer between my fridge compressor and the steam and other oven. do you realize you have 4 appliances and 40 inches of counter that is to be shared? I'm thinking you have an island behind all this for pivot and landing...I hope so....15 or 18 in wide pantry cab with pullouts at full depth holds a lot...I dont know where all these 20 in dimensions are coming from.....two cabs at 15 in and separated by fridge would be very nice . I can sit and think how different things that people come and grab go in one area and my baking stuff and back up ingredients go in another spot . specific styles of the tall pantry cabs vary quite a bit now. get it exactly how you want....See MoreClimb On
6 years ago
Kathi Steele
6 years agoClimb On
6 years agoClimb On
6 years agoClimb On
6 years ago
cheri127
6 years agoWe have bookcase at the end of our cabinet run because you can't really reach anything in the corner anyway. So you could do a shallower cabinet at the end.
Climb On thanked cheri127User
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoClimb On
6 years agoClimb On
6 years agoClimb On
6 years agoClimb On
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoHere's a picture of the kitchen in it's current state. The fridge is a cabinet depth model.
User
6 years ago
Love stone homes
5 years ago
adkbml
5 years agoClimb On
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoI was going to wait until I got the doors and trim done, but here you go. I did a mashup of solutions. Swapped pantry and fridge. Made the pantry a bit smaller so I could slide the range over and make room for an upper between the hood and window. Finally, we will do open shelving, to the right side of the window, into the "problem corner." Normal width window casing on both windows.
cheri127
5 years agoInstead of open shelving, we did an open cabinet in both our kitchens and I love the way it looks. I think open shelves will look nice too.
User