Where to end counter? Should cabs and backsplash follow suit?
We are removing the wall between the dining room and kitchen to fit our large table, and we are extending the chair rail to the slider so the dining table looks like it belongs. At first, I was concerned that if we bring the counter all the way so that it touches the slider molding, it would look weird and crowded, but now I am thinking that it would actually look better because it would echo the chair rail at the same height on the other side, especially since I plan on having different paint colors above and below the chair rail. What do you all think?
If I bring the counter all the way so it touches the slider molding, the cabinet that is facing out on the seating side of the peninsula would be only 1 1/2" from the slider, and I thought I'd line up the wall cabinet above it with that base cab, so that it is also 1 1/2" from the slider. Thoughts? And if I then do all that, should the backsplash line up with the counter, so that there is no gap between the backslash and the slider, or do I line up the backsplash with the cabinet, so that there is 1 1/2" of wall between the slider molding and the backsplash?
I know I don't have to decide exact ending point of backsplash now, but I do have to decide location and size of cabinets, which then does affect counter and backsplash like a domino effect, so I'm trying to see what's best for the whole package. It all hinges on how far from the molding the countertop should end. I'd love feedback.
Comments (19)
herbflavor
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoKatie
5 years agoRelated Discussions
How much should 7 feet of cabinets w/ counter & back splash cost?
Comments (16)There are lots of durable and functional cabinets out there. I looked at and liked Cliq Studios, if you want framed. Your existing cabs are a fairly common design, should be easy to find something very close. I agree you should start out at Home Depot or Lowe's. You may find just what you want in your budget. For your countertop, you should be able to come up with a sq. ft. amount of counter space, then you can compare prices per sq.ft. Home Depot has an online countertop calculator to estimate countertops, using their selection of materials and prices. I found it very useful. Be careful that a 25" wide countertop doesn't block your doorway even more, leave plenty of room to get around the counter and through the door. I personally wouldn't like the look of mixing acrylic backsplash with quartz. As to granite, I have been told that there is more permanent type sealer available now, doesn't need redoing every year. And, at least in my area, it can be very economical, far less than any acrylic (a limited choice of stone at that low end, though)...See MoreWhat's the proper way to judge counter/backsplash, cabinet colors
Comments (41)No worries on the hijacking. This thread ended up way more interesting than it started and got to the crux of the matter, even if I didn't realize that's I was really asking. The consensus thing is interesting and so right on. I am constantly looking for validation for my choices. I consider this to be a character flaw and I'm trying to change my ways. So the way I deal with things is to not tell anyone what our decision is (well other than a few people like the friend who has been weighing in on design decisions for years and people who I know will nod politely even if they hate it). It is easier for me to be all confident and take on the attitude of "it's my kitchen and therefore the opinions of my DH and I are the only that matter" when I've not opened myself up to hearing negative comments (real and perceived) about our choices. The second I hear something negative it takes a little joy out of it for me. Like I said, it's a character flaw. That's why I don't ask for opinions on GW unless I REALLY want to know the good the bad and the ugly of it. Because people here are honest. That's a good thing, by the way, because it's the kind of honestly you won't get from the "oh that's nice" nodders and sometimes you really need that. You'll notice, for instance, that I never came back to this thread to mention what the decision actually was or to report that I did make one (thankfully just a few days after starting this thread so I could move on with my life). People here tend to be much more positive when they see a kitchen finished not only because they see the whole vision completed but also because they realize that it's not changing now so there is no need to say anything but positive comments (that reaffirm those pesky decisions). The nightmare: a finished kitchen post that only gets a handful of comments because you know people are doing the whole "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything." And of course that's when you wish you had asked for some truthful opinions while you were making the decisions....See MoreLooking for ideas for countertop / backsplash
Comments (35)Chicoryflower, Annie1971, Roguevalley, KitchenKelly, Kmcg85, Walkin_YesIndeed, Mom24boys, Straitlover, and Brutuses: You could never know how helpful youÂve all been! I went to a kitchen store today and brought home some samples of the ones youÂve suggested and also a few others. I sure wish I had your designer eyes -- thank you for lending them to me. Wow, what a difference it made to pull myself away from all the black! IÂve narrowed it down to either Jamocha Granite or Perlato Granite, leaning heavily towards the Jamocha Granite, which surprises me. They look a lot alike here, but the Jamocha Granite has a warm tone, while the Perlato Granite is cooler. The colors in the Jamocha Granite seem to make the cupboards coordinate with the black appliances, pulling it all together -- exactly the way you said it would. I still do wish I could see a Photoshopped version, but just looking at the samples I brought home has made a huge difference. (YouÂd think one of the major countertop companies would set up a website where people could upload photos and "paint" different samples on the pictures.) Anyway, I just want to post my heartfelt "thank you" for all your help. What a warm group of people yÂall are!...See MoreBacksplash help for Calacatta Gold quartzite counters...it's time!
Comments (98)Hey, barncatz: Every word of consolation and support helps. I'm trying not to rush the BS decision, but I know I'll feel much better about the countertop experience once I'm not staring at these sliver add-ons. One of my very early inspirations was Majra's kitchen. She, just like pipdog, used the mosaics for a lovely effect. And this is why I spent so much time last year looking at mosaics. But the mosaics seem a bit too busy (for me) up close. The rest of my kitchen is a work in progress. Lotsa 9-1/2' walls that will need to be painted again (probably a cool white -- the next challenge!), and a ton of natural light coming in. Baseboards, pantry door and trim are all semi-gloss white, and ceiling is white. Kitchen is open to the family room: taupe walls with a white fireplace/mantel -- white trim throughout the entire house. pippiep: Matching grout it is, then! One decision down. :) I've marked out the areas that will require BS tile. As you can see, it's not very expansive, and each one not very large. So, I need to find the correct scale/dimension tile that will look right in these spaces. I think using larger (3x6) tiles in a herringbone pattern will leave me with a bunch of chopped up squares in the bartop and cutout window areas. At least with the newest elongated hex pattern, most of the hexes will be retained....See MoreKatie
5 years agoThank you, townlakecakes, those pictures are very, very helpful and I really appreciate your thoughts. I see what you mean about the backsplash lining with the cabs - that first pic you posted certainly looks right to me.
And I see what you are saying about the upper cabinets usually ending both at the back of the peninsula cabinets and 24” from the corner, but in my case, I have to choose to end either at the back of the peninsula OR 24" from the corner. I can't have both, since I'll have a cabinet pulled forward on the seating side. This photo gives a good idea of what the cab on my seating side will be like:
One big difference between this photo and what I am doing, though, is that my wall cabs won't sit on the counter - instead, the backsplash will provide that line that connects the cabs to the counter. In fact, a big factor in why I was leaning toward having that wall cab on the left is the question of where to end the backsplash. If I end the wall cabs 24" from the corner, do you recommend the backsplash ending with the wall cabs or the counter? Both seem odd to me, but maybe I lack vision.
Katie
5 years agotownlakecakes, thank you very much for bringing up your concerns over the placement of the microwave. You make very good points, and I have been working hard on finding some other solution. Unfortunately, the knee wall can't go and, though I will have a pantry cabinet, it's way on the other end of the room.
Do you you think it would be better to have a regular cabinet there instead, and have a microwave mounted below the cabinet like this? It would still be a bit off my center of gravity, but not a great deal, since it is so small. And it would be much lower than it would have been on the shelf.
Since this is a very different topic than what this thread started as, I created a different thread requesting thoughts on this microwave placement, but since you got that ball rolling here, I just wanted to say that I am thinking hard about your concerns, and I appreciate your opinion.
Katie
5 years ago"how many inches of available space around fridge?. do you have pantry left and right?"
We are keeping the existing alcove that can fit a fridge and a 15" tall pantry to the right of it.
kim k
5 years agoWe have a similar point in our kitchen where the peninsula meets what used to be a slider but is now a French door. No seating overhang but i originally did want the counter to meet the trim. In the end i think you need more breathing room visually, at least an inch or two. At the least I’d make the upper end cabinet narrower so it isn’t that close to the trim. It’s not going to be a cabinet that you can access easily! Ours has two doors so you can open from the front and the side. Very useful although we still put rarely used items in it.
Also Definitely have the backsplash line up with cabinets not counters.
Katie thanked kim kKatie
5 years agoWow! So many helpful responses. Thank you!
kim k, this picture is fantastic - just what I need to help me visualize what I am doing. By going with the 6" cab to the left of the DW, I can have a 3" filler between it and the corner, leaving 1 1/2" between the counter and the slider trim. The upper and lower cabs and the backsplash would then be 2 1/2" from the trim. Not as much as you picture here, but still some breathing room. If it turns out (as my KD is suggesting) that I don't really need a full 3" filler for the corner, then we can adjust on site and gain even a little more room next to the trim.
herbflavor wrote: "I would avoid the area between window and door.....keep that area looking good,'" and "a deeper wall cabinet somewhere, with microwave on the bottom ledge of the cabinet is better than the protruding shelf only.......get the most flush look you can."
What do you think of me changing the pantry cabinet in far right corner so the top is 18" deep (not 12" as shown) has only one shelf, and then putting a microwave on that shelf?
notsewmuch
5 years agokim k
5 years agoKatie
5 years ago
PROKitchen Designs by Decor
5 years agoBack on topic, I agree the cabinet should be kept at least 1.5” from the slider and the backsplash should line up with the cabinets. Regarding the OTR mic I suggested that because it’s a great space saver for a small kitchen but I understand it’s not super kid friendly. I don’t mind it in the hutch if it’s an 18”D upper and you don’t use it often. Maybe even behind a tilt up door?
Katie thanked Kitchen Designs by DecorKatie
5 years agokim k
5 years ago
townlakecakes