Between the island and wall cabinets there is at least 42”.

Aisles are measured counter edge to counter edge, so hopefully its not 42 from cabinet to cabinet. This happened to us. Its an error I regret often.

What if the cabinets were moved up? There would be a ton of space above the counter top, but not sure that’s a bad thing. Maybe the cabinets could be too high out of reach, so move them up 8” instead of the full 12”.

I thought about that but the size of the cabinet itself on the wall feels off. Especially by the cooktop. Is it unreasonable to expect them to reorder the upper cabinets in the correct heights? He knew from the beginning we had ten foot ceilings and designed to 9 foot. The contract we signed is with the image renderings and has no specifications or breakdown on size cabinets. The “look” and function of each cabinet was right in the rendering. We figured the kitchen we would get would look in our kitchen as it appears on paper… not that we would have an extra foot of ceiling after.

The aisle width is larger than at the house we are in now and we are comfortable with it here. We have it set up so one side is more cooking and meal prep and the other is more eating and it’s all open to our dining room.

Could you double stack the cabinets like in this picture?

Possibly. I’ll have to keep that in mind for the oven nook and the stove wall. I don’t know if maybe raising all of them 2” and having a 21” space between counters and upper cabinets maybe. Then I have to try to get more backsplash tile

I do not think it is unreasonable, at all, to expect them to reorder the upper cabinets. I would certainly have that discussion, before hodgepodging alternative solutions.

I would insist on new cabinets. If he refuses, you could move the cabinets up and put shelving under them.

Did the kitchen designer purchase the cabinets on your behalf?

Also, do you have in writing that you told the designer the kitchen ceiling is 10'?

I don’t have it in writing. I didn’t videotape our consultation. I will suggest it for future customers on the Google review I leave. I am not sure what the documents show that that the builder sent to him. The builder contacted him with our kitchen info and sent the drawings to him. We went in, sat down and discussed what we wanted and had a conversation about the ceilings being so high and at 10’ the cabinets aren’t real useful and I explained I like the looks of it and would put things we use very rarely in there (I bake and have lots of cake pans I wouldn’t use often for example). Talked about soffits and mixed the idea. All this was in a discussion about it our 10’ ceilings. I do not know what the builder sent over exactly — he didn’t show us and was just making notes on paper as we talked. I can ask for his notes but who knows if he rewrites them at this point.

He had the architectural drawings sent over from builder. We did not see them. We have the architectural ones from the architect and my husband gave him a copy as well our first meeting. The elevation drawing shows wall heights. The home was always 10’. He gave us no copies of anything. (I can’t figure out how to attach images again to show the renderings and info he did give us)

It might be too early to freak out. Report back after your meeting. They haven't been unreasonable YET. They just haven't wanted to work on it over the weekend.

I would want the cabinets to reach the ceiling, as shown in the rendering he provided. That is what you both agreed to and he messed up. Hopefully, he will own it and propose a satisfactory path forward on Monday. Good luck.

Thanks. I am anticipating a problem. We went there the past two days to look everything over and come up with our approach to him when we meet. My husband will do the talking. The KD has made it very clear he does not like to work on the designing with women. Even with my husband telling him to take things up with me- he has refused all along to include me in emails. Emails
My husband sends him with me included he removes my name from. My husband made a comment to our builders in our design process about how much trouble we had with the KD and how he is rather rude with his female clients and our builder said he has heard that from other customers. After this, I wish I went with my gut and went elsewhere even if it wasn’t where my builder preferred.

@Mrs C, this is absolutely ridiculous how the KD treats You. This is a businesses relationship and he should be professional.

Amanda, I’m sorry this has happened. We have 10 foot ceilings but decided not to go to the ceiling. We do have some lighting on top. My concern for moving the cabinets up is the height. I’m not tall and I can only comfortably reach part way up-2 or 3 shelves depending upon how I spaced the shelves. I do have lots of storage for items rarely used, which I wanted. Open shelves below, in my opinion, would definitely not be a compromise. You want easy access to items you use daily such as mugs, plates, bowls, etc. Do you really want all that on an open shelf all the way around the kitchen? Check carefully before you consider raising cabinets as a solution. With all you’ve described, he should be replacing them. Don’t let him bully you (and your husband as well by refusing to communicate with you) any longer. Good luck! (Are the elevations correct on your island? I thought from the KD drawing the area on the left was lower? I may be looking at it wrong.)

Hello Amanda, Sorry your dealing with this. If your builder/contractor does a lot of busiiness with this cabinet company, I woud think letting them negotiate on your behalf will be more beneficial to you. The cabinet company may be more incline to work with a solution with the builder to avoid losing future business. Plus, with the builder's experience they can work out solutions to present to you.

The proof you have is if the blueprints were sent in & shows an elevation of 10'. The 3D image is also proof it was designed for 9'.

With that said, I would try to focus on the solution vs the faults.

You could request all new wall cabinets to get to the ceiling, which woud be an expensive fix. Or get all cabinets to height the same as the area shown left of sink window & get lighting on a dimmer above, but since this is not exactly what you prefer, but you are willing to work with them, ask for a significant discount for the wall cabinets. Wishing you an outcome in your favor that ends up beautiful soon.

I'm so sorry you're going through this. Your KD needs to join the 21st Century.

At the very least the cabinets around the range vent need to be the same height as the others. I wouldn't raise the cabinets either.

If the contractor knows that there has been trouble with this KD I wonder why he is still using him.

Sarah, the island had cabinets come in the wrong height. I guess they are on order and we are going to ask him about that first today to see what he says about it since it will hold up counters. The prep sink is standard counter height and the rest is raised for seating at the island. I didn’t want people eating at the same level as the sink. I definitely don’t want open shelving around. It will feel like clutter. Like you, I don’t think we could raise them. We would end up with one easily accessible shelf.

Artistssharonva, our builder isn’t even going to be at the meeting today. They said they will be away at a conference. Our PM will be there. We have run into a few issues with the builder- most recently when siding started going up it was not being done correctly and they and the LP rep they had come out tried saying it would be fine (no gaps, no flashing). It wasn’t til my husband asked them for a legally notarized letter that if we have water damage 10-15 years from now that we wouldn’t be told that it was installation error. The LP rep backtracked and said well you should do the flashing and have the gaps. The builder then agreed it needed to be redone and the zip system underneath holes all taped before going forward. So our builder isn’t going to be of any help. They more so try to get out of any responsibility for things and back the subcontractors errors.

It is likely your KD has errors and omissions insurance and will make it right on your kitchen.

He redrew the upper cabinets. We are clarifying that above the large window should be a shelf. Asked to make the cabinet above the fridge 2 instead of one to coincide with the small stacked along the rest of the wall. My husband doesn’t want the stove cabinets to get any taller than this. Those he doesn’t want to go to the ceiling to mirror the window across the way. I am not sure what the intermediate thing is about in the glass cabinets. Will it ruin the appearance? Would mullions be a better look and an alternative?

This is shameful and certainly unprofessional.....hold them aaccountaaccountaccountableaccountablaccountableaccounthemaaccoaaccountaaccountaaccountaccaaccountaaccountaccountableaccountablaccountableaccounthemaaccoaaccountaaccou

Something went wrong with typing... don't allow them to bully you.. it's your kitchen...pray for guidance in what and how to and for those person's...they are not doing you a favor it is a nonononono

It is a service job... they have the opportunity to do your kitchen..tell your local tv about this and of dismiss of women...it your kitchen.. husband and you have to speak up..call them out.otherwise it continues or get worse..

Wish you you your best kitchen ever

Oh we need help wood solid hardwood flooring which one mirage vs Wickham vs lauzon vs Bruce vs vintage

Thanks how it holds up

At this point I’d be more concerned about your aisle widths.

This is a very chaotic design- variations in cabinet height, cabinet protrusion, door style, glass over solid doors. The new rendering with adjusted heights is worse as it adds in more variation and the proportions are not aesthetically pleasing. The tiny cabinet to the right of the large window is the cherry on top.

If you kept the cabinets as they are now and simply had the cabinets to either side of the range hood remade to the height of the others, that would look better than the newest rendering.

As for the sexism you are facing, no one involved should find that acceptable. Men have to start holding other men accountable.

The cabinets next to window and stove should definitely go to the ceiling. Looks like a mistake otherwise.

Many of you have stated the original posted rendering has cabinets going up to the ceiling. They are not up to the ceiling.