skip to main content

Kitchens Design Dilemma Polls

Are taller cabinets better or trim it out?

4 months ago

We are redoing a kitchen. The pictures you see are the cabinets that were installed in our home. The ceiling is uneven and the cabinet guys says they changed the height of the cabinets so they could trim it out to accommodate for the uneven ceiling. There is roughly 6 inches of space -nice the cabinets.
Three options;

trim it out as shown in the last picture below
order cabinets that are 3” taller and leave it without trim
no change leave them just as they are without trim (~6” above the cabinet)
I appreciate all advice. Please let me know if you are a designer or not!!! Thank you in advance!

taller no trim

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (13)

Susie .
4 months ago
I almost always prefer trim on cabinets. I don't think I've ever owned a house with a ceiling that wasn't uneven -- trim carpenters can usually mask that well and cover any gaps with caulk. If the cabinets go to the ceiling the unevenness is even more apparent. The base corner cabinet is a little odd - what's going on there?
Caroline O
4 months ago
Not a designer, but I vote to keep the cabinets as they are, with trim. I have very similar almost-to-the-ceiling cabinets and love the polished look of the trim, also similar to yours. Don’t torture yourself by overthinking this.
Related Discussions
Do you let them clump up, or keep them trimmed out to 1 or 2 pups
Q
Comments (13)
At the risk of letting on that I am an addict AND a thread hijacker...I have a related question... BananasDotOrg, you mentioned that on a plantation, they cut down the pups and leave them so that only the desired pseudostems will produce. When I have cut large pups, they just keep growing. I thought I read here about pouring kerosene into the cut to get that particular pseudostem to stop growing. (too strange to have imagined, right?) I wonder about keeping production up when I have so many pups. Ultimately, I also want to move this particular mat as it is blocking too much sun for my veggies. So I am transplanting pups when I can, but I need to get some of very large pseudostems under control. Can I use kerosene?
...See More
Better range or better frig, which would you choose?
Q
Comments (21)
@MissTKO2015: It sounds like you are looking for a 36" integrated refrigerator, want to reduce the amount stainless (even consider white), a. Consider this Thermador model instead : T36IB800SP Similar price, but without the extra exposed stainless and can be fully integrated. b. Are you open to floor models? Showrooms are often reconfiguring their spaces this time of year as the new models come in. Just a warning on the budget -- make sure you price out your panels. Depending on who is doing your cabinets, they can get very expensive (>$1,000). I ended up with the Viking (based on a Whirlpool design) because it was a good deal and they have a trim kit available. I had DH's budget dictate to fit into. The finish level on the exposed surfaces is generally better (the quality and thickness of the stainless steel) than other standalones but the standard pricing is unfortunately at a premium (roughly 3.5K instead of 3K for the KA standalone). KA, JennAir, DCS, and others make derivatives of the same base platform at different prices, but not all of them offer a trim kit (extra). I was concerned with the amount of stainless and chose to panel the DW, put the MW in a cabinet (with pop up door), and went with a powder-coated hood.
...See More
Would you trim appliance budget to get better cabinets?
Q
Comments (157)
IMO it's a personal decision that wouldn't be the same for everyone. I didn't read every response, so excuse me if this isn't all relevant to your question anymore. Looks are incredibly important to me, but I think I'd go for the nicer appliances. For me, if I have nicer appliances it would make it more fun to cook. Many less expensive appliances get the job done and just as many other people don't care. I don't know what the cabinets look like that you are choosing from, but simple and plain can be elegant if done correctly, and the appliances will really pop. A simple quartz countertop can be really nice too. I looked at your quartizite as well, but you can get something just as pretty for less if you wanted. It depends on your look. In general, I'd say get more plain cabinetry and a nicer countertop, however, I'm doing the exact opposite, so go figure! We are getting horizontal planking on our cabinetry with grain, so I decided a quiet countertop would actually look best. I found a solid white marble with no veining that is less than quartzite. I realize marble isn't for everyone. I think, depending on your design, a solid white quartz can be beautiful too. I just went to a friends house who had the most plain white cabinets and countertops and I thought it was stunning in it's simplicity. But, of course it depends what else is going on in your room. If I were changing some of the appliances, I'd personally keep the range and d/w, and then maybe downgrade the hood and fridge. the first two have a lot of function that you might notice more than just ever so slightly more smells or a different layout in the fridge)
...See More
Small house challenge - facade color and trim to make it look better
Q
Comments (19)
OMG, I love the way those bushes on the side of the house look! Don't know why I haven't considered that - but that is exactly why this forum exists! Now I will try to find some plants a) grow big, fast, b) are not a primary deer diet staple. In regards to a trim - I am really lost with that, because I feel like those side windows need SOMETHING, but I can't come across too many photos of examples. I have seen some horizontal trim in Europe but didn't take any photos - it was a trim that went around the window but extended about a foot below the window with a "dead space" cutout so the siding was showing through. Say, like if the window is square, but you frame it with a vertical rectangle. Hard to explain. I'm afraid to experiment with it and make this simple "little box" house look like too much was done to it.
...See More
Ingrid Karg-Ross
4 months ago
I feel you need trim and I always want more storage
Anne Duke
4 months ago
Trim. Caulked and no one will know the ceiling is uneven.
chispa
4 months ago
I would leave it and add the trim. Personally I don't like the way they did your trim. I would want it pulled forward to cover the top edge of the door, like this, but you don't have finished end panels, so that needs to be figured out.
Iri
4 months ago
Not a designer. Agree with Chispa re how the trim was done.

You wrote that the cabinet guys changed the height of the cabinets. Did you actually okay that or did they change your order without your sayso?
Daniele Banks
Original Author
4 months ago
Iri
They changed the order with out my okay. They gave me a layout with the cabinet dimensions when I gave the down payment. I measured and made sure that it would all work in the space that they were on the layout. They stated that they changed the order due to the ceilings being so wavy. They stated that if I got taller cabinets it would be harder to hide the fact the ceiling was so off.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
4 months ago
last modified: 4 months ago
IMO6" trim is too much so I would want the 3" higher cabinets and then a very simple trim to match the cabinets and scribed for the ceiling . Absolutly not to that bottom pic fix., you do not have crown in the other space it does not belong in the kitchen either
lharpie
4 months ago
Sounds like they thought it would be hard and didn’t want to do it… if you didn’t sign off on change i would want the 3” taller cabs with trim. our trim is about 4” - if you look closely the bottom part is over an inch thick at end of kitchen and other is 1/2” . but no one would notice.
PRO
Debbi Washburn
4 months ago
Get the cabinet size you ordered. How far off it the ceiling? If it is just wavy , a good contractor can fix some of that by feathering out some compound on the ceiling in areas where the space between the crown and the ceiling is more than 1/4" . You can do a smaller height crown or a solid stock with a trim . Don't settle. They never should have changed the cabinet size without a full discussion with you first.

Good luck!
cpartist
4 months ago
IMO6" trim is too much so I would want the 3" higher cabinets

IMO once again you are wrong. 6" trim is fine and is actually standard.

To the OP, did you sign off on the change? If not, I agree you need to get what you ordered. Otherwise, if you did sign off on it, it will be fine with the trim.
Susie .
4 months ago
I also think 6” of trim is fine. It probably would look better with thicker moulding that meets the door depth, as Chispa mentioned.
roarah
4 months ago
last modified: 4 months ago
Looking at your door and window trim I think 6 inches looks like it is out of scale so I think taller cabinets with 3 inch trim more in line with your house’s original moldings will look more appropriate.

Related Stories

KITCHEN MAKEOVERS Kitchen of the Week: Wood and Black Cabinets and Better Flow

By Jeannie Matteucci

A designer gives an empty-nest couple more storage, dressier style and improved circulation for entertaining

MOST POPULAR Is This the Year Blue and Green Kitchen Cabinets Edge Out White?

By Mitchell Parker

Neutrals still dominate cabinet color. But some of the most popular recent kitchens on Houzz tell a different story

GREAT HOME PROJECTS How to Bring Out Your Home’s Character With Trim

By Steven Corley Randel, Architect

New project for a new year: Add moldings and baseboards to enhance architectural style and create visual interest

KITCHEN OF THE WEEK Kitchen of the Week: European-Style Cabinets and a Better Flow

By Jeannie Matteucci

A Portland couple open up their ranch kitchen to connect with guests and their garden

TRIM Trim Color Tips: Get Your White Trim Right

By Jennifer Ott Design

Set off wood tones, highlight architectural features, go minimalist ... white trim is anything but standard when you know how to use it

KITCHEN CABINETS Kitchen Confidential: The Pros and Cons of Double Stacked Cabinets

Does it make sense for you to double up on cabinets? Find out here

KITCHEN MAKEOVERS Kitchen of the Week: Rich Materials, Better Flow and a Garden View

By Jeannie Matteucci

Adding an island and bumping out a bay window improve this kitchen’s layout and outdoor connection

MOST POPULAR How to Reface Your Old Kitchen Cabinets

By Steven Corley Randel, Architect

Find out what’s involved in updating your cabinets by refinishing or replacing doors and drawers

WHITE KITCHENS White Cabinets Remain at the Top of Kitchen Wish Lists

By Erin Carlyle

Find out the most popular countertop, flooring, cabinet, backsplash and paint picks among homeowners who are renovating

KITCHEN STORAGE Partly Open Shelving: The Case for Doorless Cabinets

By Jennifer Ott Design

Build in some display areas, create a colorful design feature and make better use of awkward spaces with open shelves

Sponsored

More Discussions

Living room layout

101

hallway nook needs help

25

Tile backsplash match dark countertop

9

Need help with Layout design

1

Help with curb appeal

1