Here is the elevation drawing

I would figure out a way to shorten that run so that the beam was outside of the cabinet.

I'd have the doors over the fridge go up as high as possible, up to the beam, basically, and do some sort of flat stock in the cabinet material to fill in the rest. Just filler.

Will the cabinets be stained or painted, and will the beam be drywall? Is it a builtin fridge or free-standing?

And, will you have cabinets to the ceiling everywhere? If you vary the heights of the uppers in some places (some people do!), having the fridge cabinet lower than the beam might work...or you might be able to work with a--dare I even say it?--SOFFIT!! Which of course be what I suggested before but with drywall (or whatever the beam is covered with) instead of cabinetry.

Moving the fridge isn't a bad idea either!

I too have load bearing beam in my kitchen. I hate it and wish I would have designed my kitchen in such a way as to have had it hidden in an arch or something, but what would drive me even more crazy would be to have I running into a cabinet. Try to redesign the kitchen so it doesn't run into the cabinet. It will never look ok.

I agree with the advice to shorten the run of cabinets. Can you post more pics and a partial floor plan?

I ran into the exact same problem. When we put the beam up there was no room for our refrigerator so it went at the other end of the L and we put the pantry there. Then when the cabinet makers came to make another measurement the pantry was too small. They came up with an idea of a crown modification. Something they say they do frequently. I am not really sure how it will work out, but they assure me that it will look good. Unfortunately I am not able to show you yet, as they cabinets have not been installed yet. I have been told any day now. So if you like I can take a photo of it when it is up.

Also...can you spend extra and get the beam uhhhh what's the term? Upgraded to something expensive and stuffed up where you can't see it?

Catharine442:

Your drawing is mis-labled. Your second post is a plan view, not an elevation. Plan is when you're in the sky looking down, elevation (first drawing) is when you're standing on the ground looking across.

I like Errant's suggestion.

Here is a link that might be useful: Plan v. Elevation

Perhaps my situation is a bit different, but we originally intended to encase the beams in the ceiling. But as construction progressed, we began to love the higher ceiling and decided on exposed beams. We had to shuffle our layout slightly to align the range hood with the beams. So glad we did.

This is how it looks now. The beams are above the molding.

Another view

FWIW, in my project, we are removing two long sections of load bearing walls, and we would have faced this issue, too. Except, my builder happens to also be a structural engineer, and he told me it was no problem to insert a steel beam in the header/ceiling joist space . . . and that he can actually put them flush up inside the ceiling. My architect had designed planning on visible cased beams, but for an extra thousand or two dollars, we're now able to eliminate all the visible beams by hiding the new steel beams inside the old-work lower ceiling. FWIW, he told me that he can get beams to span up to 30 feet this way. So, if it is not too late, you could ask about this option . . .

I wouldn't want to have to deal with this one in my house. It looks like an "arbitrary" design choice is being forced on to an uncompromising structural feature, and no result will be pretty.

I say arbitrary because a full fridge cabinet is just a choice, as is a symmetrical sink run, and these choices are leading to a design dead end. Add that top molding and you've boxed yourself in to a twenty year error right from the get-go.

There are a gazillion ways to design a kitchen, but this one has a fundamental flaw in it. That's just an opinion, and like I said I'm glad I wouldn't have to deal with this one.

Do you really need a 40" refer? If you go to a standard 36", you can terminate the beam outside the cabinets altogether.

Here is a floor plan not perfectly to scale.
@MichelleMarie, Thanks for your sympathy. I don't hate my beam at all however. I like it. The trade-offs with the fridge and everything resulted in this arrangement and I can't change the basic design. I just want to make it as unnoticed as possible...
@fori - Thanks fori. That is a good idea. I will keep that in mind. I have uppers to the ceiling only on that run and no uppers anywhere else. And no, you can't say soffit! But cabinetry material would be okay.

@dilly--ny, that came out very nice. I could make the fridge cabinet shorter than the other uppers and end under the beam. I can't do that with the other uppers because I have sconce outlets underneath.
@hollysprings - I want trash and recycling under there, plus i want the counter space..
@fori - I think you are right. i probably should have had the beam placed above the ceiling but at the time it was done I thought I wanted to see it and it helps define the dining room.

@cold weather: I still think a sort of amputated sink run would look worse that a beam going into a shelf. I'm just trying to make the best choice on the cabinet. I do think i could possibly make the cabinet shorter though.
However:
@ctycdm - I already had the fridge and that is the size cabinet they said would fit it and any other similarly sized fridge for later. I want the cabinet around the fridge because it is basically in the dining room - it is basically a partial wall.

@hollysprings , I really want that 36" sink and plan on getting an independent sprayer to be on the right side so I can use that side for prep since I couldn't have a prep sink installed (slab/drainage issues). It got pretty crowded and cranky around my 30" sink when the whole fam was trying to use it. Anyway that is another reason I wanted the counter space to the right.

@renov8tr
I would love to see pix of your cabinets when they're in. Thanks.

So far I like fori's idea about making the above-fridge-cabinet doors go all the way to the bottom of the beam and then fill in that 4" shelf/gap with cabinetry to the crown.
Alternately I like the idea of having the fridge cabinet end at the bottom of the beam (kind of like a less symmetrical version of dilly's) and just not be even with the crown on the uppers above the sink. Since it is different cab fronts it won't look so strange...?...I hope...

@Trebuchet, my second drawing is not looking down from the sky though...Is Plan different than Plan View?

BTW:

Thanks Errant, that does seem like the thing to do, but I actually had to lengthen the wall to the right by 14" in order to fit in the sink run! I had the sink run shorter at first but it looked pretty silly with a dishwasher on the left and an 8" counter on the right :-) Even if I got a smaller sink - which I don't want because I can't have a prep sink - it would still be a fairly unusable size of countertop to the right of the sink
Also, it's kind of a wide galley kitchen (but not wide enough for the island we just tore out...) with a peninsula at one end (sticking out toward the fridge) dividing it from DR so I need the space on the walls.
I appreciate the opinion though.

Something like this where you would eliminate the cabinet altogether might work, I think this looks nice : )

[

[Traditional Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by Miami Interior Designers & Decorators GIL WALSH INTERIORS
Another interesting solution:

[

[Farmhouse Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/farmhouse-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2114) by Shelburne Design-Build Firms Perkins Smith Design Build
This beam dead ends into the cabinetry as well:

[

[Traditional Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by Baltimore Kitchen & Bath Remodelers Owings Brothers Contracting
This is one of my all time favorite ways to disguise a support beam, even though it's not probably going to be of use to you, it's jut so creative!!!

[

[Traditional Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by Natick Kitchen & Bath Designers Rob Kane - Kitchen Interiors Inc.
Lower all the cabinets on that run?

[

[Traditional Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by Ashland Cabinets & Cabinetry Wellborn Cabinet, Inc.
Running a decorative beam a small way down the wall with cabinet inside?

[

[Traditional Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by Rigby General Contractors B&B Builders
Going over top the cabinets

[

[Traditional Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by Chevy Chase Kitchen & Bath Designers Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath
Just don't put any cabinets over the fridge?

[

[Farmhouse Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/farmhouse-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2114) by Millbrook Architects & Designers Crisp Architects

A couple more:

[

[Transitional Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/transitional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2112) by Little Rock Interior Designers & Decorators Tobi Fairley Interior Design

[

[Rustic Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/rustic-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2111) by Norwich Architects & Designers Smith & Vansant Architects PC
At the end they incorporated the beam into the trim and cabinet.

[

[Traditional Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by Washington Architects & Designers Donald Lococo Architects

[

[Beach Style Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/beach-style-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2110) by Stone Harbor Architects & Designers Asher Associates Architects

Here's what I'd do, if I were keeping the beam in that location. Put a thin, flat fascia trim board under the crown down to the bottom of the beam. Bring doors up to the bottom of the beam. Now the beam is melted into the crown line.

shallow cabinet opening like overhead bin

[

[Rustic Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/rustic-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2111) by Big Sky Architects & Designers Centre Sky Architecture Ltd
This is exciting, do a wine bottle storage overhead of the fridge and the end is part of a frame for the beam! Or if the beam is off center it's just one of the spaces and it gets disguised by all the bottles and becomes a part of the decor. I think this might be my favorite. Not sure what type of cabinets you will be doing.

[

[Contemporary Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2103) by Cleveland Kitchen & Bath Fixtures Moen

"@Trebuchet, my second drawing is not looking down from the sky though...Is Plan different than Plan View?"

You are correct. I am an idiot, or at least shouldn't post while drinking. Your second pic is an elevation.

Plan is an abbreviation of Plan view.

At least I got the link right.

Thanks so much gr8day!! I feel a lot better now and you really made me able to decide between my two best alternatives.
I think I will be going with the idea of making the cabinet doors go as high as the beam and then just filling the space above the taller cabinet with cabinetry as per fori's idea.
@beautybutdebtfree - Thanks for the picture! That's the idea I'm going with. Will you sue me for copyright infringement if I send it to my cabinet shop?

Aw Trebuchet. I'm just honored that you weighed in on the question.

Okay, I did it! here is the new drawing from cabinet shop.
I had to do it fast because I am trying to get on the "cut list" so I can get my kitchen back in a month or so. (It's been a month so far with no kitchen :-)

Fori asked about cab color. The cabinets will be white and I haven't decided what to do with the fir beam. Should I paint it white like cabs? Seems like it would show less. I have fir boxes around cedar beams in LR at 13' and the stain looks tan to red in parts. If you stand in the middle of 6'6" opening from kitchen to LR, you can see both types of beam...If you have shifty eyes.The beam is only cut off in the kitchen drawing, it does cross the kitchen at 9' and divides it from the DR ceiling which slants up to 11'.

We have a post and beam in our living room which is stained and the ones that go outside of the house out to the roof line are also stained brown. When we renovated the house, we raised the ceiling in the family room, put in a beam and it's painted white to match the ceiling colour. Our cabinets are white. I wish we had stained the beam brown and formed it like the one in the living room. At some point I will have it changed.

Thanks blfenton! I will keep that in mind.

So the beam defines the edge of the kitchen? And it matches ones in the next room? And it's fir? If I got that right, then for sure leave it firry. That way it's a feature and not a remodeling artifact. You get to say "I meant to do that". It would be a nice transition.

If storage is an issue and every inch counts, the dead space above the fridge by the beam can be utilized, either by having it open to the cabinet below (awkward but not terrible) or having a hidden door with concealed hardware that flips up.

Hi fori,

My husband (who is out of town as usual) actually talked to me about the kitchen on the phone from Michigan! He agrees with you about having the beam stained and not painted.
And, he suggested leaving the dead space above accessible from the cabinet too.
Or. Having. A. Hidden. Flip. Up. door. ...
Hey! Are you in Michigan?
You stay away from my husband :-)

I AM your husband, trying to manipulate you with my brilliance!

He is brilliant and a trickster, I would not put it past him.

THANKS AGAIN EVERYBODY

Yes, thanks. Now our kitchen will be exactly as I envisioned!!

HAHAHAHAHa
fori you crack me up

Catherine, My cabinets are in and this is a photo of the beam and my pantry. Although not the best design, I hardly notice it with the crown moulding up. I am looking forward to having a pantry in my new kitchen.

Hey thanks for remembering to post that.
That looks almost just like mine will be - if they ever finish building the cabs! Except I never thought about molding on the beam. That looks really nice. But I think my beam won't match my cabs. I probably won't stain it and the cabs will be white.
Love your pantry doors. Really nice crossed trim pieces. Those pulls look a lot like the RH Ephram pulls I got. Those are nice.
We have matching blue tape on our floors!! That's just amazing :-)
At least my floors, walls and ceiling are done.

Hi everyone running into this same situation but it’s with a steel I beam. Any thoughts or recommendation? the cabinet is a pantry cabinet. Thanks in advance