cabinet height question and tile ?

17 years ago

Hi Gang,

We're DIYers. Put up some more of the upper cabinets, only to find we didn't like the height, so last night they all came down!

WE want them to clear the coffee maker (almost 15" tall).

Current plan: 15 1/2" above countertop/9" below ceiling (for top of cabs). That would be about 2 inches higher than in photo. OK? Any advice?

I thought I wanted them on the low side so I could reach the upper shelves (I'm 5'5") but... I guess not--unless I fix the top shelves a bit low. I guess that's OK. Feedback?

Visually--will it look OK? I think so. We plan on putting a cherry trim something-or-other/molding along the wall/ceiling line, but no molding on cabinets. Comments?

Phew. Oh, and if you're up for it, any tile/backsplash comments? I'm thinking (new idea for me) of small glass mini-brick 2 rows (inch wide each) of mix of green tones and light color to pick up gray of counter, above a plainer 4 by 4 tile (maybe white or maybe wall color) and a ring around the U-shaped room, then more of same in stove backsplash in some fun pattern. I quilt so I'm thinking I can come up with a fun pattern OK for a rectangular space. OK to mix size and style of tiles? Sure... Comments?

thanks.

Naan

(Mondays are my new days of rest!)

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Comments (10)

idrive65
17 years ago
I don't see a photo, but 15.5" is lower than I'd like. Mine are 18" (which is standard, I think) but I'm 5'8".
User
17 years ago
Cabinet sizes and heights are standardized for a reason. If you go lower than the standard 18" between the uppers and lowers, your refrigerator cabinet or cabinet over the range will either not line up at the top with the others, or if you do line it up, it will be too low for the fridge and the vent. Of course, with custom cabinets, the cabinets can be made any height you choose and in any configuration, but with either stock or semi custom cabinets, sticking to the standardized dimensions is very important for the overall functionality of the kitchen.
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cat_mom
17 years ago
Ours are the "standard" with the bottom of the upper cabs measuring somewhere between 18-19" above the counters below. I'm only 5'3" and I can just about reach the third shelf in many of my upper cabs, at least stuff near the front of the shelves! Our shelf height/spacing varies by cabinet/storage needs, BTW.

You don't want the uppers to come down too low, or you might limit the things you can store or use on the counters below (e.g, stand mixer, TV, coffee maker....).
Buehl
17 years ago
Will you have a light rail on the bottom of the cabinets? If so, you need to account for that as well. Yes, 18" is standard and I would probably recommend it, but if you don't like your cabinets mounted that high or you don't want that tall a BS, then measure the tallest appliance you plan to store and the tallest appliance you plan to use on the counters. Add at least 1/4" to the tallest measurement and that's how much space you need b/w the finished counter & the bottom of the light rail (or cabinets if you have no light rail).

Why measure those things you use on the counters but don't store there? Because when you're using them on the counter you don't want to be limited to working in the 13" (or less) b/w the front of the upper cabinet & the edge of the counter. Face it, when working, things get moved around, you need space in front of things, etc. Be sure you have enough to be able to actually work on your counters. BTW...my KA stand mixer is approx 16-1/2" tall.
naan
Original Author
17 years ago
We went with 16". Coffee maker fits, but prob not bread machine, but there is a spot for that to be used and prob will store in a cabinet.

Sigh. I'm burned out.
davidro1
17 years ago
Can I ask you to measure the height from the floor, or to tell us the height of your countertop?
krnspn
17 years ago
Counter height is 36 inches.
brickeyee
17 years ago
You also have to check the listing for whatever stope or cook top you ant to use.

An 18 inch clearance to adjacent flammable items is often a requirement.
davidro1
17 years ago
52 inches above the floor is OK, imho. One can get used to it.
naan
Original Author
17 years ago
There are no cabinets near the stovetop except above the range hood directly above. None to the sides (window, etc).
The range hood will be 24" above stove and as long as my math works, the top of the cabinet there will be the same as the non-adjacent other cabinets.

phew. we're bogged down in details at home. Re=touching ceiling mudding/painting, having "tense" discussions about ceiling trim v. no trim... I digress.

Thanks you guys. 16" above standard counter height seems to work for us.