Is under-cabinet molding a standard thing?

11 years ago

Our Shiloh cabinets are being installed right now and there are a couple of pretty significant scratches on the bottom of a couple of the upper cabinets. My KD was just here and mentioned that the under-cabinet molding would cover those scratches. This got me thinking, though, that I don't remember ever discussing adding this molding. My style is very simple and I don't like fussy details. I do like classic design (I realize that may mean different things to different people). I think the cabinets look fine without any extra molding on the bottom. Do most of you have this? Is it a standard thing that most kitchens have? Will it look unfinished without it? I'm ok with extra details if they make the kitchen look more finished, and aren't just fussy details (if that makes any sense at all?). We are doing a simple shaker molding on the top of the cabinets so I'm assuming there's something that will be very similar for the bottom. My KD will include it at no extra cost or he will replace the dinged cabinets, so they are both cost-neutral fixes. I appreciate any feedback!

Featured Answer

Melissa Johnson

11 years ago

I prefered no light rail, because I wanted less fussy too. My undercab lighting is flush mount and the strips cannot be seen. So you have that option as well.

As for the scratches, have your KD show you a light rail so you can see how it looks and if it will cover the scratches. Then you can make a better decision :)

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Comments (10)

stephanj
11 years ago
I think it's fine not to have it. I got mine to hide the undercab lighting.
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Amber
11 years ago
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User
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
I think you are talking about the light rail. It is exactly how it sounds--a rail, or moulding, along the bottom of upper cabinets which shields the undercabinet lighting behind it. Aren't you getting undercabinet lighting? If not, I recommend strongly that you do. Undercabinet lighting would not be "fussy". You need undercabinet lighting because upper cabinets cast shadows on countertops, and prevent ceiling lighting from reaching the counters. The undercabinet lighting adds light to the counters that are otherwise blocked from the ceiling lights by the upper cabinets. The light rail is installed to cover the undercabinet lighting, and is not fussy whatsoever, and is standard.

A light rail is in the same style as the rest of your cabinets. If you had chosen an elaborate cabinet style, then the light rail would also be elaborate. If you choose a simple cabinet style, such as the Shaker you mentioned, the light rail will match.

However, the light rail has nothing to do with covering up scratches. That is a fault of your installer, and should not have happened.
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slk7e7
Original Author
11 years ago
We are doing the UCL but they're pretty thin LED lights so I don't think we necessarily need the light rail to cover them up. I'm going to have my husband hold them up for me to see if they show or not, and that may help the decision.
brdrl
11 years ago

We just had custom Shaker style cabinets installed with lower molding. I questioned it - it did have to do with under mount lighting but think it does look more finished. I don't yet have good pictures of our almost finished kitchen but here is a corner shot.
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slk7e7
Original Author
11 years ago
brdrl - thanks for the picture. Those look exactly like my cabinets and I really like that molding. It's funny, I've been looking at cabinets for months and months and I never noticed this detail until now. Now, it's all I see (until the next detail I get hung up on... then I'll be back to not noticing it again!)
numbersjunkie
11 years ago
Pics would help.
adoiron
11 years ago
I would take the kd up on the no extra cost light rail as it would have been about $600 for my medallion silverline cabinets. the bottoms of my uppers look pretty beat up in places and I was told that it is not considered a defect so would not be covered. it sounds like your kd and Shiloh are going the extra mile!
mcgoverntheory
7 years ago
The answer depends on whether your cabinets are framed or frameless. If they are the later, the moulding will serve to hide scratches on the underside.