What will you be storing in the uppers next to the hood? If it's stuff that you'll quickly access while using the stove, keep in mind the door swing. It's a bit of an annoyance for uppers next to the stove to open away from the stove if you're grabbing stuff to cook with. I'm sorry if that doesn't make any sense.

I prefer the look of the 18s, but I recall in our last kitchen that the 18" door swing felt huge. What about 24" uppers toward the outside and 12" uppers next to the hood that have knobs on the hood side?

I'd do 18" doors on a 36" cabinet with no stiles if I could. More functional (especially for dishes which might not be your intended use) and less fussy looking.

Benjisbride i currently store cooking oils, baking items and cookbooks to the left of range and all daily dishes to the right of range. i should mention I now have the 18" double doors on sides of range and seems to work fine. Just looking for options. I don't mind change :)

good thought about the 24" to the outside and the "12 next to range! That makes sense!

like you said then that one could open away from range.

One cabinet will be less money. I have 12 inch upper cabs on one side of my stove...let's just say that there will NOT be any 12 inch cabinets in my remodeled kitchen.

Fori thanks for feedback. I agree no center stiles. Hubby agrees with you...says looks a little busy.

Rantontoo why no 12"?

18" x 2 cabs, why not a 36" cab (w/ 2 doors)?

May cost less and have less wasted space.

36" double door cab on each side. I have a personal "rule" about kitchen wall cabinets. Nothing under a 21" width unless there is absolutely no other option for the space.

Mdln yes you said it correctly it would be a 36" cabinet with 2 18" doors and your right the cost is less.

Watchmelol why nothing under 21"?

Do you have any 12 inch cabinets currently? They're pretty narrow for storing anything other than spices. I'd go for the 18inch doors for sure! And then I'd plan out what will go in them to decide if you want 18 or 36 inch cabinets. I have 30 inches on either side of my range. On one side I did a 30 inch cabinet (for glasses and bowls). The other side was for Tupperware and spices, so I did two separate cabinets for better organization.

I also prefer the larger door. Better look and better function, in my opinion. Anytime you can get a larger interior you will have greater flexibility.

I had three 12" uppers in my old kitchen. Two were next to the sink; one used for cups and glasses, the other used for canned goods (we don't have a pantry). The third was next to the range, and used for spices.

My new footprint is essentially the same - but I increased the uppers around the sink to 15". I'm amazed at that even that small increase made the cabinets far more useful.

I moved my range over a foot, so I now have a 24" cab where I had a 12". On the inside of the left door (so it faces the range when open), my cabinet maker put a built-in spice rack. It is SO much easier to arrange the cabinet and find what we're looking for now! The only way I could see a 12" cab being convenient is if it was a pullout, accessible from both sides (and I'd need to actually use this before I would recommend it).

The best storage would be from a 36" wide cabinet with 2 doors. They would also be closer in size to the doors on your corner cabinets.

Just a thought... If you go 36" cabinets and there has to be a center stile, consider hinging both left doors left and both right doors right. Opening a door while standing at the range will be much more convenient.

Hi I would use the 2 @ 18". I think it will look nice and more functions better.

thanks for all your feedback! i've decided to go with the 36" cabinets with 18" doors no center stile. my kd was happy and said good decision almost as if he hoped i was leaning that way :)