Start over. Ripping everything apart to cut off a toekick, putting it back together, and having it professionally coated, will cost more than starting over.

Or buy a different house rather than one needing a 60K expense right off the bat.

Or, kitchen clogs.

If you are considering starting over, I would probably start over. From a stylistic standpoint the cabinet style chosen by the previous owners is not really compatible with the architecture of the house. I think if you were just cutting down the toe kicks and reinstalling, it might be cost effective because the counters are also not solid slab granite and easier to remove. But add in having them painted and you might as well start over. You could probably sell them.

You have a kitchen designed by and for a tall person.

How hard it would be to lower the counters depends on how the cabinets were installed ... usually there is just a platform built for the extra height and it is a standard cabinet on a 2x4 booster with a wider than normal toe-kick hiding the kludge.

I would pick the smallest chunk of cabinets, drill a hole in the base and the toe-kick and use an endoscopic probe (they are inexpensive) to see what's in there. Or remove a toe-kick piece and see what's there.

Then you will be in a better informed position to make a decision.

So many nice features in your house. Looks like 1980's soft contemporary. Agree the cabinets look very nice but don't fit the house at all. It might be easier to build a raised floor in the interim while you save for a full remodel.

Just out of curiosity: a couple of people mention that the style of the current cabinets doesn't match the style of the house. What do you think does match the style of the house? Is this an Eichler house by any chance?

I think this is perhaps a home from the 1960s based on the color of the brick and the layout. Nonetheless, it does have a cool midcentury vibe. If a full remodel was to be done, I think this is a great kitchen to have slab cabinetry.

Good luck with your decisions. Maybe a cousin of Julia Child owned your home (her counters were specifically taller as well).

Being short, I certainly understand the issue with the height of the cabinets.

Does it also make the upper cabinets higher as well? For a short person that would mean more of the upper shelves were inaccessible as well.

I think that it comes down to budget and how long you plan to stay in the house. You could get a contractor to come in and let you know whether the cabinets could actually be lowered at a reasonable cost - i.e. are they standard cabinets that are simply resting on a platform? You could then make an informed decision.

As a stop gap measure, you could lower one area so that at least prepping is more ergonomic. It's hard to tell from the picture but it looks as though the counter holding the mixer doesn't have actual lower cabinets - or you could remove the island and replace with a lower island. There is no sink so it's not ideal but it looks as though it is at least directly across from the sink so it's not an impossible situation. My grandmother prepped at a kitchen table with the sink across the aisle.

Really it comes down to your budget and what you are trying to accomplish. Based on current standards, the kitchen isn't that functional since it appears there aren't lower drawers. If the issue is function, the kitchen is never going to be as functional as it could be even if lowered. The counter looks as if it is tile so at least for me, salvaging it isn't that much of a priority since it can be replaced relatively cheaply.

If I had limited funds to spend, I would probably try to figure out a solution to make the kitchen function better and put in just a lower island and then start saving for a completely new kitchen.

I know people talk about kitchens being $40,000 to $60,000 and I agree that it's relatively easy to reach that price point. However, I also think that it is easy to create a very nice functional kitchen at a lower price point - it looks as though your appliances wouldn't have to be replaced immediately which is a cost savings right there - my appliances (moderate level) were about $10,000 for everything. There are quality cabinets that are also moderately priced and it doesn't look as thought you have a huge quantity. You never know until you price them out.

I wouldn't paint the cabinets because the wood is actually not unattractive and with better lighting and paint, it could be brighter. The backsplash is too dark as well but again, question is, how much you want to invest in cosmetic fixes for a kitchen that isn't ergonomically functional

Suzannesl, the cabinet door style is raised panel which is more traditional yet the house has a contemporary vibe. I agree with Aurora Tee in that I see slab doors fitting very nicely here. Amy didn't ask about that, tho. :)

I am a tall person and our last house we had all the bottom kitchen cabinets, stove and dishwasher raised up on a wood frame. If this is built the same way you will have to remove the counter, remove the cabinets and get rid of the frame and then put everything back.

Your countertops look thicker than normal too. One other option would be to get 2cm tops installed. That might cut it down 1-2". Just a thought if you're looking to keep the cabinets.

The answer, of course, is to have your husband do all the cooking. :-)

I sympathize as a fellow shortie. My mom is also short. My childhood home was a 60s ranch. I remember when they sold it, lots of potential buyers remarked the house was built for hobbits or something. Not just the kitchen counters -- even the door knobs were all lower than standard.

If you do decide to bite the bullet and renovate, just be careful not to go overboard in the other direction.

What would you do about the backsplash?

It would't be all that to lower the cabinets.

How high is the counter?

What is considered "normal" height has changed over the years, so an actual number would help!

My house was built by tall people, with the shortest being the mother at 5'10". Most of the counters were between 36 - 37". I am short and didn't have a problem with them at that height and we have kept similar heights as we have remodeled the bathrooms and kitchen.

That looks like something I did once. Right down to the cherry cabinets and tile countertop. I still miss that kitchen every time I have a lot of sink work to do.

Rather than drilling into a cabinet just yet, check under the dishwasher or along the fridge for a raised platform. Or pull off an inconspicuous piece of toe kick and look for a 2x4 under the cabinets. If you have toekick vents, you might even be able to tell by removing one of them. Pulling out a 2x4 platform won't be hard, but dismantling everything to get to it will be. The cabinets should be salvageable if you like the layout, but it's really a kitchen re-do at that point.

Just my two cents from a vertically challenged cook. I did a lot of research on why counters are normally at 36" Whoever the president was after World War 11 (was it Rosevelt :? wanted to get the economy going and made the decision that counters will be 36" to standardize things (I honestly don't know if that's true but) he wanted to simplyfy things and get the building industry going.

For someone who is 5'4 it's not a comfortable counter height. When I'm at the range top I find myself lifting my shoulders in an uncomfortable position as if that will make me taller. For a basket ball player it is clearly not comfortable even though he probably isn't preparing meals.

The last remodel we did I said, I'm the cook and this is my kitchen and it will fit me. I wanted lower counters. I can't believe the push back from everywhere. I finally did find a company that made cabinets that were on legs that were adjustable. My cooking/baking center is way lower than the regular counter/sink area. So do what YOU want. When someone else buys the place they can do what fits them. We're now trying to sell the place and surprisingly many women are not the Average and like what I did.

Inga