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Kitchen windows... does your window molding touch the cabinets?

6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago

We want to frame out our windows before we do the backsplash which will be going all the way up to the ceiling. We have 4" craftsman style molding on all other windows in the home but we don't have the room around the windows in the kitchen for 4" boards. Should we do ~2" and have a small gap between the window molding and cabinet or ~3" which would butt right up against the cabinets? A photo of your space would be helpful if you have windows next to cabinets in your kitchen.

Not the greatest picture but kitchen in progress...



Comments (13)

  • 6 years ago

    Thank you looks great @darbuka!!! How much space is between about an inch? Did you debate going up to the ceiling with the backsplash or no? Last question... did you paint your outlets, what did you use? I want to do this.

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    I’d have to measure, but I’d say there’s about an inch between the window molding on the side, and the cabinets. The top molding extends a bit beyond, so perhaps 1/2” between it and the cabinet. I’ll measure later, to give a more exact measurement.

    As for any consideration for bringing the tile up, to surround the window...we thought about it, but since the tile ends under the vent hood (above the rangetop. We have cabs above.), and they’re on the same wall, we thought it would look more consistent to end the tile under the window.


  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    Those aren’t painted outlet covers. We bought our tile from Heritage Tile, their Subway Ceramics line. They make outlet covers to match the tile. https://heritagetile.com/samples/subway-ceramics-samples/subway-tile/

    The outlets themselves, are from Lutron.

  • 6 years ago

    I would do 2" as I like how darbuka's isn't right next to the cabinets. I kind of wish we had done it that way.

  • PRO
    6 years ago

    If you but against cabinet going to ceiling will look odd and also remember tiling after will cut depth of molding by thickness of tile. Cabinet over molding should terminate into window casing.


    If you go smaller just keep same ratio of other windows vs keeping exact widths.


    If your going subway you can probably eliminate the molding all together.


    Lot of If's...


    Leela4 you can paint thin strip a tan and then use same gel stain on the paint and it will look like extension of wood. Many fiberglass doors are done exactly like that and look exactly like wood.

  • 6 years ago

    In planning my upper cabinets, I allowed for about 5-1/2" of space between uppers and windows. The reason for that amount of space was 3-1/2" for the same trim on other windows, plus 2" of blank wall space. (After cabinets were installed, I decided to have the windows wrapped with tile instead for a cleaner look.)

  • 6 years ago

    Hmm maybe we won't do any molding and just wrap the windows, that's another idea. Or a small molding so there is space between. Counters were installed today so now we can focus on the backsplash!

  • 6 years ago

    3”-9” of negative space between the cabinet sides and any door or window casing is a standard design consideration. It allows for greater light penetration, and a less compressed feeling. Cabinets that scrunch right up to the molding or that have so little space that an artists brush must be used to paint the little strip induce feelings of claustrophobia into a design.

  • 6 years ago

    I see what you're saying but there's definitely no claustrophobic feelings in our kitchen. We might not do moldings now, need to do a few mockups.

  • 5 years ago

    Oh my goodness, I just came across this post. This was a huge dilemma for us too. Did you figure it out? We made the molding around our windows smaller than the rest of the molding in the house. It was a tight fit. This allowed some space between the molding and the cabinets. How did yours turn out?

  • 5 years ago

    @Carrie Johnson yes we ended up with 2" window molding to allow space for tile! Love yours!!


  • 5 years ago

    That looks perfect. Just enough to see the tile. These little decisions were keeping me up at night. Lol.