Space above cabinets, they bug me what do I do with them.

Lisa MacInnis

10 years ago

I need some advice, add cabinets, fill in with drywall, or just put stuff up there?

Featured Answer

abbyjean

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

I love a FEW decorations above cabinets in kitchens that have them....and I suggest you keep them and make them work for you.

Take the items off the top of the fridge...looks too cluttered with things THERE, but maybe those items could go straight above there to the open area. I see a green pitcher/teapot???on the island.....that could be fun placed above. Keep looking and find more things that you must love since they are there and out and see how many more can be moved.

I cannot tell what is at the end of the island???? A table??? The room would seem so much more spacious if you could easily walk around the island and maybe even spread the seating out a bit more by using that side of it, too??

Comments (17)

PRO
Kevin Patrick O'Brien Architect, Inc.
10 years ago
That bugs me too! When designing Kitchens we will sometimes hold the upper cabinets "short" like your house if we need space above for beams or painted box beams. Also you can add "rope" lighting up there to get a cool effect?
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7768
10 years ago
Crown moulding would look great too on the cabinets.
Sasha Retana
10 years ago
I was going to suggest crowns for a more finished look. Otherwise, start a jar collection!
rdayfamily
10 years ago
We use that spec for rope lighting and airplay speakers.
kimedge
10 years ago
Hi, I would get some good cardboard boxes with lids and cover them in wallpaper (cheaper than buying pre-made) to match the colours in your kitchen. Then declutter the kitchen with everything you haven't used in the last 6 months and put the boxes on top of the cupboards. Or invest in painted boxes if your budget extends. Then decide what you want to live with. Once you've got stuff on top of the cupboards you might hate it!
Lynne Mysliwiec
10 years ago
If you cannot afford tall upper cabinets, I definitely recommend installing a soffit - that's a LOT of space
groveraxle
10 years ago
I have always disliked that space above the upper cabinets. An invitation to junk the place up, it seems to me. Add display cabinets if budget allows, a soffit if it doesn't.
unwantedadvice
10 years ago
I'm with groveraxel on this one. Too much space above your cabinets. You already have a busy kitchen so no more stuff on cabinet tops and everything will be much nicer!
Karin Madgwick
10 years ago
Have a builder put in a bulk head with crown moulding and paint it the same as your walls
nwduck
10 years ago
Not exactly sure how this would look, but....since you've got the black chairs, what if you tried a FEW simple black pieces up there to fill the space? A black tray set on its side, a good sized black bowl, a piece of black metal art? You could trade out the clock above the sink (or paint the existing frame black) to tie it in. It would visually fill the void without looking too cluttered. Until you decide on $$$ for a more permanent solution, that is! (And agree about clearing the top of the fridge.)
PRO
Effortless Chic
10 years ago
IF you have budget for it , then add cabinets to the ceiling, if not just leave it as is. Soffit would make the the ceiling look lower and the whole kitchen optically smaller, paying for soffit would be a waste. And putting stuff on top of cabinets would look cluttered .
IT also seems that the light fixtures are too small for the scale of your kitchen.
PRO
Pratt Residential Design
10 years ago
If you have the budget and about 18" of space above.the cabinets now, consider glass (or obscure glass if you don't want to see inside) cabinets with lights in the interior, and a small crown on top. These can be separate boxes so you don't have to toss out your current cabinets.
loves2read
10 years ago
You can also use contact paper over boxes which might be easier than wall paper...
you seem to have kind of a country look in your kitchen--
consider getting some baskets--rectangular with a chunky weave--as big as you can fit on their sides up there...and interspace some big baskets with objects in their and other baskets sitting upright or maybe leaning against the wall...
You could use some shallow round ones with a design or colors so you get a 3d effect...
anything you put up there will gather dust though...so be prepared to clean every so often...
morristodo
10 years ago
Do a crown and clear the clutter. Your kitchen will look great.
PRO
Ashley Malowaniuk
9 years ago
You can have a carpenter make the cabinets look extended by boxing them to the ceiling. It makes your ceilings seem taller and looks finished.
vickicz
9 years ago
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