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Are kitchen toe kicks out of date?

last month

We are in the middle of a kitchen renovation and without ever asking us, our cabinet maker added "decorative toe kicks" to the sinks and bar cabinets. Aside from our personal preferences (the "decorative" curves are not the look we wanted), I was wondering if the "toe kicks" are outdated generally?
As for the personal preference part- we do not like the toe kicks and think the entire look (an update from our 1990's raised panels) has been ruined.

Comments (19)

  • PRO
  • last month
    last modified: last month

    The toe kick is the open space. Are you asking if the decorative corner piece is outdated? If so, then have them removed.

  • last month

    Thank you. Onto the style- the carved out curves - for us (just our opinion) is a style that we do not like - it would be the lat thing we would have chosen for our house, but the cabinet maker added it on his own - and told the contractor it is "his signature" touch. This all came after the cabinet maker had a 7 week delay due to a personal matter that we had no problem waiting on while he worked things out and then we got his "signature" style.

    For another post- he also gave us the wrong style drawer and door fronts we chose beveled corners he gave us 90 degree boxes.

  • PRO
    last month

    Toekicks are NEVER out of date. The dust and hair catchers are what are out of date---or charmingly retro, if you prefer. The "feet" are high maintenance and difficult to clean around.

  • PRO
    last month

    You have to have a toe kick the cabinets can't sit directly floor level or else the bottom doors and drawers can't open. You need the raised level a toe kick provides. If you are referring to the furnirure embelishment that answer is also no. That is a custom upgrade to make cabinetry look like furnirure and it is never "out" but its style is dependent on the style of the cabinetry and home.

  • PRO
    last month

    You have to have a toe kick the cabinets can't sit directly floor level or else the bottom doors and drawers can't open. You need the raised level a toe kick provides.


    @Design Interior South


    A toe kick provides room for your toes allowing someone to more comfortably stand in front of the cabinet/counter top.


  • last month

    If you don’t like the corners, then definitely have the removed. They are a PITA to clean behind!

  • last month

    Thanks everyone!

  • PRO
    last month
    last modified: last month

    " without asking, our cabinet maker added"

    Do forgive me, but where was the cad drawing, where was the final look of the face front view of all this, prior to when it went into production?

    Where were YOU ...when these arrived onsite, and HOW did this much get installed prior to being declared "look ruined"?

    Then this>............ below, Your other problem thread which is NO problem


    https://www.houzz.com/discussions/6569639/quartz-backsplash-help


    Maybe time to begin paying MORE attention, and also less?

    You've no one to blame but you on cabinet issue.. Especially with timing of posts considered as there is no way that base detail showed up this late in the game.

  • last month

    This was a request for this online community to weigh in on the toe kick issue and those opinions are much appreciated.

    The toe kick detail did show up this late in the game. There were no CAD drawings of the cabinets.  The cabinets were made by a local craftsman who thought he was doing us a favor by adding the detail.

  • last month

    Your ”local craftsman’s” added detail has no place in a Shaker cabinet kitchen. It’s a fussy detail. The Shaker’s were all about simplicity, and straight lines. I’d have it removed.

  • PRO
    last month
    last modified: last month

    "This was a request for this online community to weigh in on the toe kick issue and those opinions are much appreciated.

    The toe kick detail did show up this late in the game. There were no CAD drawings of the cabinets. The cabinets were made by a local craftsman who thought he was doing us a favor by adding the detail."

    It's still on you. Y.o.u. are the designer, when you've selected those who will be expected to bring your vision to reality.

    Sorry, you simply do not like the answer and that reality. You did not "share" your complete thought, your vision, with your source........nor did follow through the entire check, double check process of design. He was your technician, not your designer. That is on ....you: )

    A back splash managed to get installed 15 days ago with base cabinetry in place.....and your ask on all above, just now...is why?


    They appear as framed with cabinet box....: ( you may be stuck.



  • last month

    OP didn’t say it isn’t on them and is just asking if people think they should be there. She can now follow through and ask for a change if she wants it. I would have been surprised to find them there too. And she may have been right there on site and snapped this pic mid way through install.

  • PRO
    last month
    last modified: last month

    Two things can't be true here.. If your vision gets ruined.....? Was it not equally "ruined two weeks ago when a quartz counter and splash was set on top of....what? Cabinetry with a furniture style toe kick . " 15days ago"

    https://www.houzz.com/discussions/6569639/quartz-backsplash-help

  • last month

    Jan, I know it’s really hard to grasp but sometimes people sit and ponder too. They ask a question in good faith looking for reassurance or answers and then decide what to do next. Perhaps with the focus on the counter the toe kick wasn’t seen right away or they wondered if they could live with it and are now thinking maybe not.

  • PRO
    last month
    last modified: last month

    ^^

    Also a possibility.....but for this

    "Aside from our personal preferences (the "decorative" curves are not the look we wanted), I"

    To all who shall pass,:

    Design IS minutae of detail. Cabinetry is expensive, takes time. These above were not created to that vision. An inspo pic, one with all the details discussed. The demand for an approved elevation..... Custom means custom to your specifications, your look , your vision.

    They all fall on "the designer" .

    Asking....."are these outdated" would have been a great and timely question months ago when presented with the cabinet makers vision......that was not ever produced, nor requested.

    Folks......that's "design" and even then mistakes happen so I will further bore you with a costly error, not mine, not my clients, detail written boldly on a custom upholstery order with a fine maker. Twenty k for two identical couches. and these words

    "No welt!! in two places. B.o.l.d because my client loathes it beyond all reason.

    What did we get? We got welt, a resulting send "em back, a total rip and redo. Expense? Mine/1500.00 - a very unfair bucks of pack and travel,pick up return and blah blah.

    Life and design can be unfair.

  • PRO
    last month

    " There were no CAD drawings of the cabinets. "


    I am just in awe that anyone would sign off on a kitchen without seeing drawings of what they are getting. How the kitchen is going to look. Where each size cabinet is going to sit.......


    "he also gave us the wrong style drawer and door fronts we chose beveled corners he gave us 90 degree boxes."


    DId you sign off on the cabinet style? Was there reference anywhere in the documentation ? We now know you saw no drawings but even without our cabinet makers give us a full running list of each cabinet box size and door and drawer style numbered . Example most every cabinet maker uses Conestoga for fronts and there choices are all pictured with names and numbers. Example




    Each style has a name or number........that should have been listed like this




    Your kitchen designer and your GC should have checked this against the CAD drawings.

    If you have this then it is an easy enough call out to have them switch out the doors and drawers to the correct face styles if what you got is different than what was listed.


    Who is the GC for the project? Kitchen designer? These would fall directly on them and ultimately you for signing off and assuming what you visualized in your head is what was going to come to fruition.


    Go back to your order paperwork and look this up then go to your GC and Kitchen designer and call the errors out. Let them call out the cabinet maker for his/her errors and demand a correction.



  • 4 days ago

    They lil curvey accents look stupid.. he already agreed he added them now he needs to remove them… in some pics some cabinets have no toe kicks- whats up with that?