Kitchen Design
Should You Go for Floor-to-Ceiling Cabinets in Your Kitchen?
Confining much of your storage to one wall offers advantages, as these stylish designs show
More homeowners are choosing to devote an entire wall in their kitchens to floor-to-ceiling cabinetry. If you have enough counter space elsewhere in the room, this is a great way to build in a lot of storage. Take a look at these designs for ideas and inspiration for your kitchen.
Make the Most of a U-Shape
In a U-shaped kitchen, it’s tempting to keep all three surfaces clear for food preparation. However, this isn’t always necessary, as there’s often enough work surface along one or two walls. This kitchen benefits from a lengthy wraparound countertop.
Shop for appliances on Houzz
In a U-shaped kitchen, it’s tempting to keep all three surfaces clear for food preparation. However, this isn’t always necessary, as there’s often enough work surface along one or two walls. This kitchen benefits from a lengthy wraparound countertop.
Shop for appliances on Houzz
Let In Natural Light
If the wall you’re hoping to fit cabinets against is perpendicular to a window, you’ll need to plan carefully. It’s important to leave a gap beside the window to avoid blocking light, but that could lead to some wasted space. The designers of this room have installed a shelving unit in the gap between the cabinets and the window. The open design doesn’t block the natural light flooding in, but the shelves provide storage space.
If the wall you’re hoping to fit cabinets against is perpendicular to a window, you’ll need to plan carefully. It’s important to leave a gap beside the window to avoid blocking light, but that could lead to some wasted space. The designers of this room have installed a shelving unit in the gap between the cabinets and the window. The open design doesn’t block the natural light flooding in, but the shelves provide storage space.
A row of deep windows and a glass door let plenty of light into this open-plan kitchen. The tall cabinets on one end of the U-shaped kitchen frame appliances and form a central storage area.
Create Contrast
The slate gray wall of cabinets provides a striking contrast with the beautiful quartzite backsplash wall and sculptural island in this Toronto kitchen. The floor-to-ceiling cabinetry unit provides enough storage to allow the homeowner to forgo upper cabinets on the other wall. Hidden behind the cabinet doors to the right of the fridge is an appliance garage wrapped in the same quartzite.
Read more about this kitchen
The slate gray wall of cabinets provides a striking contrast with the beautiful quartzite backsplash wall and sculptural island in this Toronto kitchen. The floor-to-ceiling cabinetry unit provides enough storage to allow the homeowner to forgo upper cabinets on the other wall. Hidden behind the cabinet doors to the right of the fridge is an appliance garage wrapped in the same quartzite.
Read more about this kitchen
Incorporate Work Space
If you don’t have quite enough countertop space elsewhere, try breaking up a solid block of cabinets. Here, swapping the central tall units for base and wall cabinets has created enough of a surface for a sink and extra prep space, plus the backsplash adds decorative interest.
The designers have still made good use of the wall by adding a double row of shelves above the countertop.
If you don’t have quite enough countertop space elsewhere, try breaking up a solid block of cabinets. Here, swapping the central tall units for base and wall cabinets has created enough of a surface for a sink and extra prep space, plus the backsplash adds decorative interest.
The designers have still made good use of the wall by adding a double row of shelves above the countertop.
Include a Niche
The niche in the cabinet wall next to this kitchen serves as a wine bar with wine bottles and wine glasses stored overhead. It also makes a nice decorative focal point in the transitional space.
The niche in the cabinet wall next to this kitchen serves as a wine bar with wine bottles and wine glasses stored overhead. It also makes a nice decorative focal point in the transitional space.
The island in this kitchen has everything needed for food preparation — a work surface, a cooktop and a sink. The floor-to-ceiling wall behind it offers plenty of storage space. At the end of the cabinetry wall, the room’s designers have carved out a painted niche for preparing hot drinks and breakfast.
Frame the Island
You can use wall-to-wall cabinets as a backdrop for other elements in the kitchen. Here, the flat-fronted, pale green cabinets provide a subtle canvas that showcases the beautiful marble veining on the island.
Choose a design that works with the feature in front of it. The complementary tones here give a subtle look, but you could try something bolder with contrasting surfaces.
You can use wall-to-wall cabinets as a backdrop for other elements in the kitchen. Here, the flat-fronted, pale green cabinets provide a subtle canvas that showcases the beautiful marble veining on the island.
Choose a design that works with the feature in front of it. The complementary tones here give a subtle look, but you could try something bolder with contrasting surfaces.
Tell us: Would you choose a row of tall cabinets for your kitchen? Share your thoughts and pictures in the Comments.
More on Houzz
Read other stories about kitchen cabinets
Find a kitchen designer near you
Shop for cabinet door and drawer hardware
More on Houzz
Read other stories about kitchen cabinets
Find a kitchen designer near you
Shop for cabinet door and drawer hardware
A useful advantage of wall-to-wall cabinets is the opportunity they provide for incorporating integrated appliances, such as a wall oven and refrigerator, as in this attractive white-and-wood kitchen.
Find a cabinetry professional