While my family's visit was short,
we were able to do a little more work in the kitchen before their departure.
After adding a top part to the upper cabinets, and improving the island,
we covered the edges and seams of the upper cabinets addition with molding.
While it still looks very patchy,
it is much improved over the original!
Here is what we started with, and the midpoint:
The kitchen update was inspired by this tutorial by Remodelando la casa.
We used another one of Cristina's idea to improve the bottom of the cabinets.
We attached 1 X 2 at the bottom of the cabinets,
and hid the seams with the same molding that we used on the top,
but up-side-down.
This accomplishes a few goals:
and hid the seams with the same molding that we used on the top,
but up-side-down.
This accomplishes a few goals:
- it makes the cabinets look a lot more finished
- it repeats the molding, making it symmetrical
- it creates some space under cabinets to add lighting
-it aligns the microwave with the cabinets
So here it is, prettier
but still with a lot of work to be done...
but still with a lot of work to be done...
it will just happen slowly,
probably one week end at a time!
Happy day!
Morgane, I just noticed this post, thanks for the shout out! I'm going to add a link to this post on mine.
ReplyDeleteI really like the open box type cabinets that you did in your kitchen. We are remodeling our kitchen and I am wanting the open box top cabinets and I came across your pics. I am trying to visualize them in my kitchen. Our ceiling height is 8 feet and so there would be only about 10-12 inches above our existing cabinets which some of that would have to account for the trim or moulding on top. Wondering what was your ceilng height and what is the opening height of the inside of the open cabinets that you have?
ReplyDeleteJeanne, our ceiling are also 8 feet, and the opening was about 11 inches. so at the end, it is about 10 inches, the molding is only on the ceiling.
ReplyDeleteI have been wanting to do something like this, I am so glad I found this post. Would you mind explaining the construction? How are the 2x1s attached to the cabinets and ceiling? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI actually build boxes without tops (so 2 sides, a bottom and a back) for each cabinets, so a total of 5 boxes out of 1/2 inch MDF. I needed to do so because the top of cabinets were not flat or finished.It is also very sturdy. All the seems are hidden by the 1x2, and molding. I gave myself some wiggle room by not taking the boxes all the way to the ceiling (much easier to install), I covered the seams later with more 1x2.
ReplyDeleteI would love a copy of this post for my Husband. We are just in the process of redoing our kitchen and would like to fill in the top.
ReplyDeleteI would love a copy of this post for my Husband. We are just in the process of redoing our kitchen and would like to fill in the top.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to know what the height of your cabinets are. I'm working with existing 29" cabinets. Trying to decide if I want to do a build out on top or replace with taller 39" cabinets. I love the interest that the decorative above cabinet nooks give.
ReplyDeleteHi Stephamie, mine are like yours, about 29-30". there was about 11" between the top of the cabinet and the ceiling. It has been more than 4 years since I have done this and I still like it, I cannot even remember what it was like before, except for these pics of course! I need to post an updated version!
DeleteThanks! We did this a few months ago. I painted the inside of the cabinets blue to repeat the color of the living room accent wall.
ReplyDeleteI have cabinets that look exactly like yours and would like to paint them. What was your process? Did you have to strip them? What paint did you use. VERY new to this and would appreciate guidance. LOVE, love, love your cabinets!! Thank you in advance for any help and advice. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, I did it more than 6 years ago, and they still look pretty good.
DeleteI sanded them lightly, removed the dust thoroughly. Then I primed them with kilz primer, and painted 2 coat with regular Behr (homedepot) paint. It was a slow process because I do not have a garage and I had to use the dining room table but it went well.
You can see some of the progress here: http://beardollyandmoi.blogspot.com/2013/01/slowly-working-on-kitchen.html
and the final version here: http://beardollyandmoi.blogspot.com/2013/03/done-with-painting-cabinets.html
best of luck!
Morgane
Did you hand sand it or did you use a sander?
DeleteI used a sander for the flat parts (a small simple one) and I did some hand sanding for the molding parts, I did not go to bare wood, just removing most of the shiny finish. The primer does a really good job sticking to the cabinet. It has been 8 years and still doing great!
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