When mapping out the plans to your kitchen transform, there’s a plethora of design particulars to contemplate – particularly with regards to pinning down the dimensions and magnificence of your cupboards. In a conventional residence, upper-level wall-hung cupboards usually measure between 32 and 36 inches tall, leaving an area of round one or two toes above.
Nonetheless, in fashionable kitchens – significantly in city areas the place house is at a premium – working cupboards to the ceiling is a brilliant technique to incorporate further storage. In addition to the sensible benefit of getting further house to stash small home equipment and utensils, ceiling-height models create a clean, fuss-free aesthetic, and avoiding making a mud entice on high of the cabinets.
However is it a good suggestion to your kitchen? We spoke to the specialists to seek out out the professionals and cons of putting in full-height cupboards, in addition to delving into the important thing design particulars to get proper to make sure your kitchen capabilities fantastically and has loads of design panache.
Why go for ceiling-height cupboards?
‘Except you will have a selected styling intention for the house between the tops of your cupboards and the ceiling, I feel it’s at all times value working models as much as the highest,’ says Gabrielle Aker, proprietor and principal at Aker Interiors (opens in new tab). ‘When cupboards cease shy of the ceiling, the house above them both turns into a mud collector or causes visible chaos with a hodgepodge of hardly ever used kitchen objects.’
Chris Hawkins, director at Salisbury-based architectural apply Forgeworks (opens in new tab), agrees – particularly for kitchens in interval properties that include the built-in benefit of tall, lofty ceilings.
‘If models solely prolong to 2 thirds of the ceiling top, as an example, as time goes on you’ll discover that you find yourself dumping stuff on high,’ he says. ‘Constructing a high-level cabinet gives a helpful house for further kitchen storage. Plus, there’s nothing unsuitable with having sure objects which can be out of attain, as there are many stuff you’re not going to make use of every day anyway.’
From an aesthetic perspective, cupboards that run as much as the ceiling in a clean, steady block will set up a clear, minimal look. In case your objective is to create a bespoke, hand-crafted enchantment, ceiling-height models can present an efficient means of enhancing this impact, too. Plus, incorporating bigger models helps draw the attention upwards, making kitchens with low ceiling heights seem bigger and extra spacious than they are surely.
(Picture credit score: Michael Clifford. Design: Aker Interiors)
What are the arguments in opposition to ceiling-height cupboards?
On the draw back, the price of putting in bespoke extra-tall models is way larger than sourcing off-the-shelf cupboards. That is all the way down to the additional design work, supplies and fabrication that’s required – we’ll take a better have a look at this later.
Entry is one other consideration, as reaching upper-level cabinets will probably be difficult with no step ladder. Due to this fact, one of the simplest ways to maximise the house is to stash kitchen paraphernalia that’s solely used on particular events, so that you don’t end up struggling to achieve important objects on a day by day or weekly foundation.
‘Relying on the kitchen colour, ceiling-height models could be imposing to the room,’ says Amy Chan, design supervisor at London-based Kitchen Structure (opens in new tab). ‘Plus, when there are extra cupboards within the kitchen, we regularly find yourself storing extra issues that we don’t essentially want.’
(Picture credit score: Ståle Eriksen. Design: Oliver Leech Architects)
How a lot ought to I price range?
Gabrielle from LA-based Aker Interiors estimates that tailored cabinetry for an average-sized kitchen value is more likely to be within the ballpark of $40k for supplies, fabrication and set up, relying in your design spec and placement. This sum is, after all, considerably greater than what you’d find yourself paying for off-the-shelf cupboards.
If the fee turns into a prohibitive issue, however your coronary heart continues to be set on ceiling top models, there are a few intelligent methods you’ll be able to make use of to cease your price range from spiraling. For instance, if you happen to’re constructing an extension and have management over what the ceiling heights in your new kitchen will likely be, it may be value setting your ceiling top at a stage the place you’ll be able to set up off-the-shelf carcasses to run all the best way to the ceiling. These models could be completed with bespoke cabinet fronts to determine a tailored look.
In its place, Raili Clasen, founder and inventive director at Raili CA Design (opens in new tab) recommends including a easy trim piece that extends all the best way to the ceiling, which can allow you to realize the identical clean, steady aesthetic. ‘This makes the room look bigger and prevents mud from gathering,’ she says.
(Picture credit score: Karyn Millet. Design: Raili Ca Design)
Get the design particulars proper
In line with Amy from Kitchen Structure, getting the proportions of your cupboards proper, relative to the ceiling top, is the important thing to design success. ‘The models have to be proportionate to the room,’ she says. ‘Generally one of the simplest ways to complete the tops of the models is to go to an affordable top with the models and construct a bulkhead down from the ceiling. It will give a well-finished body, supposed for the cupboards to suit right into a designed area of interest.’
In case you’re putting in new cupboards in an present kitchen, sloping ceilings, beams and moldings can introduce a further layer of design complexity. In situations reminiscent of these, the additional architectural particulars might find yourself trying cluttered and awkward when crammed in proper subsequent to your new cabinetry.
It could be doable to have your contractor or carpenter strip out previous coving and suchlike, however this gained’t be doable for beams and rafters that serve a structural function. One other answer might be to color your kitchen cupboards and the rest of the wall above in the identical colour, so you’ll be able to nonetheless obtain a steady aesthetic.
“Don’t be afraid to play with texture or drama, whatever the measurement of your kitchen,” says Gabrielle. “Strive a darkish, moody colour to your cupboards or a novel fluted element. If in case you have a small or darkish kitchen house that feels heavy when maxed out with full-height cabinetry, strive including some open shelving to interrupt up the strong doorways.”
One other design tip is to make sure that the higher models aren’t too deep so you’ll be able to nonetheless see objects which can be saved on the again.
