Kitchen design dilemma - taller cabinets or bigger gap between countertop and cabinets?

[GruffaIo]

We're putting in a new kitchen. It's an old cottage and the kitchen extension space is small so storage is at a premium. Floor to ceiling is 226cm. We're planning for standard base units of 90cm (87cm plus 3cm countertop). There are recessed lights and we need about 2cm to guarantee any wall units can comfortably clear them when opening.

The dilemma is whether to put in 90cm wall units, which would leave 44cm between the countertop and the base of the wall units, or put in 72cm wall units, which would leave more space between the countertop and the base of the wall units plus a gap at the top. We'd probably fill that as I hate the way sticky dust seems to collect up there. In such a small kitchen this seems really wasteful. The additional storage of the 90cm wall units would really help but I'm concerned that the countertop workspace might feel too cramped.

Research online suggests that the gap between the countertop and the base of the wall units is usually recommended to be between 46cm and 50cm (depending where you check). Would we really notice 44cm? Has anyone installed tall cabinets before in a similar situation? Did you regret it? Or did you regret installing the shorter cabinets?

I would consider the bottom shelf of the top cabinet to be the most useful storage space in a kitchen - eye level and easy to reach. Unless you are especially tall, I’d go for the 90cm units.

We went for a bigger gap. I like it, makes the room feel much more spacious and less closed in/cramped.

I always needed a step to reach top shelf anyway so no difference for me.

We did get moulding at top of cupboards to reduce how much bigger the gap needed to be slightly.

Makes the ceiling look higher.

Can you mock it up in your current kitchen, tape a cereal box to the underside of the upper cabinet or something?

Third option shorter cabinets to ceiling with open shelf beneath.

How tall are you? Because if you’re like me and are 6ft (or anyone else who uses the kitchen is) you’ll notice the smaller gap between the countertop and the bottom of the wall cabinets more than you would if you’re not as giant as we are. A 44cm gap worktop to underside would make the underside sit at about 130/140cm (dependent on how level your floors are and how wonky your walls are) and for me that would be waist/bust level and I’d spend my life cursing having to peer under them. I second the suggestion to mock it up in your current kitchen to see how it compares and how you’d get on looking under them to the back of your worktops. I’m with you on preferring no massive gap at the top to accumulate greasy dust- we are intending to put the wall cabinets slightly higher than usual as we are giants and then build them in with boxing and cornnicing (provided we can make it look sensible in our very unlevel and wonky kitchen!)

@thelegohooverer I'm short so can't see the problem with the smaller gap (44cm) but DH who's tall says it would cut off his line of sight though he still wants the taller cabinets. @TuxedoPantherSheHer, you perfectly encapsulate the dilemma - we want a sense of space in a small kitchen but desperately need more storage! @RugsEverywhere we're buying from DIY-Kitchens and these are the only two options.

The previous kitchen had shorter cabinets but that was because it had unnecessary boxing further reducing the ceiling height across one wall. Most of the boxing was unnecessary and, as we're insulating that wall (it's a breeze block extension on a Grade II cottage and really poorly done), we now have access to the 'full' height of 226cm a little bit further into the room if that makes sense.

I am short 5"3 and would have no issue with 44cm.
Only reason I might double think it is what fits under the counter (stand mixer etc)

I think you'll need to go with the shorter units otherwise you'll condemn your dh to crouching for the next 15 years.
However, I get what you mean about the nasty sticky coating that can develop on top of the cupboards, seemingly overnight. You could get the chippy to construct an extra deep matching plinth to cut off that space entirely or, if he's very nifty, he could construct drop down panels held by invisible latches which would leave storage for stuff that's only used rarely.
I've done the storage option in my previous house and it worked well where the gap was 20cm. If I pushed in on the panel it flipped down, don't know what those latches are called.
In this house I have a very awkward 5cm gap which is blocked in by making 5cm strips from a end panel (same finish as plinth) which have been used to block in above the cupboards.

You can add the extrashelf as suggested by rugs independent of what is available at dyi. These days you can easily buy floating shelf hardware on ebay, and colour match your cabinet with a good decorator's shop. You could use the lower open shelf dor coffe/tea. spices, mugs, etc....

Oh right, @Lua and @RugsEverywhere - sorry. I'm off to find some images of open shelves and built-in cornices to see what I think.

You would get away with 44cm, apart from over the sink and cooker. Depending on the layout, it might look very disjointed if you had wall units in mixture of heights - with a fairly symmetrical layout, it can work.

Are you tied to your kitchen provider? Other places will do 80cm wall units, which could be perfect. Otherwise I would put the 72cm units to the ceiling, and put a shelf underneath (as already suggested). You could even run a hanging rail in line with the open shelf behind sink and cooker, to maintain the flow and provide a bit of hanging space for utensils, pretty dish brushes etc.

There are many alternatives, but here is a link to give you an idea:

link

Could you do a mixture of both? Like a couple of lower/taller ones on outside wall and a few higher ones in the middle

Kitchen - 48cm from top of worktop to bottom of cabinet (the lighting pelmet comes down slightly from this). Fine above the sink, and everywhere else.

Utility - 36.5cm. No cabinet above the sink (in front of window) and would be restricted in using appliances.

Utility is lower due to electric consumer unit on the wall, top of cabinet is fitted up to the bottom of the unit.

Just looked again at your sizes.
Given mine with a 48cm gap (less 2 cm pelmet) is fine for working space, and under the sink I'd say go for it.

I'm 5'7. DS is 6ft. Neither have any issues.

I’ve just measured our current gap and it’s 50cm. I like it and I think if I were to go any less I’d probably be annoyed. Also worth noting that I can’t get my stand mixer arm to lift up all the way unless I put it on the cooker which is actually 2cm lower than the worktop (so gap is 52cm there not 50cm) or have it sticking off the edge of the worktop. I don’t have any surface without wall cabinets though so if you were planning a part where there aren’t any then my point is moot!

You could order your kitchen from Handmade kitchens of Christchurch - they are made to measure and not that expensive. So you could have cabinets that fit your ceing height.

I actually have 60cm in my new kitchen and it's more than before. Things to think about

Will you have cupboards over the sink? My tap sat very high under the cupboard before.

My knife block also sits higher than 44cm

What about kettles / microwaves? I wanted more clearance.

Looking at where 44cm would sit in my kitchen it seems very low.

Also think about clearance for extractor fan over hob if you have one...there are legal minimums for gas hobs (don’t know about electric)

This thread has been so helpful. Taking into account working considerations, 44cm seems too low.

I've had another thought about how to get the extra storage - I could put a worktop dresser in one area to give some extra storage and then have the 72cm cupboards in the other area. I've attached the plan from the DIY Kitchen planner and a 3D image. There's a long window (nearly 2m) in front of the sink area. The back wall that looks a little bare will have the fridge/freezer, washer/dryer (with a small section of counter), bin, and a tall radiator to heat the room - nothing else will fit and I thought an isolated cupboard above the washer/dryer would look weird.

My only concern is whether my new plan leaves enough counter space for a kettle, coffee maker, draining board/rack and food prep. I think it does, just about. Is this better?

I've looked at the Handmade option @ISeeTheLight and they look lovely, but we just can't stretch to it. There's a lot more repair work that needs to be done on the house (modern plaster smashed out and replaced with lime plaster to help address a severe moisture problem, complete rewire, etc.) and.

I like the dresser unit Gruffalo.
What range are you looking at? Mine (which I posted pictures of above) is the Norton painted in Sage.

@Chasingsquirrels, I've picked painted Linwood. We liked some of the other colours, but settled on Alabaster so we don't have to pay for end panels. Not sure about the countertop as we didn't like the samples sent through from DIY-Kitchen's supplier. We're now thinking if we have the shorter cabinets, we could fit wooden coving, painted white to match the ceiling and hopefully not draw the eye.

The end panels are expensive aren't they! I ended up with 4 wall, 4 base & 2 larder I think.

Another possibility is if you put a trolley on wheels in that bit by your radiator. It could be moved around to use wherever it suits for food prep, food mixer etc plus most have shelves underneath giving extra storage.

We went for a double worktop dresser to increase storage given the larger gap. It does look really good and holds loads.

You can also have an extra deep worktop, so that you're not working 'underneath' the low wall cupboards. My worktop on one side of the kitchen is almost 10 cm deeper than the other side, and the base of the wall units is 45 cm above the worktop - really fine on the side with the deeper worktop and cramped feeling on the other side