The Cabinets in Kitchen #1

You could put the microwave in the pantry. That's where my mum has hers :)

is it okay for the microwave to be above the stove? won't the heat from the stove harm it?

How exciting for you all! Keep up the great work, you are all doing an amazing job. I had a made a previous comment on another of your kitchen posts and wonder if you were able to read it Ana. It included a link that showed cabinetry above a banquet. Would be great extra storage for rarely used items!

I love how the designs have come together for the kitchen! The planning is half the fun. Thanks for showing the process from start to finish. I know you already have lots of storage but could you access that dead corner space by extending your sink cabinet into the corner and adding a lazy susan for cleaning supplies?

Your Momplex is coming along very nicely. I love the way you've planned the units.

When I read about the microhood, I was very interested in it because I have a very small kitchen. However, according to Consumer Reports (below), the venting isn't as good as an overhead. I've read comments at other blogs making similar comments.

Often labeled as OTRs, these models are typically bought as replacements or when a kitchen is remodeled. While they can be vented to the outside, don't expect an over-the-range microwave to vent as well as a capable range hood that extends over the front burners.

Pros:Over-the-range microwaves leave the counter workspace clear.

Cons:They cost more, and installation might require an electrician. And even the best don't vent as well as a capable range hood.

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/appliances/kitchen-appliances/microwa...

I live in Texas & microwaves over the stove have been around for 25 years, they are wonderful! I mean really, how often does one use a ventihood? In the last year, I haven't turned mine on once. If your moms are anything like my mom, they cook on low & slow. I think ur kitchen designs are wonderful!

I am sure that you've accounted for this but be sure to leave yourself a little spacer in the corner so you can open the sink base cabinets up fully without smashing into the pulls for the drawers! (and consequently can open the drawers up without smashing into the hardware for the cupboards too) All the savings in the world won't be worth it if you can't use what you put your blood, sweat, and tears into to their full potential.

GE moved all of their manufacturing to Mexico, but left their quality control guys here in the U.S. We purchased one trying to stay with an American company, and got burned for our efforts. After the second doa microwave (one of which had major design flaws that put a mounting screw in the path of the vent fan blades), we ditched GE and bought another brand (LG I think). Speaking with a salesman afterward, he said we weren't alone, and because of the high failure rate (100% in their last shipment) he strongly discouraged people from buying them.

You rock.

I don't see it on your drawings, but I assume you're going to add at least one little lipped shelf for spices under the open shelving for the dishes between the brackets? With the curves of the brackets you could even add two, one maybe 6 inches deep and a second one lower down only 3 inches deep. This would put large and small containers for spices and common cooking ingredients in easy reach. A little mini peg rack to hang the most frequently used cooking utensils (or a magnetic knife strip) could go under the narrower shelf to use all the vertical space without cluttering the counter.

I am always looking for storage and hate wasted space - maybe instead of hiding that corner, you could make an extra deep cabinet on the dining console? It's better to have storage that's not used than a need for storage and no space!!

Consider a pocket door or bi-fold door on the pantry, that way, the entire back wall could be storage because there would be no door swing.

Have a swing down recipe book shelf (or two!) in the prep area. These make life so much easier.

I don't know if you can do it, but I have a kitchen setup now that has a wall oven/micro combo that makes life easier (no bending to pick up hot food!!) and a cook top/flat top griddle with huge drawers underneath for pots, pans and utensils. I rent here, but when I buy, I am doing this setup (although, I would put the cooktop here a BIT away from the fridge because I can't flip pancakes with my left hand and that's where the big burner is! Spatulas were flying on Xmas morning, lol!)

So Excited to start seeing these plans! I have wanted to convert several of my base cabinets into drawers for quite some time. Can't wait! You're the best!

I like the microwave hood - we have one, and it is much better than wasting precious counter space on one.

I think I would not put the right hand wall on the sink cabinet and extend it into the corner, or turn the cabinet around for use from the bar side, rather than waste the space

Im so excited for these plans even though i just finished my kitchen lol. Im moving to Montana soon and just might consider taking on another kitchen. Cant wait!

I have been waiting since you first mentioned building the Momplex cabinets yourself. We have a small (8x11ish) and ill-designed kitchen and a very constricting layout (can't move appliances or expand due to door placements, etc.). So I have been waiting for your plans to build new, useful cabinets for our kitchen to get the full remodel I want on a tight budget.

I just wanted to say THANK YOU for developing all your plans (I love everything I've built so far using them), and I am SO EXCITED for the cabinet plans!!!! They will be printed and put in my build binder just as soon as they go up!

You are amazing! You have just designed my kitchen cabinets for me so my hubby and I won't have to fight over what I want.I will probably be about 3 to 6 months behind you on building them, and I have a few ideas about countertops I am still researching. Once again, THANK YOU!!!!!!

My husband has owned an appliance store for almost 30 years and OTR microwaves are quite popular. The good ones can be quite pricey, though. And getting things in and out of them while things are cooking on the stove can be dangerous, especially since you are looking at the Momplex as the place where your mothers are going to spend their end-of-life years.
The suggestion to put a countertop microwave in the pantry is a much more sensible solution.

That last photo, of cabinet carcases in your garage . . . simply gorgeous. :o) And every time you write about how easy cabinetmaking is, I want to jump and cheer, because that's what I've been telling my sweet DH for months . . . but a second witness is what he needed. lol

I can hardly wait until we get to see what happens! (But waiting isn't a problem. I know how life is! ;o)

I second the recommendation to put the microwave in the pantry. I've never had a microhood that has vented properly . . . they get greasy and dusty and still let carbon monoxide from the oven & stove into the house. If you're putting in a smooth-top range, then a really excellent vent hood isn't quite as vital . . . but with gas/propane, it's a must for safety reasons. (There's a reason they don't recommend carbon monoxide monitors in the kitchen . . . they'd forever be going off if you have a gas range.)

Hope this helps . . .

The changes you've made make sense.

I am so glad you decided against a range with a microwave drawer. I had one. I Hated It! The microwave drawer depth was much more shallow than a full size one, so that limited the containers I could use. If you spill - and you will, just by pulling the drawer out - it is a beast to clean. If you forget to put a cover on the food, well you have to become a contortionist to clean the splatters from the top. The top doesn't move, the drawer does but you can't take it completely out, so you have to pull the drawer out partially and squeeze your arm past the back of it to clean. That's a bruised or broken arm waiting to happen.

Do both Moms want the same kitchen, or will you have a different style in each unit? Same basic layout, but different cabinet styles/colors. Just wondering.

Your design is great and I'm jealous of that pantry! :D I'm looking forward to the plans.

So....when you said "Thank you for being patient and waiting on these kitchen cabinet plans." Does that mean that we need to continue to be patient (which I'm totally down with) or that you have posted the plans (which if that is the case, I can't find them).

Eventhough you don't need them are you going to post plan of a corner cabinet?

SO excited to see your cabinet plans...thanks to you (and the purchase of a Kreg-jig to build the kids' play kitchen for Christmas), I've got my husband totally on board, believing that WE can build the cabinets for my craft room...which means I can afford to do it NOW instead of saving up over $3000 for low-grade IKEA cabinets. Thank you, Ana!!!

Really, this is like my Christmas! I just can't tell you how anxious I am to work on our kitchen especially now that you're going to be posting plans. I've been playing with the layout for our new kitchen for two years now trying to figure out how much we were going to have to save up for custom cabinets (rough estimate was $15k). You've inspired me to tackle the project myself/ourselves instead of hiring it out. I was positively giddy looking at the cabinets just sitting in your garage. There may have been squeals :)

Since so many of the commenters here have great ideas, I'm hoping some of you wouldn't mind stopping over to my blog and letting me know what you think of my plans? Pretty please? Here's the link to my latest plan: http://thisdiylife.wordpress.com/2011/12/22/island-living-part-2/

Thank you so much, Ana! You've already given me a gorgeous Farmhouse dining set, which I deeply appreciate, and now I have hope that I can upgrade my kitchen. I HATE my (particle board! ew!) cabinets. They're only 7 years old and they look like the junk that they are. I can't wait to replace them with your cabinets, and I'm dying to practice first on some hidden laundry room storage.

...so you might want to bump out the cabinet above the microwave so it's not too big of a reach to get to. That way you can bump out your crown moulding as well and give balance to the fridge crown moulding.

OR, since you are making your cabinets, just make the cabinets as deep as the microwave and gain some additional space.

I mounted all my factory cabinets flush with the front of the micro-hood and haven't regretted it. But you have a way to add visual interest to the cabinets on that side by just bumping out the one directly above the microwave.

I love the final design. VERY efficient use of space. Good work!

The plans and cabinets in the garage look wonderful! So glad you're going to utilize the "not corner cabinet" space after all.

I love my Whirlpool over the stove microwave that I've had for 5 years now. It's vented outside and vents very well. As long as the fan is on, the back hall heat/smoke detector doesn't go off when I'm broiling something. Even though the exhaust goes through the cabinet above it, I am able to store my vases up there and still reach them & I'm only 5'3".

I really like when the kick-plate areas are made to look like furniture. Somewhere I saw a pic where couch/ottoman legs (kind of a squashed sphere) where used and looked beautiful.

Hmmm...maybe I'll play around with redesigning my kitchen by building cabinets instead of painting the ones I have & hate! Then I could have drawers! Thank you, thank you! Can't wait to see your tutorial plans!

Hello - great inspiration for DIYs!

I started reading your blog and I have a home office that I want to build cabinets for. What type of drafting cad program did you use to sketch your cabinets? I plan to follow along and probably ask a few more questions :)

Oh my golly, I am so excited to see this part of the process! (I think I've said that about every part of the process, and I mean it every single time! LOL)

Once again, adding this to the to-do list!

Thank you so much for sharing this experience with us. I can't tell you how useful (and fun) this has been.

Cindy

and seeing an updated post. I have been holding DH off with other building projects... LOL!!! The cabinet shells look great!!!!!

Oh how I wish you would consult on our kitchen remodel....

I would put in a door under the counter on the non-kitchen side to make some storage for big vases or serving pieces you rarely use, or something not even kitchen related. I would most definitely not let the space go unused.

I really like the Built in Buffet and your desire to have it look like furniture. I do think that it might look even better if you reverse the way the two cabinet doors on the right side open. It seems like most buffets do that. I do think your kitchen ideas are amazing and love that you have been able to think through each part of it - and what a blessing to get so much feedback. You truly are inspiring!

WOW you have a ton of comments and I hope mine gets thru to you cuz I have a few ideas that I'm thinking would please your Mom(s).
#1 - Hand build a spice rack on the wall by the stove - either side depending on what they'd prefer. It would only have to be about 2.5"-3" deep and could hold a ton of spices in regular store bought brands OR nicer jars from kitchen or places like Bed,Bath&Beyond sorts of stores.
#2 - if there is a way - I saw on a builder show (I think), where they installed little slide outs where the kick plates are, below the lower cabinets - for storage of cookie sheets, recipe books, etc.
#3 - don't forget to build those 'flip out' drawers into that empty false front piece on the cabinet below the sink. I know you'll know what I mean. They flip out at an angle and the lil drawer holds dish sponge,veggie scrubbers, etc. Sooooo handy instead of having out 'stuff' out on sink or having to reach below when washing something.
If my descriptions don't make sense, and you're interest is sparked, email me for pics or more info. :)
Just more food for thought! Like you don't already have a ton ruminating in your minds already..hahaha. I sure love 'planning' along with you on your wonderful project. Thanks for letting us all be a part of it.
~Sandy~

was going to suggest accessing the unused corner from the other side, but several others have beaten me to it.
yes, the curvy footer of the built-in buffet is rather pretty - but it also creates a nook for dirt that will be hard to clean under. there are other of-the-shelf options for dressing it up, e.g. decorative mouldings or even corbels (if you like that kind of thing). my 2c worth -)

I'll say it again "Awesome!" Your plans look great and I'm sure the moms are just as thrilled (as am I) to see them come to life. I love how simply you can modify the plans to fit each kitchen's personality. This will make it especially exciting to see the plans as they come together in each kitchen, particularly "in-color." This is like watching the ultimate "This Old House" at my convenience- I love it! And I have to say, when I read that "extra trash bin in the cabinet" comment/suggestion it was one of the greatest ideas ever. I wish I had a hole in my counter top that went straight to the trash! We have a joke in our house that the garbage is always full, even after it has been emptied. Keep up the good work and pace yourself!!

Thanks for sharing your lives with us, you just take all the time you need to post your plans. Also, we have not one, but two corner cabinets with the round spinny things and I absolutely HATE THEM!

And I love my over the range microwave- after years of one taking up counter space, I wouldn't have it any other way!
Melissa at The Inspired Room posted about open shelving a while back. I posted a snarky comment (I guess I was in a mood... http://theinspiredroom.net/2011/09/20/beyond-typical-and-white-fresh-kit... )about how trendy it is and how impractical they are unless you have a "Display" kitchen and then one day I joined right in and took off a cabinet door and filled my cabinet with cute baskets and I love it! Warms it up a bit, makes it easy to pull down a basket when I want to browse through snacks; yeah, I'm totally eating my words on that one. Live and learn!

I think that upper cabinet solution is brilliant. Brilliant!

Dragongirl, I love your suggestion for slide outs where the lower cabinet kick plates are. What a fabulous use of unused space. I live in a tiny (572 sq. ft.) cottage, and my kitchen is even smaller than this. I may retrofit some of my lower cabinets and reclaim some of that space!

Why not move the trash bin to the corner and slide the sink and dishwasher over? That way mom(s) won't have to close or go around the dishwasher to access the trash while cleaning dishes.

I see an option of putting a little shelf between the shelf brackets - just deep enough for a plate ledge/display option and perfect for frequently used spices.

I warn about having the slide-out garbage cupboard right up against the dishwasher ... yes, it is super handy when clearing plates and putting them in for cleaning ... however, once the ultra-hot dishwasher is done don't open the garbage right away unless you like the smell of cooked garbage!!!! The heat from the dishwasher will make your garbage turn into a smelly mess really, really fast. I have that problem in my current kitchen.

Love that you are posting these plans! I plan on tackling a pretty decent sized craft room and making our formal dining room into an office/dining room. We priced cabinets a few years ago and put those plans on the back burner because of the price. Hubs has been asking when I'm going to get going on some projects in the main part of the house--now I feel more confident about it! Planning entire walls of cabinets was intimidating me.

Thanks once again Ana!

I saw that you didn't reply to one of the first "solutions" posted for ditching that microwave above the stove (which I don't like either!) Put electric outlets in your pantry and have one shelf about counter height or even higher, so you don't have to bend over to look in and you can use it for toaster ovens and microwave ovens. That is where I keep mine and it's awesome not to have to stare at my appliances and I get to keep all my counter space. It really is great and since you are using pocket doors, if you are heavily using them for breakfast one morning, it just extends that leg of the kitchen naturally... I'd seriously consider it! Looks awesome and I totally love this site. Looking forward to building a bed when I move! Good luck and keep inspiring!

Ana,

How deep are you planning on making the upper cabinets and shelves? 12"?

I'm getting the itch to gut my kitchen! Thanks to your encouragement I have been watching sketchup youtube videos and have designed half the kitchen so far. My husband had a dream last night that he woke up around 3 am, walked downstairs to find me tearing out two walls in our kitchen! Ha! I love it!!!

Thanks,
Katie

I like your style, how you decorate your house. I saw how your rooms look like before and after your renovation, but I didn't see your bathroom. It's a reason why you didn't put pictures with it? Because I am interested what kind of vanity sinks you have there. I have started to change some things around the house and you gave me some great ideas where I didn't have a clue what to do.