Browse Forums Kitchen Corner 1 Apr 09, 2020 9:29 pm I received my drawings from the cabinet maker today. I’m not sure about the bulk heads on top of the cabinets and fridge. My initial thought was to make the cabinets go to the roof height, but others have suggested making the bulkhead go all the way across. I’ve attached a photo of the actual space as well. I am having a full height stone splash back in Zen Stone - Aurora, Lincoln (see photo). My cabinets are actually Formica Ink in colour with silver kickers and shadow line. Paint is celtic sky and lexicon 1/4 strength for the ceiling. What would you do? Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Kitchen help needed 2Apr 11, 2020 12:03 pm Hi Melissa, I would not use the canopy and the open shelves as they don't look great and are a waste of space I would instead use an under mount range in a wall cabinet and then run extra wall cabinets all the way through from one tall to another then the bulkhead should run all the way through as well, but sometimes it is cheaper for the cabinet maker to scribe the panel material to the ceiling Note - running wall cabinets all the way through could cost you more money I notice you have a 60cm cooktop there, you should prob go for a 70 or 80cm one there as you have space and it will look more balanced ( hopefully, you have not brought your appliances / but if you have don't worry as this is a common mistake ) ask your person nicely, to send you out the two options so you can see both proposals in the 3ds as that is not a big job Re: Kitchen help needed 3Apr 11, 2020 1:13 pm Thanks. I didn’t want upper cupboards as i don’t like them, but looking at the drawings the kitchen doesn’t look right. Unfortunatley i do have my appliances already. The cooktop is 65cm...i’m not too fussed about that. I have the rangehood as well so i’m a bit stuck as to what to do. I am building with a smaller custom builder and had to give them all the specs for appliances i was supplying so i had to buy them, but they don’t get the cabinet maker to do drawings until now, even though i asked months ago (actually before buying appliances). Obviously if i’d seen the drawings like they are i would have got a different rangehood. I don’t know if the rangehood i have can be boxed in? It is a schweigan silent rangehood. I had to have the open shelves there as i am having a full height stone splashback, but the stone was 100mm short. So we have raised the bench height by 40mm and putting in a 60mm thick shelf which means the stone can be cut and put above and below the shelf and will be full height. But other people have suggested putting the bulkhead right across and then i wouldn’t need the open shelf. I guess i need to see drawings to see what that would look like, otherwise i think the only option is to spend more money and get a new rangehood ( (if it can even be done as the ducting for the existing one has been done and i don’t know know if it will be long enough to reach an undermount one) and then also pay for the upper cabinets as well. I really don’t know what to do. I’m frustrated because if i had gotten drawings like i asked for months ago all of this could have been avoided. Sorry for venting! Re: Kitchen help needed 4Apr 11, 2020 3:32 pm Hi Melissa. Schweigen rangehoods typically have an external motor and the duct just connects between the internal section and the motor. It's the same ducting for the undermount version or a canopy. You could change over with out much issue from a build perspective. It would come down to some extra cabinetry and the builder's tolerance. If it's a smaller builder they more agreeable to changes on the fly. I personally recommend an undermount rangehood and full width cabinetry for all my clients. It just seems to be a cleaner and more streamlined look. Accessible Carpentry & Cabinets accessiblecarpentry@gmail.com accessiblecarpentry.com.au https://www.facebook.com/pages/Accessible-Carpentry-Cabinets/583314911709039 Re: Kitchen help needed 5Apr 11, 2020 3:54 pm Melissa.b Thanks. I didn’t want upper cupboards as i don’t like them, but looking at the drawings the kitchen doesn’t look right. Unfortunatley i do have my appliances already. The cooktop is 65cm...i’m not too fussed about that. I have the rangehood as well so i’m a bit stuck as to what to do. I am building with a smaller custom builder and had to give them all the specs for appliances i was supplying so i had to buy them, but they don’t get the cabinet maker to do drawings until now, even though i asked months ago (actually before buying appliances). Obviously if i’d seen the drawings like they are i would have got a different rangehood. I don’t know if the rangehood i have can be boxed in? It is a schweigan silent rangehood. I had to have the open shelves there as i am having a full height stone splashback, but the stone was 100mm short. So we have raised the bench height by 40mm and putting in a 60mm thick shelf which means the stone can be cut and put above and below the shelf and will be full height. But other people have suggested putting the bulkhead right across and then i wouldn’t need the open shelf. I guess i need to see drawings to see what that would look like, otherwise i think the only option is to spend more money and get a new rangehood ( (if it can even be done as the ducting for the existing one has been done and i don’t know know if it will be long enough to reach an undermount one) and then also pay for the upper cabinets as well. I really don’t know what to do. I’m frustrated because if i had gotten drawings like i asked for months ago all of this could have been avoided. Sorry for venting! Melissa.b I would also go full height with the cabinetry. You already have an opening made by the recess for the cooktop bench and the fridge, why add another bulkhead. Below is a picture of a kitchen I recently did for a customer. The panels go to the ceiling with just a small scribe along the cabinet line. There's also an undermount rangehood. Personally I think it looks far more modern. I still build bulkheads but normally it's where we have to continue the cornice line around the top of the cabinets. In your situation that's not and issue. Particularly given that you are having a dark kitchen it will look odd having the wall coloured bulkhead above. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Accessible Carpentry & Cabinets accessiblecarpentry@gmail.com accessiblecarpentry.com.au https://www.facebook.com/pages/Accessible-Carpentry-Cabinets/583314911709039 Re: Kitchen help needed 6Apr 11, 2020 3:56 pm Hi melissa.b I too did not want overheads, so I have a similar set up to yours. My single slab splashback also wasn’t quite tall enough to reach the top of the wall, so I got the builder to leave a 20cm gap from the cornice just so it looks deliberate. We will also have an external ducted rangehood over the stove. Personally I wouldn’t have the open shelving above the stove as it will accumulate a sticky film of dust! Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Kitchen help needed 8Apr 26, 2020 6:44 pm Melissa.b That looks far more contemporary. Your whole kitchen is a more modern look so not having the extra bulkhead will look much better. Running a bulkhead and cornice suits more traditional style kitchens, but as soon as you are going with a modern look then you are better off without them. What sort of timber look are you thinking? Light or dark? Accessible Carpentry & Cabinets accessiblecarpentry@gmail.com accessiblecarpentry.com.au https://www.facebook.com/pages/Accessible-Carpentry-Cabinets/583314911709039 Re: Kitchen help needed 9Apr 26, 2020 7:01 pm If your ceilings are high enough (e.g. 2.7 m and above), NOT having a bulkhead will be an issue as extra tall kitchen cabinets look disproportional and are not really practical as you would have to do climbing in order to get items from the top shelves.
Having space between cabinets and ceiling is also not recommended as those would be your dust collectors and you would have to clean up dust from there on a regular basis. There is also a good use for kitchen bulkhead - you can put aircon vents in it, so air is blow along the ceiling and cools down space in front of more evenly in comparison to standard round vents from the ceiling. Keep in mind that bulkheads do not have to be faced to the kitchen cabinets, you can, in fact, extend them further over the island, etc. and re-use them for e.g. coved ceiling. Just my 2 cents. Re: Kitchen help needed 10Apr 26, 2020 7:16 pm chippy Melissa.b Thanks. I didn’t want upper cupboards as i don’t like them, but looking at the drawings the kitchen doesn’t look right. Unfortunatley i do have my appliances already. The cooktop is 65cm...i’m not too fussed about that. I have the rangehood as well so i’m a bit stuck as to what to do. I am building with a smaller custom builder and had to give them all the specs for appliances i was supplying so i had to buy them, but they don’t get the cabinet maker to do drawings until now, even though i asked months ago (actually before buying appliances). Obviously if i’d seen the drawings like they are i would have got a different rangehood. I don’t know if the rangehood i have can be boxed in? It is a schweigan silent rangehood. I had to have the open shelves there as i am having a full height stone splashback, but the stone was 100mm short. So we have raised the bench height by 40mm and putting in a 60mm thick shelf which means the stone can be cut and put above and below the shelf and will be full height. But other people have suggested putting the bulkhead right across and then i wouldn’t need the open shelf. I guess i need to see drawings to see what that would look like, otherwise i think the only option is to spend more money and get a new rangehood ( (if it can even be done as the ducting for the existing one has been done and i don’t know know if it will be long enough to reach an undermount one) and then also pay for the upper cabinets as well. I really don’t know what to do. I’m frustrated because if i had gotten drawings like i asked for months ago all of this could have been avoided. Sorry for venting! Melissa.b I would also go full height with the cabinetry. You already have an opening made by the recess for the cooktop bench and the fridge, why add another bulkhead. Below is a picture of a kitchen I recently did for a customer. The panels go to the ceiling with just a small scribe along the cabinet line. There's also an undermount rangehood. Personally I think it looks far more modern. I still build bulkheads but normally it's where we have to continue the cornice line around the top of the cabinets. In your situation that's not and issue. Particularly given that you are having a dark kitchen it will look odd having the wall coloured bulkhead above. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Those extra tall high cabinets look really very controversial (if not ugly). Top shelves will be certainly out of reach even for the tallest person. I like the idea of having a shelf under, but proper use of such shelves generally requires extended width of the kitchen bench tops, e.g. 750 instead of 600 mm, otherwise you won't be able to put anything other than really small items there. Sink-cooker positioning is also not standard unless the person who cooks is left handed. Re: Kitchen help needed 11Apr 26, 2020 7:35 pm chippy @Melissa.b That looks far more contemporary. Your whole kitchen is a more modern look so not having the extra bulkhead will look much better. Running a bulkhead and cornice suits more traditional style kitchens, but as soon as you are going with a modern look then you are better off without them. What sort of timber look are you thinking? Light or dark? Thanks. Thinking it needs to be a light timber. I have used rural oak in chalk finish for the vanities, so debating about using that. Re: Kitchen help needed 12Apr 26, 2020 7:41 pm alexp79 If your ceilings are high enough (e.g. 2.7 m and above), NOT having a bulkhead will be an issue as extra tall kitchen cabinets look disproportional and are not really practical as you would have to do climbing in order to get items from the top shelves. Having space between cabinets and ceiling is also not recommended as those would be your dust collectors and you would have to clean up dust from there on a regular basis. There is also a good use for kitchen bulkhead - you can put aircon vents in it, so air is blow along the ceiling and cools down space in front of more evenly in comparison to standard round vents from the ceiling. Keep in mind that bulkheads do not have to be faced to the kitchen cabinets, you can, in fact, extend them further over the island, etc. and re-use them for e.g. coved ceiling. Just my 2 cents. Ceiling heights are 2.55. I don’t think the cabinet maker has put a gap at the top...he was talking about putting some type of shadow line bulkhead that is back from the cabinet edge. I think it’s there. I don’t have any heating or cooling vets in the house. Air con unit on the wall in the family/living space only and then hydronic heating throughout the rest of the build. I think i get what you mean by the last point, but if you look at the photos of the actual space, you’ll see the kitchen is in a dropped down ceiling space anway. Re: Kitchen help needed 13Apr 26, 2020 7:54 pm alexp79 Those extra tall high cabinets look really very controversial (if not ugly). Top shelves will be certainly out of reach even for the tallest person. I like the idea of having a shelf under, but proper use of such shelves generally requires extended width of the kitchen bench tops, e.g. 750 instead of 600 mm, otherwise you won't be able to put anything other than really small items there. Sink-cooker positioning is also not standard unless the person who cooks is left handed. Sorry, not sure how to multiquote on here! I don’t know what other options i have with the tall cabinets... - i’m limited as i wanted a wall oven (non-negotiable) - i wanted a stone splashback and do not want joins in the stone (non-negotiable), so i’m limited by the length of stone. I don’t really care if the top shelves will be out of reach as i either won’t use them (as didn’t want overheads), or if i do, the stuff that will be stored there is the thpe of studf that is once a year and it isn’t a drame to pull out a small step ladder. The cupboard on the left is intended to be a broom cupboard. Not sure what you mean by the shelf under? Under where? The one in the original design? Also not sure what you mean by the sink-cooker placmement? I don’t see a problem with it (i’m right handed). I generally stand to the left side of the cooker. What i am getting wrong here - how should it be? Re: Kitchen help needed 14Apr 26, 2020 8:04 pm Melissa.b alexp79 If your ceilings are high enough (e.g. 2.7 m and above), NOT having a bulkhead will be an issue as extra tall kitchen cabinets look disproportional and are not really practical as you would have to do climbing in order to get items from the top shelves. Having space between cabinets and ceiling is also not recommended as those would be your dust collectors and you would have to clean up dust from there on a regular basis. There is also a good use for kitchen bulkhead - you can put aircon vents in it, so air is blow along the ceiling and cools down space in front of more evenly in comparison to standard round vents from the ceiling. Keep in mind that bulkheads do not have to be faced to the kitchen cabinets, you can, in fact, extend them further over the island, etc. and re-use them for e.g. coved ceiling. Just my 2 cents. Ceiling heights are 2.55. I don’t think the cabinet maker has put a gap at the top...he was talking about putting some type of shadow line bulkhead that is back from the cabinet edge. I think it’s there. I don’t have any heating or cooling vets in the house. Air con unit on the wall in the family/living space only and then hydronic heating throughout the rest of the build. I think i get what you mean by the last point, but if you look at the photos of the actual space, you’ll see the kitchen is in a dropped down ceiling space anway. Melissa.b I don't think Alex even looked at your first post so everything they said has no relevance to your situation. Your new design is on point and your cabinet maker has got the design right. The picture I posted has 2.66 ceiling height and the cabinetry is proportional and looks modern and clean running to the ceiling. I look forward to seeing the finished product. Accessible Carpentry & Cabinets accessiblecarpentry@gmail.com accessiblecarpentry.com.au https://www.facebook.com/pages/Accessible-Carpentry-Cabinets/583314911709039 Re: Kitchen help needed 15Apr 26, 2020 9:15 pm Apologies, yes, 2.55 m should be okay. You can also place top cabinets 5 cm higher and add similar 5 cm shadow line bulkhead, keeping cabinets. Comment regarding sink-hood positioning was for the picture sent by Chippy, e.g. having hood on the left side from the sink is not standard layout, as generally you wash your items first then cut them before throwing into the bowls, so moving from left to right is pretty standard for right handed person. Re: Kitchen help needed 17Jul 09, 2020 5:49 pm Just thought I would update this with some photos as the kitchen is basically finished. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ The angle makes it look like the bench sticks out, but it actually finishes in line with the small wall next to the oven. The kickers and shadow lines and aluminum laminate...look a bit white here. All Handless and looks like all drawers.... Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ This looks like drawers and a cupboard, but is one big cupboard Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ In the Island bench, the bin looks like drawers... Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ And dishwasher integrated as well Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Finally, cutlery drawer Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Really delighted with how it has turned out. Only thing is that it shows fingerprints a bit, but it's only the cupboard over the oven that will really need fingerprints to open it. Re: Kitchen help needed 18Jul 09, 2020 6:25 pm Hi Melissa. Your kitchen looks good. No bulkheads make it look clean. What option did you end up going with the range hood. Having the overheads and undermount is a neat look. Accessible Carpentry & Cabinets accessiblecarpentry@gmail.com accessiblecarpentry.com.au https://www.facebook.com/pages/Accessible-Carpentry-Cabinets/583314911709039 Re: Kitchen help needed 20Jul 09, 2020 6:39 pm Once you have had an external motor rangehood there is no going back. It's nice to be able to cook and still be able to hear the TV or have a conversation with someone without a motor roaring in your ear. Well done with it all. I'm sure you will enjoy using it when you can. Accessible Carpentry & Cabinets accessiblecarpentry@gmail.com accessiblecarpentry.com.au https://www.facebook.com/pages/Accessible-Carpentry-Cabinets/583314911709039 This thread is over 6 months old. I'd say the OP has long since decided on their layout. 5 22505 Any structural alteration to your home requires building permit. Before you get it you will have to supply plans with structural assessment, you will also be removing… 2 5529 Most of the time, council will push you out to a private certifier as it ties up their limited resources. Where a builder has gone belly up, the certifier passes the file… 7 6371 |