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Building a Home Design Dilemma Kitchens

3m ceilings - how high would you have your kitchen overhead cabinet?

9 months ago

We are building a new home with 3.0m (~10 ft) ceilings in the kitchen - and are wondering how high should the cabinets go to?

Currently we're in a place with 2.7m ceilings - where the top of the overhead cabinets go to 2.4m and there is a 30cm bulkhead. It's a pretty good height and we need a chair to get to that top shelf (which is fine). But we also have a medium sized ladder around so we could go higher.

I'm wondering if we should:

Stay the same at 2.4m, with a 60cm bulkhead?
Have an extra line of 30cm cabinets above the 2.4m, with a 30cm bulkhead?
Extend the 2.4m to 2.7m (taller cabinets), with a 30cm bulkhead?
Extend cabinets the whole way to 3.0m, with no bulkhead?

Things that I'm thinking about:

Option 1 - may not make the space feel as 'tall'?
Option 2 - will a shorter line of cabinets look 'weird'?
Option 3 - will these taller cabinets look out of proportion since they are quite tall?
Option 4 - getting up to 3m probably needs a larger ladder - and how often will we need to go that high?

One thing to also note is that we have pretty good cabinetry/storage in the ktichen already so the full 3.0m cabinets option probably doesn't offer all too much.

Keen for any thoughts! (especially if you have cabinets that are higher than 2.4m)!

Have attached some screenshots but not actually sure how tall those ceilings are - so a bit hard to guage.

Thanks

Featured Answer

macyjean

9 months ago

Do you need the storage, if you do have you thought about access and more practical alternatives, and have you thought about the cost of heating/cooling all that space which serves no function other than currently fashionable aesthetics?

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Comments (9)

K s
9 months ago
Don’t think you should go all the way with top cabinets, the pictures you put on look weird having the top that much bigger than the base cabinet.
PRO
Compass Kitchens
9 months ago
Hi Elbie, There is also the option of building a protruding drop bulkhead. I think this decision about what will look the best will depend on 6 factors: The style of your Home & the Cabinetry Style, the Size / Proportion of the room, how you are finishing the Junction of your walls to the ceiling, which of these options You Actually Prefer and finally your Budget. A discussion with a good Kitchen Designer would help you with this.

Hope this helps, Malcolm.
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Elbie D
Original Author
9 months ago
Thanks. Currently I'm actually leaning towards a protruding upper cabinet. Where the overhead and upper cabinets are equal sized in height. But the top protrude (well, in line with the bottom cabinets)...all the way up to 3m. Extra storage and hopefully the break with the protrusion doesn't make it look too weird
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Paul Di Stefano Design
9 months ago
If it's contemporary in style and you mean protruding as in depth (like your top/first image) then you could pull that off, but if it's more traditional /classic aesthetic then you best keep it more conservative and include a bulkhead detail as in your last/3rd image
Elbie D thanked Paul Di Stefano Design
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VICTORIAN COASTAL FLOORS
9 months ago
Our kitchen has 3.1m ceilings and the gap at the top is 200mm
Elbie D thanked VICTORIAN COASTAL FLOORS
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Compass Kitchens
9 months ago
Hi Elbie

Regarding your last comment, leaning toward equal height doors, I would suggest that for perspective, proportion and balance that you actually make the the top row smaller than the lower row of doors as done here and in your top image.

Hope this helps, Malcolm.
Elbie D thanked Compass Kitchens
Elbie D
Original Author
9 months ago
Thanks everyone - all awesome points and definitely a few things to think about!

@Paul Di Stefano Design - yeah we're going for a modern build so I think the look with the top row 'protruding' more than the OH cabinets should work.

@VICTORIAN COASTAL FLOORS - thanks for the photo!! This is a great way to visualise that 3m high cabinets - it actually doesn't look too high or out of proportion. How big of a ladder do you need to reach the top?

@Compass Kitchens - actually yeah really good point. initially i though tof splitting the OH & the top row to be the same height - but I think you're right. Those look pretty good with the top row at a smaller height.

@macyjean - good point, didn't think about heating/cooling. I think on balance (maybe I'll regret this later) but I still prefer the bottom floor to be 3.0m ceilings just to have a more 'open' feel, but will defs keep this in mind.
macyjean
9 months ago
Resale value too.

It's taking a long time, too long, and consumers are primarily educated by those who profit from the more wow factor they can sell and have little understanding of building science, but slowly sustainability is creeping into the equation.

What are you planning to store on top? Keep in mind safety when up a ladder trying to lift something down.

What about the rangehood? The longer the ducting the less efficient.

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