# Help With a Stupid Cabinetry Problem **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 10, 2022, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-a-stupid-cabinetry-problem/959236 "2022-02-10T18:44:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2022, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-a-stupid-cabinetry-problem/959236/21 "2022-02-11T17:43:33Z")
Thanks. šŸ™‚ Re the pot rack, yes, with a large butcher block below and an eat-in dining area on the other side of it. This pic shows about half the space. I wanted to show the perspective of the staggered-height cabinets. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2022, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-a-stupid-cabinetry-problem/959236/22 "2022-02-11T17:52:27Z")
Looks exactly like my fridge. I hate the side-by-side design (narrow and deep ) personally. Are the cabinets attached to the glass doored cabinet? If not, I would just raise up the cabinets over the fridge, reattach to wall, and not worry about it not being flush on the bottom. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2022, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-a-stupid-cabinetry-problem/959236/23 "2022-02-11T17:53:48Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > @commasense, good advice indeed. Yours is the route I will most likely take. I plan to err on the side of Even Larger Fridges in the Future, so will probably leave a 3-4" gap between top of new fridge and bottom of cabinet. Looking at the picture, Iā€™m wondering how much height you could cut off that particular cabinet without it ā€˜looking funnyā€™ (and losing utility as storage). Because your cabinet tops donā€™t currently all line up, Iā€™m wondering if raising the cabinet _or_ cutting it down a bit _and_ raising it a bit (cutting it down involves removing it temporarily anyway) might save storage and preserve aesthetics. This is a nothing-burger for a cabinet shop if thereā€™s one near you that could spare the time, and theyā€™ll be able to retain proportion by ā€“ if necessary ā€“ relocating the handle and/or the lower hinges. Also, if the face frame extends lower than the bottom shelf ā€¦ it might get you an inch toward your goal without really hurting aesthetics, particularly since putting a fridge under there tends to obscure sight lines ā€“ at least to the very bottom of that cabinet. Good luck ! ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2022, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-a-stupid-cabinetry-problem/959236/24 "2022-02-11T18:12:29Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > Looks exactly like my fridge. I hate the side-by-side design (narrow and deep ) personally. You can say that again. Iā€™m so tired of practically having to climb into the fridge to find the stuff I want at the back. The cabinets arenā€™t attached to the glass doored cabinet. Yours is by far the easiest solution. But as @DavidNRockies points out, preserving the aesthetics is important to me, too. > [@DavidNRockies](#): > > Because your cabinet tops donā€™t currently all line up, Iā€™m wondering if raising the cabinet _or_ cutting it down a bit _and_ raising it a bit (cutting it down involves removing it temporarily anyway) might save storage and preserve aesthetics. This is what makes the most sense to me. I appreciate your reassurance that such a project is a doddle for a cabinet shop. Removing the cabinet is within my own abilities, and we do have a few cabinet makers in the area who might be willing to make some extra money in their spare time to help out an old lady. Especially if she brings cookies. > [@DavidNRockies](#): > > Also, if the face frame extends lower than the bottom shelf ā€¦ it might get you an inch toward your goal without really hurting aesthetics, particularly since putting a fridge under there tends to obscure sight lines ā€“ at least to the very bottom of that cabinet. Thisā€¦ is also brilliant. Although if fridges of the future grow even taller, then the doors would have to be redone again, wouldnā€™t they? Realistically Iā€™ll probably only be here for another 10 years, although who knows? Either way, I wouldnā€™t want to leave a mess for the next owner of the property. I knew you guys would come through with great ideas. Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2022, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-a-stupid-cabinetry-problem/959236/25 "2022-02-11T18:15:06Z")
If an easy option is to just completely remove the short double-width cabinet directly above the fridge, I donā€™t think it would look strange - I honestly think the aesthetics of your kitchen would be improved. You then have good visual symmetry between the high & low cabinets to the left of the fridge and the high & low cabinets to the right, ā€œframingā€ the fridge & door opening. You could display something attractive and visually interesting in the space on top of the fridge. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2022, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-a-stupid-cabinetry-problem/959236/26 "2022-02-11T18:26:38Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > Thisā€¦ is also brilliant. Although if fridges of the future grow even taller, then the doors would have to be redone again, wouldnā€™t they? > > Realistically Iā€™ll probably only be here for another 10 years, although who knows? Either way, I wouldnā€™t want to leave a mess for the next owner of the property. In the grand scheme of leaving turds in the punch bowl for the next owner ā€¦ donā€™t worry that this one rates šŸ™‚ _If_ you would rather have a smaller gap _today_, and you get there by either cutting down the cabinet or raising its height on the wall, then the next buyer need only raise it _another_ inch ā€“ probably not an issue. At some point, the top of the cabinet could even end up close enough to the ceiling that a bit of crown molding adds visual interest (or the cabinet goes away, to @Riemann 's point). But if you can get close enough by just cutting down a face frame ā€¦ thatā€™s probably the way Iā€™d go ā€¦ unless you truly liked the look of the cabinet sitting higher on the wall. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2022, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-a-stupid-cabinetry-problem/959236/27 "2022-02-11T18:27:09Z")
That would be by far and away the easiest solution. Iā€™ll have a chance to test out the aesthetics when I remove the cabinet, because as others have pointed out, that thing has got to come out one way or the other when I decide on a new fridge. I can leave it as you suggest for a few days to see if I could get used to it. I sort of hate to lose the shelf space it provides for the things currently atop the cabinet, but thatā€™s a comparatively minor annoyance. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2022, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-a-stupid-cabinetry-problem/959236/28 "2022-02-11T18:31:06Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > I sort of hate to lose the shelf space it provides for the things currently atop the cabinet, but thatā€™s a comparatively minor annoyance Remove cabinet. Make top portion of cabinet into shelf. I think it would look better actually. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2022, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-a-stupid-cabinetry-problem/959236/29 "2022-02-11T18:32:26Z")
Believe it or not, I had actually worked out this option on my own. šŸ˜‰ So yes, I donā€™t _have_ to lose the shelf space. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2022, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-a-stupid-cabinetry-problem/959236/30 "2022-02-11T18:37:03Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > Believe it or not, I had actually worked out this option on my own Pondersā€¦pondersā€¦I choose to believe it! ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2022, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-a-stupid-cabinetry-problem/959236/31 "2022-02-11T18:52:17Z")
Purely aesthetically, I think leaving the top portion as a shelf is visually less attractive. Too many straight lines at too many different heights. I prefer removing it completely, and putting something interesting in the space. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2022, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-a-stupid-cabinetry-problem/959236/32 "2022-02-11T18:54:04Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Too many straight lines at too many different heights I was imagining it at the same height. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2022, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-a-stupid-cabinetry-problem/959236/33 "2022-02-11T21:15:12Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > Unfortunately, we keyed the horizontal measurement for the bottom of our cabinets to the height of the refrigerator. From floor to the bottom of the cabinet for the refrigerator opening is just a hair over 68 1/2". You can see where this is going. > > The existing refrigerator is 68-ish". and is (!!!) 18 years old. New refrigerators with the features I want are all 70" tall. The day is coming when I will need to address this issue. Looking at your picture Iā€™m wondering if the new fridges really are any taller than your existing fridge. It seems like the cabinetry is sized to fit the rear of the fridge but the doors stick up higher. Is it possible that new fridges are the same dimensions as yours behind the doors and you are just looking at the dimensions to the top of the doors? ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2022, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-a-stupid-cabinetry-problem/959236/34 "2022-02-11T21:20:58Z")
You know, thatā€™s an astute observation. Before I go willy-nilly tearing out a cabinet, easiest thing in the world to head over to the outlets where Iā€™m thinking of buying the new fridge with a measuring tape to be sure. Some of the fridges Iā€™ve looked at do distinguish the height of the unit from the height of the doors, but most donā€™t. If the solution is this easy, Iā€™ll be delighted! ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2022, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-a-stupid-cabinetry-problem/959236/35 "2022-02-11T21:42:17Z")
It wonā€™t be perfect, but I would seriously consider just raising the cabinet over the fridge 4" like you were thinking. It is the easiest and most efficient. Iā€™m guessing that cabinet has 4 screws into studs in the walls and maybe 2 to the cabinet next to it. It should be a very easy job as it is a very small cabinet. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2022, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-a-stupid-cabinetry-problem/959236/36 "2022-02-11T21:44:26Z")
To be honest, it wouldnā€™t be the easiest solution, but my personal solution would be to raise not only the shelf over the fridge but _also_ the one to its left so they both aligned with the taller shelves even farther to the leftā€¦Being me, I might also do that on the other side of the doorway too so everything had the same height. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2022, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-a-stupid-cabinetry-problem/959236/37 "2022-02-11T21:46:03Z")
LOL, you know, my friend, I was thinking that in the time Iā€™ve spent dithering about a solution, youā€™d have already had that thing yanked off the wall and repositioned. šŸ˜‰ Iā€™m right, arenā€™t I? ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2022, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-a-stupid-cabinetry-problem/959236/38 "2022-02-11T21:49:16Z")
Iā€™d be willing to go to that much trouble, too, except then nothing would be aligned at the bottoms. More and more Iā€™m coming around to the idea of simply eliminated the cabinet. Itā€™s not that much cabinet space and thereā€™s another whole bank of cabinets that arenā€™t shown on the left of the photo, plus another bunch further to the right. I realized I misspoke earlier when I said the photo shows half the kitchen. It shows only about a third of it. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2022, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-a-stupid-cabinetry-problem/959236/39 "2022-02-11T22:52:10Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > Modify the cabinet to remove the bottom 2-3 (maybe 4?) inches. This is the option that appeals most to me, but finding someone who can do itā€¦ are there such people anymore? I believe it would be difficult for a cabinet maker to match a newly-built cabinet to the existing units. And why make a new one when an existing one need only be modified? The cabinets are high quality, all wood, so no one would be working with press board or OSB. This is what I did. My cabinetry was done in the 80ā€™s. When I bought the place, a fridge was already in place. But, it was not only too small for my cookery/freezing needs, but it smelled like cigarette smoke, as did everything else. So I bought new, without measuring. My bad. A pair of friends came to my rescue and took down the cabinet, and shaved the bottom lip off and rehung it. It fits, I still have a cabinet, though rather hard to reach. As a warning though, The wood on that cabinet was at least 35 years old. In that time, even soft woods can become hard. Per the couple, it was a pain in the butt to cut. ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2022, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-a-stupid-cabinetry-problem/959236/40 "2022-02-11T23:45:31Z")
Pull the cabinets out, put in your new fridge and then shave the cabinet doors down so they will fit over the fridge and hide the hole. Iā€™d cut off the bottom of the doors because Iā€™m short and canā€™t see the top of the fridge, I certainly canā€™t see the bottom of the over the fridge cabinets we have. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-a-stupid-cabinetry-problem/959236.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-a-stupid-cabinetry-problem/959236.md?page=3)