Upper Kitchen Cabinets

Installed the upper kitchen cabinets and lighting this weekend. We’d previously worked on the construction of the cabinet boxes at the workshop – maple plywood framing, edgebanded fronts and a full length top that runs across both boxes and secures the microwave in the middle.

The whole system hangs on a frame that’s bolted to the wall, allowing access to wiring for the lights, and the ability to easily remove the cabinets if we need to – which actually happened numerous times as we finalized the leveling and microwave attachment.

Lighting is provided by four inexpensive T8 30w commercial fluorescent fixtures, 4′ in length.

Frame system…

Lighting wiring pulls…

Fixtures being attached…

Let there be light!

First cabinet up, also wiring for microwave…

Second cabinet up…

Top and microwave in place…

And finally with some decoration…

4 thoughts on “Upper Kitchen Cabinets”

  1. That’s a really clever solution and looks great! I love the down and up- lighting. Very nice.

    I did have one question: I don’t see any sort of venting for above the stove. What’s your thought about this, especially considering there is a window right behind the cooking surface?

    Cheers!

  2. Thanks! It actually turned out much better than I’d hoped. I was a little worried what the light would be like from the flos, but with them completely hidden and having the cabinets spaced off the wall, it turned into a great focus area in the kitchen.

    As for venting, we have the option to install, directly out the back of the microwave, but we’re going to wait until it’s a little warmer before we start cutting holes in the side of the house. Not the best weather now to be standing outside for long periods of time.

    We do have an opening window by the sink, as well as the HRV air system which runs 24/7, so the exhaust may not matter in the end, and in that case we’ll skip it and the microwave fan will just recirculate.

  3. Not sure where to ask this general question but here goes: Excluding the land, have you added up what the total cost of building this house will be? It’s an inspiring project.

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