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Adding molding to kitchen cabinets, architecture, Business, cabinet, Crown molding, Custom cabinets, Customizing kitchen cabinets, diy, Home Depot, kitchen, Kitchen cabinet, Making kitchen cabinets look custom, making stock cabinets look custom, Making stock kitchen cabinets look amazing, Making stock kitchen cabinets look custom, Making stock kitchen cabinets look designer, molding, paint, pilaster, Plain cabinets to fancy
Unless you are willing to shell out oodles of money (and I’m talking $100k +) for a custom kitchen, you need to work with stock cabinets. But, all is not lost – there are many ways to make them look custom and take them beyond what is the norm. Since I adore historic homes, I had decided upon 12′ ceilings.
At one point in my kitchen design, I had thought about stacking smaller, glass-front cabinets on top (which I still think would look great) but my mother talked me out of it.
(Note to any and everyone: it’s hard enough determining your own likes and style…involving another, ESPECIALLY your mother, makes decisions become painful. She will invariably insert her opinion in everything, like it or not, and it seeps into your brain, making you second guess every decision.)
This is what I envisioned:
Between the ceilings and the cabinets left a great disparity – not so great that I was alarmed, because I knew I had huge copper kettles that I could finally display, but it was noticeable and the scale wasn’t quite right. They simply must be adjusted and customized. My absolute favorite solution: let’s put molding on top! No, let’s put a LOT of molding on top!
I ended up selecting 3 pieces of molding that went together well and only one piece did I have to custom order (the flat middle section to give more height). When telling your husband how to put it up (haha!), all that is needed is a flat back board piece that goes behind all the molding and nailed onto the cabinets.

Top crown molding added to cabinets. We also added the crown molding to the ceiling, which I will be shown in more detail in an upcoming post.
You can even gently pry up the existing crown (if there is some there) and save it for the top piece and select a flat chair rail or frieze for height. The top crown and bottom piece I bought from Home Depot. We had crown, but I didn’t like it, so we didn’t reattach it. But that crown helped us with cutting angles and I’m sure I’ll find a use for it at some point.
I also wanted a “platform” to place on top of the cabinets. After we nailed some blocks to the wall to hold up the other side, we cut 1/4″ plywood sheets and placed them on top. This also gives a storage area – we didn’t nail or caulk ours down. Loving historic architecture, I put a copy of our architectural drawings in, as well as pictures, coins, etc. But it’s great for storing huge platters that aren’t used often.
With all the attention to the top, there needed to be something on the bottom to “ground” the cabinets, because there was nothing there! I selected a strip of molding from Home Depot and we nailed that to the bottom of the cabinets from behind.
One thing I failed to mention, which you may wonder – how did I get the color to paint the exact shade of the cabinets? I (meaning my husband) took a door off of one of the cabinets and I took it to the person at Home Depot’s paint department that I go to for everything paint related. I personally have painted every room in my house at least once – some three times – and he shoots straight. (I went in to get a $400 paint gun, he told me not to bother, they get jammed.) He color matched it for me 🙂
Although it may be difficult to assess, this added a good 8″ to the top of our cabinets. If you can visualize them without the molding, you can see the difference!
This is the detail we did above the kitchen desk, which will be repeated later on in my kitchen design, specifically the door surrounds (pilasters).
I will show this in more detail, along with the crown molding, in my next few posts….
Although not necessarily relevant to my post, I am going to try my best to make it fit in: While I was taking the pictures, this is what two of our dogs were doing:
A very important feature in every room of ours – dog beds! I like In the Company of Dogs’ faux fur ones, but this one I found at Costco! It matches perfectly and was inexpensive.
Thank you for taking the time to read my post!
A fantastic job, well done. We recently had our kitchen refaced, although expensive it does look good. The shape of the kitchen made it difficult to alter anything in terms of moving things around. Now we have bought another property, we intend to ‘rip’ out the kitchen. We have a 4 doorways, 1 pantry and a low bay window that dictate somewhat as to how we can use the space. However, this time we will take our time and plan very carefully as we will be living in it eventually. Thanks for the inspiration.
Beautiful colors. I love the copper pots for accent. Nice job.
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I enjoyed reading your blog. I love that you tackle projects yourself! Good for you! You have a beautiful home. Have fun detailing it just the way you want it!
Keep up the good work – both of you. My poor hubby is always having to be the DIYer to all my ‘great’ ideas as well. I really love the light in your kitchen it would go very well above our kitchen counters but with NO money we went for a temporary one from Ikea until our fairy god mother delivers!
Nice job. I know what you mean about your dogs, I feel the same way.
Nice work. I love the spice cabinets!
Beautiful kitchen! We are somewhat DIYers. but what we can’t do, my husband knows someone who CAN….. 🙂
Stunning effect – I’m a Brit – you would love our National Trust places and Adam interiors.
i love your dogs!!!!
Love, love, LOVE your new kitchen!
Crown molding rules. And the advice of dogs can’t be matched.
I concur!! They always oversee every project we do…I guess they are the foremen. I just adore them to pieces!
Thank you for the comment and coming to my blog 🙂 I think there is something about animal lovers – we tend to flock together!!!
Beautiful Kitchen, very inspiring, and very cute dogs!
Thank you so much!! And extra, extra, extra bonus points and love to you for the dog comment!!!!
I really enjoyed your post on the stock cabinetry. Would you share what brand you used (I have heard some people use Ikea because they’re the cheapest for stock cabinetry).
I used Omega solid maple cabinets because this is my “forever” home, so I went ahead and paid for solid wood for every cabinet.
If it’s not your “forever” home, then you certainly do not have to go that route. For example, you could pay for solid wood on the upper cabinets, but just pay for solid wood doors on the bottom and composite on the bottom.
I’m not familiar with Ikea cabinetry, but I do know I once had a file cabinet from them in college and it fell apart after a while. Sometimes the cheapest upfront isn’t always the cheapest, because you have to replace it sooner. BUT< this is NOT to say Ikea isn't a good option – their kitchen cabinets might be better!!
If it were me, and I was trying to go low, low cost, I would go to a builder surplus warehouse. You can get amazing deals. Where are you located?
Beautiful kitchens, modular kitchens are the best options for make kitchens beautiful. You have great pics of kitchens . top crown molding cabinates is awesome.You Have done great work keep posting.
Thank you very much!! I’m glad you enjoyed the post and I certainly will continue!!
Love the metal stools – had to “pin” it!
So beautiful!!
I love white kitchens! Half of my kitchen is white, the other is dark brown. I hope in a few years we can make it all white 🙂
You could always sand, prime and paint them now if you wanted it all white? Just take a cabinet door off of one and have a gallon of paint color matched to the existing ones. It’s a little messy, but boy will you feel like you accomplished something!!
I love the detail you added. I have a love for architectural details, too, as well as white kitchens!
I have a bit of a ‘thing’ for spice racks. We don’t own our own house and it looks like we won’t for a few years yet but everytime I see a spice rack, I make a mental note for future reference. I love what you’ve done with yours!
Wow–You have a great eye for interior design. The work you’ve done on your house is pretty inspiring.
I stopped by to visit your blog and I was mesmerized by your photos and obvious passion for designing and actually constructing. I’m in awe of your artistic ability… my twin got the artistic gene 😉
Love your dogs!!
wow amazing! I dream of having a kitchen that awesome!! (and I ❤ the Costco dog beds, a complete steal at 20 bucks:)
Love all the mouldings on the cabinets and doors! Great investment in your house. The dogs need their day too, very cute there on the bed together!
Lovely inspiration!
I have been considering adding crown molding to the top of our cabinets since we moved in. Perhaps not so ornate as yours however… it would be over kill in our old farmhouse! Love your kitchen! ~ Lynda
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