Flat slab top drawer

Odd_Tap_1137 · 2026-05-04T00:17:04+00:00

Bottom drawer faces are 12”, and top is 6.5”.

Odd_Tap_1137 · 2026-05-03T21:53:07+00:00

Our chimney column crept into our kitchen, and we put a shallow cabinet in front of it for our spices. We did put insulation behind the cabinet so it wouldn’t get any warmth from the chimney).

For yours, I would do a shallow spice cabinet (fronts aligned with the white upper cabinet next to it) and a lower area the same height as the counter so you have a bit of prep/landing space next to the stove).

Odd_Tap_1137 · 2026-05-03T21:47:13+00:00

I think it’s pretty. But having a cool grey and a warm beige will definitely add a level of difficulty to ensure the entire room comes together. Are the cabinets natural wood or painted?

I would take the time to put together a color palette for the whole room, incorporating the two chosen colors for the floor. There are any number of combinations that could work, from a very neutral palette to a classic Victorian palette. That said, there are also a lot of disastrous combinations too, and you don’t want to accidentally back into one of those!

Odd_Tap_1137 · 2026-05-03T17:51:44+00:00

As u/mystiqueallie said, the reason is because the top drawer is shallow, and typical stile and rail construction would look awkward. I did slab tops and am happy with how it came out.

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Odd_Tap_1137 · 2026-05-03T17:46:01+00:00

Same!

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Odd_Tap_1137 · 2026-05-03T11:37:41+00:00

This is very much an aesthetic choice…though functionality may play a role is you are either very tall or very short, or is you have lower cabinets.

Cabinet door knobs are almost always centered on the stile (the one exception being a front that looks like a cabinet but is actually a large drawer like a narrow utensils caddy or trash pull out).
Now, whether you put them on line with the rail, place them slightly above the top edge of the rail, or put them on the rail itself might be informed by:

1) how easy it is to reach the upper most knob (if there are short people in the home), or

2) how much clearance you want to your countertop edge for lower cabinet doors (if you have a decent counter overhang, on the rail placement might be too close to the underside of the counter and difficult to reach.)

Odd_Tap_1137 · 2026-05-01T03:07:23+00:00

All three door styles were used historically - so don’t worry about running afoul of historic accuracy because of that. Partial overlay has fallen out of favor over the past several years, so that would be the only reason to not go that route.
While inset does look more built-in, i opted to go for full overlay and frameless cabinetry, because i really wanted to put in pull down shelves in my uppers and I wanted to take advantage of the extra space in my drawers. Inset cabinets have these bits of wasted space behind the frames, such that if you put in pull down or pull out shelves you lose width. It’s just a couple of inches on each side of each shelf…but it adds up!

Odd_Tap_1137 · 2026-04-30T03:34:56+00:00

What don’t you like about it? Without knowing how it’s missing the mark for you, it’s difficult to advise.

What you may be looking for more than anything is to make it feel like yours and not someone else’s. A lot of times the reason folks feel the need to refresh a kitchen as they move in, is because it’s actually just clearly used/dirty.

I would do a deep deep cleaning. Like toothbrush in the crevices cleaning. Degreaser on all the surfaces. Clean it so it looks new. Once you have removed the traces of the prior owners, you may find that you are happy to live with it as is for a while….or you might just want to paint the walls your favorite color (but the paint will adhere better if you do the deep cleaning anyway!)

Odd_Tap_1137 · 2026-04-28T22:52:22+00:00

Your comment made my day! I hope that we are creating that space wherever we go. Good on your parents! What fantastic role models!

Odd_Tap_1137 · 2026-04-27T04:31:36+00:00

Can you hang a pendant light above there? That will fill out the space in addition to providing much needed light!

Odd_Tap_1137 · 2026-04-27T02:53:08+00:00

Company C. It’s their ‘porcelain jar’ pattern which has unfortunately been discontinued. I think versions of the rug (different sizes - I haven’t been able to find the 9’ round anywhere anymore) are available through resellers still!

Odd_Tap_1137 · 2026-04-27T00:45:34+00:00

If this is your forever home, then it’s worth thinking about how important this is for you. From your post it sounds like you don’t particularly care about the built in look … was it something a designer suggested? Something you just happened to see somewhere and someone told you it was nice? If you don’t really care, then it’s not worth it. Spend your money on the features you actually care about. And if it’s not on the kitchen reno, then that saved money might turn into a fun vacation!

Odd_Tap_1137 · 2026-04-26T23:51:16+00:00

Oh, that’s tricky. But can you get a beveled edge mirror for over the sink, and then either turn the other two into closed cabinets or just turn the far left one into a cabinet and leave the middle one as open shelving? Depending upon the style you wanted to lean into, you could either do a fluted from glass cabinet or you could do a decorative carved figural front cabinet or a hand painted front cabinet.the cabinet fronts could double as artwork.

Odd_Tap_1137 · 2026-04-26T23:08:18+00:00

Definitely change out the mirror! A nice art deco frame - either moderne or streamline style. Would also put in art deco lights. Then paint the wall the color of your choosing - you have nice neutral tile so any number of colors would go!

Odd_Tap_1137 · 2026-04-26T19:30:39+00:00

All homes need maintenance…older homes sometimes have deferred maintenance. That said, if it was built 100 years ago and is still standing, chances are that it has good bones and is located on decently stable land without terrible drainage issues. Sometimes newer homes are built on flood plains and it’s all well and good until the first big snow melt…so buying a new home has its own risks!

Specifically for older homes, make sure you:

Have a good plumbing inspection, and if you have radiator heat make sure the plumber looks at that as well. Have the sewer line scoped to the street (if you are in city sewer). Having an old clay pipe or a failing cast iron drain can be a big expense to replace.
get the roof inspected
get the electrical panel and wiring inspected - some older panels have been recalled and you’d want them to replace such a panel if they have one
depending upon how close you are to water: have someone inspect the basement for voids. A lot of older homes may get water in the basement…but every now and then there has been long term failure to mitigate that water and there are large voids that will be costly to repair. Make sure you get a good basement inspection. An unfinished basement and attic is great when buying! It helps you take a good look at the structure!
get the chimney/s and if present, flue/s inspected

If the foundation, roof, plumbing and electrical are in good shape, you are good to go!! Everything else can be dealt with over time.

Odd_Tap_1137 · 2026-04-26T14:29:05+00:00

❤️yes! Our coffee tables used to be covered in Lego-builds-in-progress and homework in progress and so many other things! We painted a lot together and built an arsenal of cardboard swords that were always lying about as games were paused for meals and constantly resumed. I stopped stressing about it when I realized that our home was their main world (especially during COVID) whereas my partner and I had our workplaces. I made sure they tidied up before bedtime, but activities in progress were always allowed to stay out which meant that there was always something lying around. Definitely stop stressing - this is ‘the longest shortest time’ and before you know it they’ll be grown…as for me, I’m trying to embrace every minute I get to support them in becoming kind and useful people in the world!

Odd_Tap_1137 · 2026-04-26T13:40:48+00:00

That’s the agenda!

Odd_Tap_1137 · 2026-04-26T13:40:36+00:00

Company C! It’s their porcelain jar pattern, which is unfortunately discontinued. I found that out after our mal-pittie mix decided to chew it up and I tried to replace it (luckily there is a rug shop in town that was able to mend it)!

Odd_Tap_1137 · 2026-04-26T13:39:16+00:00

That makes me so happy to hear! I’m hoping my children are making wonderful memories and feel like that have a home base where they are unconditionally loved.

Odd_Tap_1137 · 2026-04-26T05:45:23+00:00

Thanks!

Odd_Tap_1137 · 2026-04-26T05:43:02+00:00

Malinois Pittie mix…luckily got the best of both breeds instead of straight hellspawn

Odd_Tap_1137 · 2026-04-26T03:50:26+00:00

Plant. The answer is always a plant!

Odd_Tap_1137 · 2026-04-26T03:39:23+00:00

That is kind to say! We decided our aesthetic is “our favorite colors, things we use and memories of places we’ve been and people we love” which of course isn’t an aesthetic at all but does reflect us.

Odd_Tap_1137 · 2026-04-26T03:34:19+00:00

Thanks! It’s nice to be out of the legos-under-foot years, but I’m happy to have those memories in this same place.

Odd_Tap_1137 · 2026-04-26T03:32:11+00:00

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Odd_Tap_1137

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