Posts
Above the kitchen
cabinets............
When I had my kitchen done years ago I had space above my cabinets. The kitchen I have now has no space, so I don't have to worry about it. A few weeks ago I was traveling through some design forums and came across a question that asked what to do with that space. I thought that would be a great topic.
My first tip is this: You will find that so much dust will land on the top of your cabinets. Typically the cabinets are unfinished which means they are rough and everything sticks to them, including greese. Do yourself a favor and line them with newspaper. Don't worry, you can't see it from floor level. Every couple of months you take that newspaper down and replace it with new. This will safe you tons of work.
I find that the nicest way to decorate is to group a few objects together and display them leaving the rest of the area plain.
I love the greenery up there but I have to admit, it does get very dusty. You can put together silk flowers, baskets, decorative plates (they better be big or you won't see them very well), vases, art work, antiques, books and pictures. Anything goes. Grouping them in such a way that it makes sense. You're done and the top space above your cabinets look great.
These groupings contain framed art work, greenery, baskets, old olive oil cans and some wine bottles. Just use your imagination and capitalize on your collections.
Great information. I keep reading "do not use artifical flowers."
ReplyDeleteAh this is just what I was looking for!! Thank you so much for this!
ReplyDeleteThis just goes to prove what I have always said...There is absolutely NOTHING that you can't find on the internet and I love it! Thank you for this article.
ReplyDelete~K~
A small as this question is (how to decorate the top of a kitchen cabinet)i too am glad someone out there has taken the time to provide the info. This website really helped me. Thank you
ReplyDeleteI was at someones house the other day and they had Christmas lights on top of their cabinets to highlight above their cabinets. It was beautiful! They actually had outlets installed above their cabinets when they remodeled the kitchen. I am trying to figure out how to have lights above my cabinets without installing outlets. I am thinking of drilling holes through my cabinet top and through the shelves and drop an extension cord down to the outlet above my counter. Any thoughts on how I could better do this?
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Amy
Amy,
ReplyDeleteI think that drilling the holes is the only option you have short of installing outlets. Go to Home Depot or Lowes and check out all the lights that are available for that job. There are so many to select from now. Drilling holes will work and you can hide all the wires inside your cabinets. I think it's a good idea and will give you the look you want. By the way, Christmas lights look great above cabinets!
I really enjoyed this post..it was just what I was looking for. Plus, a tip for Amy, there are christmas lights (usually for wreaths etc.) that are battery operated. The strands are usually shorter than most but it is an alternative to wiring new outlets.
ReplyDeleteI have lights above my cabnets and around my pantry. I have vaulted cealings so this is a way to bring in some fun light. It is wonderful during the night as well for a mood/night lighting. My lights are on a timer so they come on twice a day so I don't have to mess with them at all.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info. :)
I love all your ideas but I do not have floating cabinets. My kitchen cabinets are flush with the vall. Do you have any ideas on how to decorate above them?
ReplyDeleteDeresa
dclaybrook@cox.net
Deresa,
ReplyDeleteI am confused. Is there space between your cabinets and the ceiling? Or are flush to the ceiling (in which case there would be not place to decorate). Sorry, I just could not tell from your comment.
I AM A CHINA PAINTER AND i HAVE SEVERAL TEA SETS. i WANDER IF THAT WOULD LOOK GOOD WITH SOME BASKETS OF FLOWERS. i DON'T WANT TO OVER DO THE LOOK. MAGGIE
ReplyDeletenice guide! thank you!/I love it ! Very creative ! That's actually really cool Thanks.
ReplyDeleteKitchen Cupboards
any ideas how to decorate over a kitchen counter from the ceiling?
ReplyDeleteI would really need a photograph to help you out. Feel free to email one to me @christurner29@aol.com
ReplyDeleteI would love to help you out.
Christy
I put a small strand of Chrismas lights and plug them in. It looks really pretty with the groupings I have up there .
ReplyDeleteGREAT ideas! Just from looking at the pictures posted and reading your blog, I think newspaper (AWESOME IDEA!), a few special wine bottles, grape vine w/lights & maybe a basket or two with grapes spilling out is perfect for above my kitchen cabinets. THANKS!
ReplyDeleteThanks Danita!!!
ReplyDeleteAmy, I drilled a pretty small hole flush with the wall, on the top of the cabinet that is over the stove. There is an outlet in there. I used the vacant outlet (one was occupied for the vent above the stove) for a timer and plugged in some rope lights that I used to use for xmas decorating. It comes on at dusk every day. It's so nice to come home to a house that isn't completely dark!
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to mention that you don't have to run the plug all the way down to the backsplash.
Also, I put tin foil above the cabinets so I could get the dust off easily (that greasy dust is like superglue)! Newspaper never occurred to me, but would have been much cheaper!
Renee,
ReplyDeleteGreat idea!! Thanks for sharing!
Christy
Fantastic information! I will be busy tomorrow putting newspaper and groupings above my cabinets. Thanks for the info. I have saved your blog in my favorites.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!! The newspaper really works great. Saves a lot of work every year. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteChristy