• DIY
  • Design
    • Design Archives
    • Home Tours
  • Life
    • Things I LOVE
    • Travel
    • Shop My Home
    • Gift Guide
    • Blogging Resources
    • Recipes
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Bloglovin
  • Pinterest

Bright Green Door

Come on in and be inspired!

How to Build Open Shelving Above Cabinets for a Custom Kitchen

October 27, 2014 By BrightGreenDoor

How I Built Custom Open Shelves over the cabinets up to the ceiling

When we moved into our house this is what the kitchen looked like. I wasn’t in love with the space above the cabinets, but I tried to make it work by decorating with vintage Mason Jars.

Custom Open Shelf Above Kitchen CabinetI felt like the Mason jars just collected dust. So when we installed the bigger window I removed the apron and shelf above the sink and I boarded up the opening above the cabinet. I wasn’t a fan of that either.

How to paint wood kitchen cabinetsSo when I painted the cabinets white I took the flat board down, leaving an old exposed duct and a space that I didn’t particularly love.

Spray Kitchen Cabinets without Taping Your Kitchen-15Then one night while perusing Pinterest I came across this image and just knew what I had to do!

Open Shelving to the ceiling in a KitchenImmediately I went and tore off the crown molding above the cabinet, damaging my fresh paint job.

Spray Kitchen Cabinets without Taping Your Kitchen-16Then I built an enclosure in the garage using a board for the back, a board for the top and sides, with finishing boards on the front and top.

cabinet

How to make your kitchen cabinets have custom open shelvingOnce I had it in place the hardest part was cutting the proper angles on the crown molding to fit in there perfectly.

How to Build Open Shelving in Place of Kitchen Soffits

This tutorial and these guides were super helpful in figuring out how to cut the crown. That and some caulk to hide the imperfections!

Template and Tutorial on Cutting Crown Molding in the KitchenThen I sanded where I had damaged my paint job, and primed and painted it the same way that I had painted my cabinets.

How to Stage Open Shelving in the KitchenThen I staged it with tons of my favorite things! I think that the way it goes to the ceiling gives it such a modern and custom feel!
I’m sure it will be a rotating display space, but for now I think I’m pretty content with my treasures that I put up there!

How to DIY Open Shelves Above CabinetsOur kitchen to-do list is slowly getting knocked out, our next big projects are cabinets, a backsplash, and flooring! I’d also love a matching stainless oven, but have also become pretty attached to my double oven, so finding an affordable stainless double oven is my current Craigslist goal!
Build Custom Open Shelving Above CabinetsIn our last house I REALLY wanted to tear out the soffits above the cabinets, but I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to repair the drywall well enough to cover it up. If I would have thought of this alternative then I think that this would even work in place of existing soffits! It really opens up a world of new options doesn’t it?Custom Built in above cabinet

signature

Pin2K
Share1
Tweet
« How to Spray Paint Cabinets Like the Pros
Open Up the Kitchen Wall »

Comments

  1. Courtney says

    March 21, 2016 at 8:33 am

    Hi! Your kitchen looks great. I love the shelf you built over the cabinets. I am thinking of doing the same thing to my kitchen but am worried that I don’t have enough space between the cabinet and the ceiling. I have about 13″ of “free space” up there. Do you know what the height of that space was for your kitchen? Thanks! Courtney

    • BrightGreenDoor says

      March 21, 2016 at 10:30 am

      I’m sorry I don’t remember and we’ve since sold that house. It would be tight, but I think it would still look great! Thanks for your sweet comment!

  2. Tabby says

    September 25, 2017 at 5:50 am

    Hi! I have a lot of space above my cabinets and am inspired by your open shelving – what material did you use to construct the enclosure? It sounds like you built a sort of box first, and then set it in the space, rather than building up from the cabinets, is that right? Thanks for your help!

    • BrightGreenDoor says

      September 25, 2017 at 6:50 pm

      Thank you so much. I just used quality 1×2’s from our local big box hardware store. Yes I built the box first and slid it into place. Easier for me than trying to build up. Hopefully that makes sense. It looks so nice finished!

Hi, I’m Jess!

I'm a creator & a finder, a maker and a "try to do it all at once-er". If the words vintage, DIY, or anything brass inspires you, you're in the right place! Thanks for stopping by, now don't be a stranger! Let's Connect!

Shop My Home Bright Green Door

Stay Connected on Instagram!

BrightGreenDoor Gift Guide
My Book Collection
Cozy Throw Blankets
Faux Trees for Any Home
Smart Home Devices Making Our Home Happier

Copyright © 2023 · Foodie Child Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

· Privacy Policy