We just had our kitchen remodeled and one of the problems with the old kitchen is that there was only 14" of space between the countertop and the upper cabinets. (They were 42" cabinets hung from a low soffit/bulkhead.) The recommended spacing is at least 18". When there is too little space between the counter and the upper cabinets, you will find that common appliances like a coffee maker and a mixer will not fit on the counter. And the appliances that do fit on the counter like a toaster, cause heat damage to the upper cabinets. We replaced the 42" cabinets with 39" ones and gave ourselves an extra 3". It's still only 17" but so much better than it was. For what it's worth, I'm 5'3" and I keep a stool in the kitchen (I stole it from the kids) to reach the higher shelves.

Anonymous wrote:How about designing something like this--there is a bottom "drawer" that is actually a step you can stand on
http://afriendlyhouse.com/30/The-house-next-door--A-home-for-the-ages/

That is actually pretty awesome!

How about designing something like this--there is a bottom "drawer" that is actually a step you can stand on
http://afriendlyhouse.com/30/The-house-next-door--A-home-for-the-ages/

I have a folding step stool and a grocery store type device to reach items on upper shelves.

I submitted requests for Purchase Orders to my supervisor for the same items for my office/workplace.

Supervisor is also short and the requests for Purchase Orders were approved.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not sure that constructing a little dolls house with miniature shelving for your lilliputian self is the answer. You would be narrowing potential buyers to other hobbits.

Could you stand on something, like a stool or stepladder, to make yourself taller, temporarily?

Oh, I live with stools, ladders pretty much everywhere. I also put things on the edge of shelves so I can bump them off with a long utensil and have it fall so I can catch it (think flour and sugar storage containers) plus I also married a guy 6'4 who gets things for me (I highly recommend a tall husband for short wives LOL). The problem in the kitchen with everything being too high is its a PIA when you're in the middle of something and you have to run and get the step stool.

I do that too! I have a long serrated knife with a sort of hook on the end that I use to catch the edge of lids and pull them down. I feel ridiculous, but you do what you gotta do.

Anonymous wrote:I am not sure that constructing a little dolls house with miniature shelving for your lilliputian self is the answer. You would be narrowing potential buyers to other hobbits.

Could you stand on something, like a stool or stepladder, to make yourself taller, temporarily?

Oh, I live with stools, ladders pretty much everywhere. I also put things on the edge of shelves so I can bump them off with a long utensil and have it fall so I can catch it (think flour and sugar storage containers) plus I also married a guy 6'4 who gets things for me (I highly recommend a tall husband for short wives LOL). The problem in the kitchen with everything being too high is its a PIA when you're in the middle of something and you have to run and get the step stool.

I was just going to ask a question like this (I'm 4'10"). It's really frustrating that only one third of the upper cabinetry is at all accessible without a step stool (BTW, Home Depot sells a $10 tiny foldable plastic stool that's great for this purpose - Easy Reach by Gorilla Ladders). I was wondering if you can buy cabinets where you can pull the shelves out and down for easier access. Failing that, I'm mounting the new cabinets lower.

I know in the whole scheme of things that this is a small problem (so to speak), but it gets old when you can't even reach things in the grocery and other stores. Fortunately, people are generally kind enough to help if I ask. But I still can't reach the bottom of the washing machine without a grabber.

Oh, I should add that in my lower cabinets I have all the kids dishes and snacks - that way they can serve themselves.

I'm taller (5'8") and I had my cabinets hung a few inches higher than normal because I like how it looks and feels. I plan for this to be my forever kitchen so I don't care that they might be too high for lots of people. I say do what you want if you plan to stay there for awhile.

Definitely opt for lower storage. We are a short family, we actually used the deep storage drawers in the island with a peg system for all of our dishes. Glasses are on the bottom shelf of a upper cabinet. Makes life a lot easier. Another thing, make sure that your switch for your garbage disposal is within non-stool using reach, found that out the hard way.

I am not sure that constructing a little dolls house with miniature shelving for your lilliputian self is the answer. You would be narrowing potential buyers to other hobbits.

Could you stand on something, like a stool or stepladder, to make yourself taller, temporarily?

It depends on how much space you have between the bottom of the cabinets and the counter. Too little can look closed in and may prohibit the things you would normally keep on your counter in terms of décor and/or appliances. Also, my mom moved into a house and didn't even notice the cabinets were a little lower, then she installed an over the stove microwave and it's fine for her, but if my brother is there and helps cook he complains that he has to bend down to see the oven controls under the microwave. I think it just meets the requirements for distance.

We did 42 inch cabinets, but hung them a drop lower. No biggie. A stool or chair gets stuff off the top shelf.

5ft person here. Bad idea. I can only really reach the first shelf, but that's fine.

Instead, we did mostly lower cabinets. We only have 2 upper cabinets. We did 100% lower drawers and we put our dishes in there. The only thing in the upper is drinking glasses.

So I am very short, about 5'1 on a good day. Last time we redid our kitchen, we hung cabinets at the normal height and i could only reach the bottom shelf, and some stuff on the second. New house, new kitchen and we're doing it again. Would it be a really bad idea to have them hung lower than standard? I'm worried resale but we actually do plan on being in this house for awhile. DH says sure, you're the one using it, but I don't want it to look weird. Thoughts?