10 Mistakes That Make Your Kitchen Look CHEAP

[@MTKDofficial]

Chat with me about your kitchen 👉🏻 www.mtkd.ca 20+ years of design knowledge every week 👉🏻 mtkd.ck.page/newsletter Remember, take this video with a grain of salt 😁!

[@mrsstaff78]

Hi Mark do you think your design style is appropriate for UK houses?

[@mariaaballi-gonzalez3716]

True, just 2 😊years

[@Kenyacannn]

11:40 WHAT IN THE HANDMAIDS TALE?!?!?! 😵‍💫🤨🤨😭

[@truth_hearts_1940]

are you one of those designers that put stove in the middle of the room, with no range hood and call it a pinnacle of design? function over aesthetics always wins in my book

[@rosella1919]

I’m in my 70s. I love my house. I realised, not that long ago, that I don’t need to design my house to appeal to other people. It’s my house. I’ll have what I want. The colours I want. The style I want. I keep my house clean, and tidy, and paint it every seven years. When I eventually sell, the buyers will either like my house or they won’t. I don’t care. My garden is the same. When people come by my house and I’m in my garden, people tell me how much they love my garden. It’s my passion. Those green and white gardens are so boring, and the insects and birds think so too. 🇦🇺

[@davidlangley4762]

I so agree, because our houses are our homes, to be lived in and feel homey, and reflect us and our lives, not some designers ideas.

[@TexSquirrel]

Agree completely! Also the fact that most people are struggling to put food on the table right now, much less changing cabinets out to be “trendy”.

[@l.5832]

Exactly. I'm in my 5th home. Every single home I bought, I gutted. Every. Single. One. I have my own likes and dislikes and every place I bought had aspects that I didn't care for. My current home is a condo which I will have for my retirement years and I completely gutted it. I think the floor plan and over all aesthetic lends itself to a 1940s theme and I have quite a few pieces of furniture that vintage. I put in basic white cabinets and to cover the modern looking dishwasher, I put up one of those fabric curtains on a tension rod with vintage 40s themed fabric. It looks fantastic. The next owners just take down the tension rod. It's your home. Do what pleases you.

[@kimenfield195]

Perfectly said! :)

[@tamiz8895]

Agree, who cares what other people think.

[@davidlangley4762]

The most beautiful kitchen is the one that is paid for! If it ain’t broke don’t fix it, if it’s not fancy enough for you at least have the sense to wait until your mortgage is paid out before re decorating on a grand scale.

[@cjhoward409]

Great comment ! We’ve been building our own home. It’s taken 10 years but no mortgage. 👍🏻😊

[@eatmeatandliftweights5754]

Truth!

[@yvonnesmith2578]

@@cjhoward409Very Smart!

[@carolsisti7203]

I agree. I’m not materialistic nor do I care to impress anyone. As long as my place is clean comfortable for me and functional, I’m good. I’d rather spend my retirement traveling and living life vs decorating and spending a ton of money on stuff. I have a very nice place and it’s paid for. I’m starting to travel and have some fun. It’s MY time to shine. My kids are raised and doing well so no more sacrifices. lol. For once I’m living MY life and loving it. 😊

[@2Greenlid]

BUT, I guarantee it looks cheap 😂 , I’m sure he’s showing many cheap shots similar to your kitchen, don’t feel embarrassed , its your cheap house 😂

[@artistjjebsen]

The “modern” look now is destined to become “outdated” in the near future. Be careful what trends you choose.

[@lapetitefeuille8684]

Si les portes des placards sont en bois massif, c’est effectivement stupide de les remplacer par d’autres pour faire plus moderne (pour qui ?). Le bois est éternel et n’a jamais l’air cheap, même s’il n’a pas l’air moderne.

[@mgertp]

My to the ceiling, plain front hunter green cabinets were installed in '93 and look timeless. At 5 ft. I just use a step stool. Over the years I redecorated with new hardware, went from white to black appliances and changed cafe curtains. One window faces a busy street and gets full sun most of the day and the other faces the side of neighbor's house. I leave the top curtains open and save electricity. At night I leave light on if I go out so home looks occupied from busy street.

[@trampledbygeese]

​@lapetitefeuille8684 generally I would agree. Except when the stain or finish is highly dated and it's more expensive to strip and restain the door than to replace with new wood doors. Florescent orange stain on an already yellow wood, with pink leaning tiles.... i don't think that was ever in fashion.

[@laurajones338]

@@lapetitefeuille8684superbe!

[@utahdan231]

I don’t like green , blue or any color on cabinets. I have fifth white kitchen and with a new house always replace them for white. And I can’t stand stainless steel appliances.

[@LaraSierra28]

This cracks me up. Some of the greatest meals I've ever eaten have emerged from the most humble kitchens imaginable--usually in France. Conversely, I've rarely seen any world class cooking out of these six figure American extravaganzas, which seem to exist only to impress the neighbors, or to reheat fast food.

[@sherilynl4038]

right? and not all overall home designs would mesh with "modern" kitchen cabinets. hmmmm

[@hwiley8141]

I live in a log cabin, so interior is a bit rustic. Not all these ideas will go.

[@joeywharton5662]

How true is that??

[@edamame-hime]

such an interesting point! 🤔✨

[@plantposterity3705]

Only to go eat at a restaurant.

[@dvduadotcom]

The first mistake is spending $50 to $100 grand on a kitchen.

[@llkg9]

Exactly. I replaced our dark, brassy cabinet hardware with satin nickel handles for $60, and my SIL swore we'd replaced the cabinets! And she has a BEAUTIFUL home, so I considered this a huge compliment.

[@rmcar549]

Exactly! That's crazy!

[@cjhoward409]

My husband built our cabinets. All the lower ones was $200. We did buy the top, butcher block $800. And I have some open shelves with some plants. It’s away from my stove so it doesn’t get greasy. I have a big walk in pantry for not only food but for all my dishes and glassware. So… our kitchen cost with stove and fridge… under $5,000.

[@cjhoward409]

@@llkg9 A friend of mine had her dark cabinets professionally painted white. And that cost $3,000. But had she replaced all of the cabinets, it would have been $20,000 !

[@myheartisinjapan3184]

Bingo…RIDICULOUS

[@christrankle8276]

I can't hardly believe you skipped an OBVIOUS kitchen upgrade - NEW HARDWARE!!!!!!! Switching out old drawer and cabinets pulls with newer updated ones make a World of difference. OMG how could you forget this????

[@DkpProductions]

We need a segment on bad shirts like the one he has 😂

[@kathynewkirk683]

@@DkpProductions that’s rude!

[@Adelicows]

Maybe he didn't include it because it's obvious?

[@debrawright9195]

For the backsplash, my builder put clear glass in that section. I chose a stone effect vinyl wallpaper behind it so I can change it easily when I want to.

[@ALSTON3724]

He mentioned hardware ,but didn't elaborate

[@Rachel-bc9kj]

I love the “old” look.

[@PinkieJoJo]

Same. I live in a 1940’s farmhouse so my wood country cabinets with the regular doors look fine. Not everything needs to look new or modern. I don’t even like most of the kitchens he shows on here as being what he would recommend. 😂

[@catherine-gl9tb]

@@PinkieJoJo you have what I'm looking for. I love the old old kitchens. When I get my next home I want the kitchen gutted. I'm short so NO over counter cabinets. I want shelves and a large walk in pantry like my grandmother had. Dishes and glasses on the shelves and everything else in the pantry. I'm also looking for the old tables that had a drawer for silverware and cooking utensils. I'm in my 70's and want a simple look.

[@maryb6065]

One of things that sold us on our current old house is the old fashioned kitchen. We've suffered with 80's builder special, 90s builder special, 2000 new, and finally, finally, back to 1940s, except with stainless. Charm to die for!

[@946towguy2]

I live in an 1880's Victorian. I like my oak cabinets with storage for large pots on top, hanging pot rack and drop lights.

[@MyFiddlePlayer]

It's funny how he dissed every feature I like, and gushed over the ones I dislike. Weird how he likes particle board and paint better than natural wood and real doors. And filling in the space over the cabinets? HUGE mistake...where else are you going to store your big items in a small kitchen? Trendy isn't the same as good. I wouldn't hire this guy to design my kitchen.

[@janetbarkwith]

Our kitchen is ALL drawers. So very convenient - no grovelling about on the floor, scrabbling to get to the back of a cabinet. And even the corners have corner-shaped drawers. I love it.

[@RuthZeeck]

When we remodeled our kitchen in a 1970s house, we went with all drawers below the counters. Best decision ever.

[@judes1948]

The BEST change in kitchens!

[@catalinawoody6954]

I totally agree.

[@loisfolk5492]

I wish I had all drawers. I’m old and can’t get to the back.

[@BJ-bc7sl]

I have mostly drawers but I’m so glad my designer told me to get some cabinets too. I have small appliances (kitchen aid, Bosch, food processor, blender, hot water urn etc…) that wouldn’t fit into a drawer. Everyone needs to take inventory of their kitchen equipment to determine what would cabinet / drawer space work best for them in their kitchen.

[@hairnet84]

I am 76 and have lived in my home 30 years. I had the kitchen remodeled 19 years ago with over lay doors. My kitchen still looks modern and in is in very good shape. I am not trying to impress anyone with my kitchen, it works and is very functional. Some of the examples of cabinets you shared are very rough hewn looking and cheap. My kitchen is perfect for me.

[@johns9969]

Yeah, we have a 20y old Kitchen with overlay,but solid wood. The newer cabinets are vineer or just painted. And cost a fortune. Friend spent close to 100k,and a scratched. Can't sand it out.

[@nancylowichik1820]

Who cares if your kitchen looks cheap? Is it functional? Yikes. Did a remodel 20 years ago with function in mind. Still love it.

[@willowm94]

I had no under the cabinet lighting. I went to Amazon and purchased mini strip LED lights with stick on metal tabs so I can take the lights off and move them around if I need to. No cords. This is especially handy when I plug them in every Sunday to recharge and they last for the week. It was also very handy during the power outage after HELLene. I was able to have lighting in my bathroom, which have no windows.

[@kathykaplan2451]

I have the same mini strip lights!! I love them🎉

[@clevelandeastsider878]

Does the cord show? If so, thats a hard stop for me. Really dislike hanging cords.

[@kristinapreedy7069]

@@clevelandeastsider878if they’re the ones I’m thinking of, they are actually short bars about 1.5”wide x 10” long (I have some too and use them all over my home like in doorways of pass through spots for motion sensor lighting at night as well as under counter) and they don’t have any cords at all; you just attach thin magnets to the surface you want them to attach to and they pop on and off for USB charging. 👍🏼

[@cherylmann1505]

I also like the moveable light bars and put one in our lower pantry cupboard so I could actually see what was in the back. It has a motion sensor so it comes on as soon as I open the door.

[@geoffrothman]

Reading “plug them in every Saturday” just triggered me lol. Another thing to remember to do? Hard pass. 😂

[@jillschaefer1360]

Over the range microwaves are space savers in places like condos. And a giant vent hood, isn't actually venting properly in most condos either.

[@SOF5615]

Most adults would rather have the microwave over the range.range or someplace where they don’t have to bend down to heat the food.

[@joycelynnelobert8779]

It is one of those things designers have strong feelings about that regular people don’t care about.

[@nonamenoname1133]

​@@SOF5615 That doesn't track. the person in the house who cooks tends to be the shorter one, so if they're reaching down it's below the counter. OTR is over my entire head. It's the seduction of counter space savings, not ergo.

[@korikay29]

@@SOF5615 unless you're short and you can't reach...or you cook with gas and would like to avoid reaching over a flame.

[@adeliaemailnelson136]

If you are short having the microwave that high is dangerous.

[@SindyBoyle]

My kitchen units were built in Germany in 1987. It's solid wood with loads of soft close drawers, double composite sink, tall housing for larder storage, 4 corner wall units, thick solid beech wood counter tops [the main one is 9ft long], beech trim and inset handles and adjustable heavy duty plastic feet. We replaced the MDF kick board with 6 inch mahogany skirting board, free from an old house. We've had it 20 years in our 200 year old stone cottage [UK] and painted it 3 different colours over the years. It's magnificent unique and the envy of my sisters. It was free on ebay.

[@CP-nf9my]

That's the way to do it!

[@LB-bu5xf]

I just moved, and the interior paint is all white. I told my sister that's my first task on my to do list - to change the color of the paint. She disagreed because white is her favorite color. I thought about it, then it hit me. My house, my rules. When I walk in my door, I need to like what I see. To hell with trends, and what others think. Different strokes for different folks.

[@56dh]

Amen! Agree with you.

[@JamieLC82]

The white trend is so sterile and boring. A room needs some life.

[@ashleys637]

To me, this all depends on whether you're concerned with resale value. White is neutral, and can be less offensive if you plan on selling in 5-10 years. If not, though? Go wild.

[@BillMalchisky]

My new condo, no white walls. Have a great custom coastal color scheme. I’m done with boring.

[@doeiz3922]

Paint the walks what pleases you. Who cares about resell. If a buyer won't buy a house because of easy cosmetic changes, then it's not the right buyer. Just my two cents.

[@roberttreasure1986]

I love a microwave over the stove. It just really frees up counter space in my kitchen, and my family are not short people. I did some small updates 3 years ago, replaced the cabinet knobs, replaced the faucet and disposal, got higher end appliances, and yes, put the microwave over the stove. In the next year, i will replace all the lighting and the floor to match the rest of the house. Following that, in year two, we will do cabinets and reno. I have to remodel as we can afford it, because we will not take out a loan to make home improvements.

[@Emmylyn714]

I had my husband remove our huge new microwave above our stove & gave it to our newlywed neighbors who needed one a few yrs after we just moved in our home i have always disliked them above stoves he bought me a small countertop microwave & that made me so happy i like space above my stove since i cook & bake daily felt to closed in before now i can breath

[@roberttreasure1986]

@@Emmylyn714 Yes the microwave placement is controversial. Most people who don't' like it over their oven, say they are short or have child concerns. The space above your stove should be a vent, so I don't know how a vent vs a microwave would make a difference in claustrophobia.

[@Jamie-h5b]

@@roberttreasure1986 I removed the microwave over my range and replaced it with a vent hood. The vent hood creates a LOT more open space above the range. It's much higher than the bottom of the microwave was. Now it's open and bright instead of dark and cramped. Two more advantages of a vent hood that convinced me: better ventilation (microwave venting just does not compare to hood venting), and no risk of microwave leakage to the face/brain as the microwave ages. That's from microwave manufacturers and the FDA....which makes face/brain level the absolute worst possible place to have a microwave oven.

[@ElizabethPetrie-m3z]

Where you like the placement of the microwave is a matter of not only personal taste and preference but also the constraints of the space available . I prefer the extra room on the counters in our small kitchen. And in a townhouse or apartment complex there may be no other options for venting (similarly with a washer and dryer) except over the range.

[@Elizabeth-d1n]

It's not a question of over the stove or sitting on the counter. I had my microwave placed in a bank of cabinets over another counter. I have just as much counter space as before, but now my cooktop is properly vented and my safety concerns of reaching over a hot cooktop are gone.

[@cmbooks2000]

I am a woman who only cares that a kitchen is clean. All this design stuff can go into the waste bin

[@IvetteFerrero]

Why would you be watching this video. There are others about cleaning.

[@angelo57a51]

@cmbooks2000 Are you single? Lol You are a rarity!

[@sujo0603]

@@IvetteFerreroThese stupid videos pop up in our feeds. They’re fair game for criticism.

[@LesaBear612]

I’ve never understood why builders don’t increase the wall depth behind the refrigerator.

[@susanmulvey6311]

Oh me too! I live in a townhouse with a smaller kitchen, it would have given me 8” at least! Wish I had the money to have a carpenter do it now!

[@RubbingElbowsLLC]

You need the space behind it. A bump in the dining room in my house would be worse. 😂

[@donnawardle]

@@susanmulvey6311fr f fa

[@cindypatrick785]

I agree, I would love to have my refrigerator flush with my cabinets ( it sticks out 4” ), but to go deeper would mean losing my pantry in the laundry room .😏 12:33

[@leifharmsen]

The next room is why.

[@ljens659]

I live in an old home, and the kitchen cabinets are original. They are solid wood, very strong…will not replace them. I have painted them and put new hardware and countertops on, but will not replace. The lower cabinets have plenty of drawers too. I think these cupboards were designed very well for a kitchen that is nearly 80 years old.

[@JK-yf2vl]

Watch out for chipping of paint. Impossible to prevent.

[@Hititlikeyoulive]

Custom cabinet guy here. Good advice and I would say spot on with those recommendations. And if the DIY’ers get stuck. Call a cabinet guy. It pays our bills

[@maryellenyork2819]

I have downsized from a huge to a very small house. I do NOT have enough storage space in my kitchen. The space above my cabinets allows me storage of seldom used items in matching boxes, and I add extra shelves inside the cabinets. I can't afford a change, so I am doing my best to make the best of a less-than-idea situation.

[@l.5832]

I am 5'2". Some cabinets I have go to the ceiling and one strip of cabinets have a bulkhead up to the ceiling but there is a stretch about 5 feet in length where I left the space between cabinet top and the ceiling. It provides 'breathing space' from all the cabinetry, It gives a 'shelf' for me to display an antique bowl from my mother and a cookie jar from a now-deceased friend. I don't like getting up on a ladder to access cupboards and ironically it is the seldom used things that are also the heaviest and most awkward that are stored up there. Designers ALWAYS want you to put in a backsplash because they ALWAYS will ultimately look dated. Using a good quality high humidity tolerant kitchen/bathroom paint is just fine. It will never look as dated as that marble will in a few years.

[@judyadkins1240]

I love my microwave over the stove. It is just convenient, saves space and the perfect safe height for me 5’3”. It is vented to the outside and has two fans which work really well.

[@michaelplunkett8059]

And you still have an upper cabinet for spices, baking supplies. Unlike the giant focal point range hood.

[@darondatoole7439]

I reached up with both hands to gently cautiously lift out a cup of soup in a sturdy cardboard-like container. Next thing I know, just when I gently had the cup in both hands, the dad blamed thing collapsed inward spilling the hot soup all over my left hand. I got a severe burn. No, never want an over the stove microwave again. I'm 5'31/2" heighten that has shrunk to 5'1". 😉

[@ssw1950]

my kitchen is old(76yrs) and about a 7x8 size but built well and only has cabinets......no drawers. I bought a small pantry style cabinet that has my small microwave on it but I use enclosed Tupperware type storage that has my silverware and other things that fit. A washer and dryer also fit in this space and is used as counter space since counter space is only next to the kitchen sink. I do not have dishwasher, or garbage disposal. I hand wash my dishes since it is just me. So my kitchen is considered cheap and really I like how it resembles a galley style kitchen. It works for me. I don't go in for all the bells and whistles that are used today. I hate any think black in the kitchen and that is because white looks cleaner and can be kept cleaner and helps with eyesight as one gets older. Now a days people don't plan or take into consideration living in their houses for a length of time.....meaning ageing in place. I converted my old bath room (5x7) into an open shower and high 18" toilet, and a pedestal sink....no cabinets either because I don't need to hit myself on the corners. I have an over the toilet chrome storage unit with class shelves. What would really be nice is for someone to give older people advice on refurbishing their living spaces if they want to age in place as I have done. I hired someone to do the work, but I was the contractor an bought what I wanted put in. Since I only had one bath room and living in the house as the work was being done, I had to have a Johnny on the job outside latrine for use and had a small portable potty inside the house in my extra bedroom for night use. All this was educational for me at the time. I was 63 years old and I am now 74 and ageing in place.

[@susanmulvey6311]

I had black handles put on my kitchen cabinets, it changed the whole look of the kitchen! I love the look! Saved me so much money in redoing my cabinets!

[@keepitonthesunnyside]

Let me just say this…..An older kitchen is what existed in a house we purchased 2 years ago, although ours has beautiful wood flooring, a window with plantation shutters and granite counter tops. We looked at the cabinets which had no hardware at all. We decided that the cabinets were in beautiful condition and had pull out drawers. We made the decision to buy oil rubbed bronze high end pulls , (vertical on top and longer matching horizontal ones on the bottom. It looks amazing! When did we stop embracing the past? It was when HGTV brought in “designers” who tell us what we should and should not like. It is easy to change out a scheme with paint and a pocket full of money. True creation comes from working with what is there. As I said my cabinets are in like new condition although have weather to a deeper golden orange. Everyone loves my kitchen BECAUSE it isn’t like everyone else’s kitchen down the street!

[@triciac1019]

That sounds so pretty!

[@janedunlap3518]

Isn't it nice to even have a kitchen. So many people don't. Grateful for what I have.

[@AxlRose159]

Mark! We had a consult way back in April or June and now my kitchen is almost done. I followed all the advice in this video (except the faucet which is yet to be installed) and I think my kitchen looks awesome! Thank you so much-I’ll send pics when the kitchen is complete. Again-Thank you so much!!

[@katethegardener]

Just ordered new kitchen for our new build. 9ft ceilings and cabinets to the top and the under cabinet lighting. Also added lots of drawers, I love drawers they are so much more functional.

[@karenk469]

Hmm, no mention of updating hardware. Built our house in the 90's, big kitchen in red oak. While I know some would say paint those expensive cabinets I never would since I love the warmth of wood. We have had to raise and move over the upper cabinet over the frig since they are bigger now than when we built. I removed the brass back plates and porcelain pulls, lightly sanded, refinished around where they were. Then I added 53 new oil rubbed pulls. What a difference it made, bought simple easy to clean inexpensive ones.

[@susanmulvey6311]

Excellent idea! I did the same in my kitchen, just added black handles and it changed the whole look of the kitchen. I wish I had done it sooner! People that visit think I redid my kitchen or got new cabinets! 👍

[@suancarey809]

the wood for our cabinets came from milled trees in our yard, cut to build the house, plus. Sometimes I think -oh I'd like to have white cabinets -but I could never paint them, It would be like doing injustice to my old friends -the trees.

[@DavidBright-f6c]

I'm happy to note that we did not make any of your mistakes in our 2013 kitchen rehab. We had a good designer and my wife spent 5 years as a designer and manager for an Ethan Allen store. Our room is not large, but we got the no-gap doors, have plenty of drawers, the refrigerator is the proper depth, lighting was well taken care of, the cabinets reach the ceiling and I got my main personal request -- a touch faucet. We would have liked two things that we did not have the room for -- a larger sink (its hard to wash large skillets, lids, etc in this one) and a larger fridge. The lack of space forced the microwave over the cook-top, but we worked hard to find a solution without it and could not find one. This is our forever house (we were late 60's when we did the job), so everything we did had to be good for us for the long run. We are still happy with what we did (and the bathroom remake and the family room built-in).

[@merryhunt9153]

We have two spring-loaded poles from the 1970's, left over from the house-plant craze, and we use them to hang pots and skillets on. We call them pan-trees, and we love them.

[@Ozziecatsmom]

That’s a great idea, wish I could find a pole for that.

[@CopingwithGrattitude]

Love that idea!

[@randompixels6237]

Simple patterns/colors is always timeless. Colored lamps/light, rugs, fixtures, etc captures trends & personal styles while allowing inexpensive change.

[@madonnahagedorn5649]

Agreed. We just bought a new fridge and we payed more close attention to the depth. It stands in an alcove so the depth is important. The entrance to the kitchen cannot be obstructed by an appliance, it doesn't work. My microwave if opened at the same time as my cabinet that lifts up will collide and either dent the stainless steel door or break the glass insert of the cabinet. I worry when there is too much activity in my kitchen that someone will forget this design mistake and hastily open both doors at once. It all looks fine at the design stage when everything is closed and not in use. How the cabinets operate together is important and can be overlooked. Live and learn!

[@amazonhippie7826]

I’m with you on the kitchen drawers. When I did the kitchen in my last house, all lower cabinets were drawers except the two corners. Each drawer stack had small, medium, and large from top to bottom. Different widths depending on their placement in the kitchen. I have lower back issues. I can bend over having one hand on the counter top. But squatting is much more difficult. So the drawers were great.

[@settame1]

Another thing for the fridge thing is to pay attention to the walls surrounding your fridge. Our fridge fits in the space perfectly but the wall next to the fridge sticks out just an inch to far (it’s the dining room) so we can’t open the fridge door fully like we can on the other side. We didn’t realize it until we went to clean out the fridge and remove a shelf, so making sure you have full clearance on both sides of your fridge door is very important. Also spring for LED lighting for under cabinet. It isn’t much more expensive and non-LED is so hot it will melt butter, plastic etc. nothings worse than waking up to a pool of butter on your counter.

[@lolacole5653]

Cant you just pull the fridge forward an inch or so?

[@ellen4956]

I used to have my own Victorian house with cabinets from 1892. The cabinet doors were made from pieces of wood about 4" across and fit together each to the next piece. Inside there were pieces that went across to hold them together. They went all the way to the ceiling, with drawers under, and then more cupboards under the drawers down to the floor. I absolutely loved them. On the other side of the room there was a cupboard up high, so there was room for a table against the wall. It was my perfect kitchen.

[@annc560]

I had drawers in Belgium and loved them. We turned our mop/broom cabinet into storage by adding shelving to de-clutter the counters. We are looking for a backsplash, as it's just a painted wall right now. I would love to see recommendations. Curtains are a NO-GO as they are going to stink if you cook often. My advice for flooring is don't get anything you can't stand on for hours.

[@gerdberg4188]

10:01 as an electrician it is difficult to get a lot of people to invest in really nice lighting .

[@nedawilmhoff3599]

Yes, big drawer banks for pots and pans plus all pull out shelves and taking all the way to the ceiling are musts.

[@OnlyNaturally]

Just did a small kitchen upgrade with quartz countertops and lower cabinet pullouts installed, including one for the large corner cabinet. Made a huge difference, and painting over the orange oak is next after the holidays to complete the update without spending a fortune

[@user-spacrazie]

Trends come in and go out. If you want to be housebound in mortgages, by all means, keep updating. Nothing feels as good as having a functional kitchen you cook in DAILY, 7 days a week, and have no mortgage or 2nd mortgages. The name of the game is having your Lien in your hands (owning your house outright), not the mortgage banks hands.

[@roslynjones5886]

I am embarrassed to say I never knew the difference on the builder grade vs up graded cabinets. You have taught a great lesson today teacher. Thank you

[@danielleg2616]

I love wood cabinets

[@Happytalk321]

We remodeled our kitchen and brought the cabinets up to the ceiling. Wow! Did we add storage space! And love the look too!

[@lruss5050]

The least of my worries is whether my kitchen looks “cheap”!

[@mf4329]

Wonder why you’re watching this video then.

[@DkpProductions]

If a cheap kitchen means more money in my pockets then I'm all set

[@SHWF-411]

Why take the time to write this comment? Lots of videos on You Tube for you to watch.

[@Earthstein]

I'm in my 70's. I live by myself. My kitchen looks cheap. I like it. Thanks for your tips. I appreciate it.

[@hagun6535]

I have 15ft vaulted ceilings so can't go all the way up, but I do agree going to the top looks great.

[@venusdistorted5170]

Same here and it's a vaulted ceiling. :}

[@azgardenlover370]

I will take a vaulted ceiling over cabinets to the ceiling any day of the week!

[@jobethschlatterer1655]

We built our home almost 30 years ago. I went around and around with the builder and cabinet guy. They informed me that I didn’t want my cabinets to go to the ceiling! I won that argument and have Never regretted it! They are lighted with glass doors, and yes it was more expensive, But I have Never regretted it! We have done a complete upgrade, but I still have my to-the-ceiling cabinets and Still get compliments on them.

[@christym6128]

70 % of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. Who gives a rip what looks cheap to others.

[@gabolujan3109]

& those 70% don’t budget and buy expensive stuff they can’t afford which makes them paycheck to paycheck.

[@AnnoulaXeni]

Microwaves above waist-level are also dangerous (easy to spill something hot on your face/chest).

[@AutumnMoonlight95]

As someone who is disabled I would love to have the bank of drawers. Cabinets make impossible for me to reach in for anything. I looked into having inside drawers installed but it's quite expensive. Most refrigerators stick out because you move them from house to house with you. Not a lot of people buying new fridges for each place they move into. The thing about renovations (or not renovating) even if it's just paint is that when you go to sell it plenty of people won't like what ever it is you do so just do what you like and be prepared to possibly have to repaint or whatever when you go to sell.

[@overit16]

Most of these are just his opinion. This world would be boring if we all had the same taste. People do what you think is nice, dont follow others' opinions.

[@terriw919fyi]

Thank you!

[@Daisy_3500]

This!

[@AFAskygoddess]

If one opinion was the only correct opinion, stores would only stock one style of shoes and one color of sheets.

[@liasmith696]

We just redid our kitchen from IKEA. ( second remodel in this house) LOVE my drawers, I can’t believe what I was missing. Your channel helped immensely. I love my new updated kitchen. My husband did most of the work~ my entire remodel, new cabinets, lighting, one floating shelf, new Wilsonart countertops, new hardware, all new appliances (except gas range)new sink and faucet, new range hood cost less than $4000.00. I couldn’t be happier 😊💫

[@geoffrothman]

How?!?!?! Painting existing cabinets is $3k alone. How many cabinets and what brand appliances?

[@j.pappas9083]

I have an Ikea kitchen too. It was a complete re-model with cabinets (Ikea!), quartz countertops, retro style appliances, farmhouse sink, hardwood floor and tile backsplash. The whole thing cost me less than $20,000 and a contractor did all the work so that included his fee. It looks amazing and I love it!

[@dpberry]

25 years ago we remodeled our entire home and added on new construction for a 20x20 master suite. Our kitchen still looks great. I chose Talavera tiles for the backsplash in the kitchen both on the sink wall and the range wall. It’s a nod to my Mexican heritage and I love it. It’s a pale cream background with six flowers and green leaves. It doesn’t jump out and is pretty. It all still looks very current because we have custom cabinets that go to the ceiling and it’s traditional with satin nickel drawer pulls and knobs that look great with our new brushed stainless appliances. After 24 years everything died last year. Surprise!

[@lorraineedmond5921]

Drawers are where it’s at! My previous kitchen had pullouts, and those were good, too. Rummaging in a black hole? No!

[@dukelawrence5830]

Under counter lighting and real granite counter tops are essential. Xpensive I know but do it once and be done for life. Looks new forever.

[@Michelle-bk2et]

Mark, great video. As a kitchen designer I agree with most of your points. I just wanted to note what you as a Canadian kitchen designer call half overlay doors and drawer fronts, here in the U.S. we refer to them as three-quarter overlay. Just wanted to mention just in case you have a lot of American viewers.

[@geordonp]

Since half of a 1-1/2" face rail is 3/4"?

[@maudessen573]

I just renovated my 1903 house to be all electric to take advantage of a large solar array. For plumbing and lifestyle reasons, I decided not to have a separate kitchen. I now have a galley kitchen on one wall of the dining room. It works great for me. I used inset base cabinets and counter depth dishwasher and fridge. I have no range…just a GE Advantium ventilated outside and various electric appliances. Other than the sink base, the others are drawer units. There are no overhead cabinets. So I accidentally made some right choices. The main thing I lack is pantry space. I have a butler’s pantry, but my shoulders don’t rotate anymore so I can’t reach up. I am currently using a vintage barrister bookcase in the next room, but in the next phase of my renovation I am building a new back porch which will be outfitted as a summer kitchen, with a range, more fridge space, and pantry. My big remaining galley kitchen projects are a decent backsplash and a floating shelf that will give me the equivalent of under-cabinet task lighting.

[@MrMilwaukee]

Why add cabinets to the ceiling that no one can reach. If you can’t reach above the cabinets to clean how are you going to use those cabinets above that you also can’t reach. It’s just a matter of time before styles change and cabinets to the ceiling look dated. He said he prefers subway tile. Now that’s dated

[@kimschannel5567]

It’s a good point for people who can’t reach things and have difficulty with physical mobility. I however have my cabinets all the way to the ceiling and I love it. I store seasonal and party items that I only use a few times a year. I have a light weight ladder that I use to easily reach up there. The best part is that it doesn’t get dusty and greasy up there. It is so much easier to keep things clean and organized with the extra storage up there.

[@supergran1000]

@@kimschannel5567 The advantage is not having to clean off grease. And, like you, I store little-used items on the top shelves of my cabinets. I keep a little folding step stool handy.

[@renaebettenhausen3611]

Because that's where you stash holiday decor. Also, the top of your cabinets are not gathering dust.

[@geoffrothman]

Did u see the pull downs he showed?

[@debbielockhart7762]

You can put taller items on the shelf. Also things you only use rarely.

[@nicolelela7423]

Everyone needs to watch your video!!!!!! You are 100% correct on every single item you have mentioned. Especially the microwave. The builder who built our home was a cheap skate. I cannot wait to renovate our kitchen. He made up pay 5k, 25 years ago for upgraded cabinet that were the longer ones. The cabinets definitely only cost 5k in total lol. They were builder grade. I digress. Unfortunately the microwave was installed over the stove and no true vent was set up. It did destroy the cabinets. I could never keep us with cleaning the grime off of them it wore the finish off of them. They were maple cabinets. My house is 3500 sq ft. It’s not huge but not tiny. The kitchen is not large so I do not have a huge amount of cabinets. I just don’t know where I am going to put the microwave but I do know it will not be over the stove this time. Your video is very Informative!! I hope many watch before they build or do a Reno.

[@leonieharry2941]

Sometimes cabinets to the ceiling are opressive. Especially if it is a small room and you are eating in it (eating nook for example)

[@stulianadivanova8444]

Have to do 2 levels. Upper level deeper than the lower. Looks great.

[@jkp62]

We have a galley style eat in kitchen (no dining room right now) and our original cabinets go to the ceiling, our table is in the center of the room. I placed USB rechargeable LED lights under the cabinets for task lighting and it made a big difference to the feel of the kitchen overall. When we renovate next year, we are still placing uppers to the ceiling but all our lowers will be drawers as we are aging in place here. Plus, we painted everything a creamy white and that also opened up our small space.

[@stulianadivanova8444]

@@jkp62 also use integrated appliances

[@jkp62]

@@stulianadivanova8444 we aren’t looking for new appliances, the ones we have are just fine and I am very okay with large appliances showing off in my kitchen- and it’s very much a working kitchen and we have lots of people over who work in the kitchen with me and I do t ever want them to try to figure out where things are like the larger appliances.

[@roberttreasure1986]

If you put crown molding in at the top, it creates a less "boxy" look, because now the lines are going horizontal instead of vertical. You could also use paint color, to draw the eye downward, as in, paint the bottom cabinets a darker color and the upper cabinets a lighter color. You are actually drawing interest to the contrast, which would be the middle, so you could also do the reverse.

[@michelleosborne1431]

Our home had a over the range microwave when we bought it. When it stopped working, we had some decisions to make. It was easier to just replace it with another better over the range microwave.

[@keradee8742]

Thanks for this video! It's nice to have reassurance that things I want in my kitchen aren't silly or me just being picky.😊

[@domenicamassaro8221]

This advice about drawers is a one I held dear designing my country home kitchen, thank you so much Mr Tobin. This and other things you said I really took notes.

[@angietorok8389]

I don't really care if my kitchen looks modern or expensive as long as it's clean and I can make wonderful food in it.

[@Sotweetie]

2:12 "By just fixing this one mistake alone you can easily fix and increase the value of your kitchen 100-fold! ...Or at least 10-fold..." I subscribed. 🤣

[@lauraburke8352]

Hi Mark! I'm in the middle of my very first kitchen remodel! A long journey, but it's starting to get exciting.

[@katherinelarini8514]

I have moved several times in the last 20 years and each time I have done a kitchen remodel... Always included is several banks of drawers - I LOVE my drawers... but, one thing I will never do is to include upper cabinets... At 4'11" there is no way an upper cabinet is of any use to me! - I have managed to include way more storage space in other ways and the absence of the upper cabinets makes my kitchen look huge... the next owners of this house can easily install uppers if they want, but as soon as they see the functionality of my kitchen, they won't bother...

[@mvnman6807]

I have two dislikes about my kitchen. First, the refrigerator is small, 18 cubic feet. It was installed into a nook with cabinets built around it. Because of the location, I could not open the door the whole way. Kitchen designers should plan space to allow a larger refrigerator to be installed. Second, when washing dishes in the kitchen sink, I kept banging my knees on the cabinet door below the sink. I ended up taking the doors off and leaving them off. I think a larger overhand on the countertop would have solved that problem.

[@erikaronska1096]

My cats love the space above the kitchen cabinets

[@pitpitpotpot]

I moved to a smaller house with very high ceilings and a long, narrow kitchen. To console the cats, I'm installing stepped wall cabinets and a small ramp to let them reach a walkway under the ceiling with a swing door to go into the next room. (I think the most adventurous one has figured it out and is already planning how to make me regret it)

[@geanettepartington691]

Mine do, too.

[@56dh]

​@@pitpitpotpotI love it! Good for you! It's your house, do what YOU want.

[@kathywright6853]

One of my cats named ChinChin would get up on top she also liked to hang from the window curtains,there's always one in every crowd 😂

[@JosieB2017]

I cleaned new construction homes for over 20 years and have seen every trend come and go. Yet when I downsized and built my own kitchen functioned matter over trends, space saving mattered over eye candy. I took the wall space hiding the refrigerator and turned it into a pantry that is 6” deep and goes to my 9 foot ceiling, with a sliding door. And the utility room I have a wall of shelves for oversized kitchen appliances to keep off my limited countertop. What really surprised me was the ease of working in my very small space. With less then 4 steps I’m in reach of almost every thing I need to make a daily meal.

[@LoriF25403]

My over the cooktop microwave is the only space it can go and my kitchen is high end with custom cabinets that reach the ceiling. I love my kitchen.

[@CapricornGirl9]

Mine is the same way.

[@ashleys637]

Just a question: could you have put it in as a drawer or built-in microwave? I like having a powerful vent hood that vents outside, not for the look, but because it's amazing to be able to do high-heat cooking without setting off a smoke alarm. We opted for a built-in microwave for this reason.

[@CapricornGirl9]

@ in my case, no. To do so would have required a major kitchen redesign and the movement of appliances. When I redid the kitchen, I kept everything in the same place as it isn’t a large kitchen.

[@ashleys637]

@@CapricornGirl9 That's fair. It just depends on the kitchen size and, very importantly, budget. Do what you gotta do.

[@bonniehalf-elven]

My mom lives in a small rental house with no drawers in the tiny kitchen. She has a chest of drawers off to the side, as well as some free standing cupboards and a cart. It's not showroom friendly, but it's functional, and she's just happy to have a kitchen. My brother and SIL just redid their kitchen and left the space at the top for their Christmas village. They put electrical outlets up there to plug them in. I don't know what will be up there the rest of the time, but I'm sure it won't be plants hanging down!

[@NathanBrooks-x1c]

You know right now there’s thousands maybe millions who would except that outdated kitchen and a roof over their heads.

[@56dh]

Amen! Very soon even the upper scale folks will get a dose of reality.

[@jalemairliha]

🙄 So ... this video isn't for them. Is he just not supposed to speak to people who may find this useful?

[@NathanBrooks-x1c]

@@jalemairliha Did you find it useful?

[@nafsucof]

And beyond being a keyboard warrior, what are you doing to further your message? Comment bombing all the home improvement videos on youtube?

[@NathanBrooks-x1c]

@ have you gone thru all of them to check?

[@candacestorrer867]

I am so glad I did it right! Thanks for the boost! One thing I did, because I had the space, I created a special clean up area with a big sink separate from my cooking area and big island sink. I designed the clean up area to also house the daily dishes close by. By arranging the “areas” by use, I have cut down so much friction! We are almost finished with the remodel. It was a full redesign, moving locations of sinks and fridge etc. I designed it all and it looks great almost!

[@katrinsouthern9317]

Thanks particularly for the clever tips of what to do if you can't change something. I hate the open space over my units but the ambient lighting suggestion is brilliant. I'll do that straight after I have dusted and cleaned there! 😀

[@anahitaghvanyan1152]

I like the ideas given here. They are not just better looking but also practical. My kitchen is pretty high with 9" ceiling but I wish they were up to the ceiling. I really need hidden space for my once an year use of dishes, decors for specific holiday that I have to take out and keep in other rooms. I don't mind getting on ladder few times in year and get .y christmas plates out. When I'm old, I'll just leave them empty.

[@JesseHarrington87]

Mark, I am a custom cabinet shop manager and EVERYTHING you mention in this video is right on point. I see all the time newly built homes here in Florida with just no proper planning or attempt of utilization in their kitchen constructions. I try as much as possible to have drawers in a kitchen due to the ease of access for items. Thank you for the reiterating in this video what I believe in kitchen design as well!

[@MTKDofficial]

Hey Jesse! Thanks so much for the comment. Hopefuly more homeowners will take our advice seriously! Appreciate you!

[@jkp62]

Hate OTR microwaves. In our floor plan when we renovate next summer, we are pulling the over fridge cabinet forward with framing to the back of it (yes, there will be a lot of dead space) and building pantries on either side of it to make it look built in (there is a moveable island for a drop zone from/to the fridge) we are utilizing as much space as possible to make this kitchen functional for aging in place, so smaller walk-in pantries on either side of fridge and on either side of pantries will be 30” lower drawers with countertops and glass fronted uppers, one countertop will hold my stand mixer, the other the coffee pot and electric kettle- stuff not in use all day long. The other side of the galley kitchen will hold the sink, dishwasher and range, again, lowers are drawers, therebis a small el on the west wall of that side that will be a 24" built in hutch for all the dishware, glassware, platters and serving bowls at the very end if the el and to the left of that will be the microwave mounted about 22" above the countertop with glass uppers above that. We planned everything to the millimeter, even taping everyrhing off and usi g cardboard to mimic the range and oven dior, dishwasher door and drawer and door clearances to make sure everything could open fully without scraping or hitting something. Flowing Mark has made us be very aware and vigilant in creating our renovated kitchen.

[@stulianadivanova8444]

IKEA kitchen does not look cheap at all. Do not try to push custom make cabinets here, they never look better than commercial build product. They always look DIY.

[@JT_70]

You must not have seen quality custom made cabinets made by a professional cabinet shop. Designers in our area always specify custom cabinetry and moldings on mid to high end houses. The construction quality with solid wood/plywood frames, drawers, doors and boxes on custom cabinets makes IKEA and most mass produced cabinets look cheap and inferior. I would never put IKEA on my own home.

[@nicolepare1646]

Best decision was hiring an interior designer for our kitchen renovation that had lots of experience working with small open concept condo spaces. As we already had pull outs installed we only needed to reface the cabinets, added upper cabinets to the ceiling and build out the cabinet above the fridge to look like a custom built in cabinet fridge, new hardware and appliances. LOVE our new renovation worth every penny. Agree don’t cheap out on sink and faucet.

[@jacquelineglitter4328]

I have some plants on top of my cabinet with my bunnies. I don't care what you think looks good. I also have people say my home is beautiful and looks like a designer did it. That's why people are broke because they're always keeping up with the Jones.

[@WaskiSquirrel]

Your comment about not finishing the cabinets all the way to the ceiling got to me. The previous owner of my house ripped out the original cabinets and replaced them. She admitted when I toured the house that she needed to finish the area above the cabinets: you could see the change in ceiling and holes in the ceiling where the old cabinets were ripped out. But it's a small house (672 ft^2). I use that space for storage. Ideally, I'd like to fill the holes and make the ceiling continuous so you don't see where the old cabinets were. Goals... What makes it complicated is that the kitchen ceiling drops from about 8 feet to 6 feet on the exterior wall. Couple that with using the area above the cabinets for storage, and I think practicality wins over design in my kitchen!

[@lb9031]

if you have a kitchen, be glad

[@pinkiewinkie1548]

Hi Mark, the whole bottomhalf of the kitchen-cabinets I do want drawers (most wide ones!), for pots, for pans, for cutlery, for collanders, for tea bags, coffee and other things!!! Yep, I just LOVE DRAWERS ;-) The tophalf: I want a pull-down element in certain cabinets because I'm little and have health issues, can not stretch. And of course I want a workstation sink!!! For now we have a build-in fridge and our big fridge/freezer combo is standing in the garage (= next to the kitchen!), not ideal but it works, for now. I want light colored wood for the cabinets, a soft green splashback (no tiles but a sort of glass) and the walls stay like now, warm yellow (near to orange). Plus I want a lot of sockets!! And yes, under cabinet lighting, I miss that so much!! We can not have that right now because of those cabinets trimmings (BAH, hate that!!). I also want an induction stove (now I cook with gas and I hate that!!), no oven under the range, but a separate oven and microwave (like I have now). Learned a lot thanks to you and your tips & advice, you are the best, sweetie! And if it's not for now, maybe for a next lifetime!!! Lots of love to you and the family from an old (rebel), Pinkie

[@Geronimo2Fly]

I personally don't like the look of inset cabinets at all. Too busy with lines everywhere. I much prefer full overlay doors. I've got to admit they're better than curtains or half overlay doors though.

[@jd-um4jw]

Same. I don't prefer them at all.

[@machintelligence]

IMHO the problem with full overlay doors is keeping the hinge hardware in adjustment. Having the doors sag or fail to meet when closed (double door units) is a major failing.

[@clayvansickle1]

@@machintelligenceAgreed! I respectfully disagree with Mark on this one. Both full overlay and inset doors are a pain to keep the reveal perfectly aligned. Partial overlay can be slightly misaligned and your eye won’t notice it most of the time.

[@kimschannel5567]

I think both overlay and inset are fine; it depends on the kitchen style. I don’t think anyone’s personal choices should be considered a “mistake” if they really like it!

[@kaiwindingwest]

i like how fast this guy goes through the info, no extra talking to jam it up

[@merryhunt9153]

Money, money, money. It's easy to talk about what looks cheap. It's harder to design a safe and efficient kitchen which is easy to clean and fun to cook in, but that's what you should be doing. If you have a family, your kids will remember that you gave them healthy and delicious food much more than they will remember that the kitchen looked expensive.

[@mamamoose749]

We diy finished our eat-in kitchen 2 years ago. We live in a small 1960s home and we still had all the original builder grade cabinets, no dishwasher, no microwave, only 3 ft of counter space, no space for a modern size refrigerator, no other rooms to take space from and nearly every cabinet was broken. The kitchen has 3 doors leading to other rooms diagonally across, and one wall needs to leave enough space to maneuver furniture and appliances downstairs. This left only 7x8 ft L for cabinets and appliances. Virtually no arrangements worked, the fridge or cabinets were in the way, and in half the arrangements, we lost the table too. I made most of these "mistakes", except my cabinets do go to the ceiling, and I'm still thrilled to have a microwave, a dishwasher, narrow drawers for utensils, and all my doors close. Sometimes, you just have to compromise for space, function, and budget, but you don't have to impress your neighbors

[@amyoungil]

I wouldn't mind more pictures of kitchens and less of the host....

[@geoffrothman]

Speak for yourself 😂😂😂

[@AFAskygoddess]

​@geoffrothman , She was. You might want to familiarize yourself with the meaning of "I".

[@sesame-dl2ym]

I agree, the framed inset cabinets are awesome. I had Amish do custom kitchen . Double wall oven so no range. Microwave in wall, also good in island if you have kids. And cooktop over giant cabinet. Cabinets should look like furniture, they’re expensive enough! Also finish the top of cabinets with thick trim pieces, otherwise they look like they’re floating. Always get cabinet depth fridge, if you need more room get another for basement.

[@AndrewIrving-o4d]

It was a surprise to me too as a designer, but the half overlay doors are coming back into style STRONG in our area. Lots of our clients specifically request them. I never expected it either, but hey, people like what they like!

[@dvinedzine]

I am actually looking for the pillow edge-type cabinet doors for my parents' 1953 kitchen that was constructed oddly by today's standards. They are a half overlay type for a long single-piece cabinet that was built on site, very hard to find. 🤔

[@AndrewIrving-o4d]

@@dvinedzine See if you can find a dealer in your area for CandleLight cabinetry; Last time I checked, they actually still offered partial-inset (Looks similar to half overlay) with the rounded/pillow edge profile. I haven't actually worked for a Candle Light dealer in a four or five years now, so that may have changed, but it's worth a shot.

[@geoffrothman]

I have a kitchen full of 2000s raised panel half overlay cherry cabinets I’ll trade you for :))

[@dvinedzine]

@@AndrewIrving-o4d thank you, I will check that out!

[@juliemulie1805]

Because the flush style edge breaks down with use (closing drawers on utensils) and look chipped and broken within the first year. Enough of us have had friends who went with the sharp edge look and regret it.

[@ramose83]

Thank you very much; sadly we can't get Inset cabinets here in Europe. Cabinets with inserted doors are simply no longer available in Germany. In contrast to kitchen cabinets with attached doors, they do not look as bulky and are therefore more attractive.

[@KanDee_Olson]

I love vines or plants on the tops of cabinets.

[@monicacollins8289]

I have my birdhouse collection in that space. They get a lot of compliments.

[@kwatt-engineer796]

Over the counter microwaves can be purchased with full exhaust venting, The convenience of having a microwave over the cook stove takes precedence for us. We are completing a new build and purchased an over the counter microwave. However, we also purchased a power vent kit for the microwave that exhausts outside the home. The recirculating vents are useless. We like having two microwaves and installed an under the counter unit a the number two.

[@sherilaufle1666]

I waited to hear recommendations for the kitchen faucet

[@brulew976]

Full overlay or frameless cabinets originated with the Bauhaus movement in Germany. They became an established style in the post-world war II era during the reconstruction. Quicker and easier to construct using less material and very forgiving for fitment.

[@JosephGiannelli-eu6os]

I am so happy someone finally mentioned microwaves over the stove! I hate that! I'm short. I suspect a tall male started the practice. I have no desire to have hot anything pour onto me as I try to remove hot anything from a poorly placed microwave. Until this video, everyone to whom I've pointed out this design flaw has said the flaw is in my thinking. Diane, using Joe's tablet.

[@overit16]

It seems to me you just hate you are short. 😂😂😂

[@mgertp]

I agree. They are dangerous for any height. In the 60's we bought a home with upper/ lower ovens and I was always worried that I would spill something from the top oven. In our present kiktchen the microwaved was installed under a top cabinet next to the refrigerator. This was very convenient because so much of what went in was from the frig or freezer. Also because I haved a galley kitchen, it was very close to the prep area. After a hurricane flood which required replacement of lower kitchen and major appliances, I got rid of the microwave and found it didn't take much longer to heat food on cooktop or oven. I recovered a useful counter and don't miss it.

[@kristinapreedy7069]

@@overit16I’m also short and always disliked our over the range microwave but they are also a consideration for “aging in place” or Universal Design. During a recent remodel, we moved our microwave to an “eye-level” (for me), counter-depth cabinet with a small open counter space below for setting things out of the microwave. As we age, we won’t be forced to reach so high to get hot things out of the microwave (and I can actually see all the way to the back of this one now!) and we have a proper vent hood over our range. Some people opt for the drawer microwaves for even more accessibility.

[@susanwiles4580]

I hate over the range microwaves, especially since I’ve gotten older. They are dangerous if something is cooking on the range and you are reaching over that, you can’t see what is going on inside, you have to reach to get something out and then, if the range is being used, carry it to someplace else in the kitchen and finally…the vent isn’t any good. Don’t like waking up and smelling what was for dinner last night! Finally, you can’t easily see into the pans on the range if the microwave is installed too low - which ours is…pasta pot barely fits. (Interesting comment above about canning and the MW bottom melting😮)

[@L.Fontein7]

I agree. I'm 5 ft 1 in tall and for that reason don't like my OTR microwave. We're trying to figure out a different place for it but with limited counter space it's been a challenge.

[@108doublestitches]

This year's kitchen solution is next year's tear out. At the advice of a kitchen designer.