What would you do? - Cabinet error.

[Lonnie Gallaher]

I just got the upper cabinets installed in my kitchen and discovered that the area where the range and hood will go are offset by 1/2 inch. I have not built the base cabinets yet.

The kitchen is small with the range at the end of the L-shaped counter. I allowed for all of the build-up of cabinet/drawer fronts and drawer pulls plus 1 inch of clearance for range door to the cabinet pulls.

I can either leave it as is and have the range offset from the hood by the 1/2 inch error or reduce the base cabinet depth by 1/2 inch. My other option is to reduce my filler piece at the corner and go with 1/2 of clearance for the range door to the cabinet pulls.

So the options are -

1. Leave it with the 1/2 offset. Will I notice the offset - yes, but will anyone else?

2. Reduce the depth of the base cabinets by 1/2 inch. This seems like the most logical thing to do. Can anyone think of a reason why not to go this route?

3. Reduce the filler piece and hope that 1/2 inch working clearance is adequate for the range and cabinet pulls. This is my least favorite choice.

Any advice from those that are more experienced with cabinets would be appreciated.

[Keith Hankins]

Don't sweat it. Option 1 or 2. I'd say 1 and yes you will see it, but I doubt anybody else will. I redid a wall in a kitchen once. Forgot to crown a dang stud, and that was the first thing I saw in that kitchen till I sold it. Upset me, but no one ever even saw or cared about it.

[Jim Andrew]

I agree with Keith. I have always been a perfectionist when I built my kitchens, built houses for a living, and think I was the only one who ever noticed.

[Kevin Jenness]

You already know what to do- adjust the base cabinet depth on the return. What's the downside, changing a few drawer slides at worst? If you don't , no-one else will notice, but you will kick yourself every time you look at it.

[Sam Murdoch]

You already know what to do- adjust the base cabinet depth on the return. What's the downside, changing a few drawer slides at worst? If you don't , no-one else will notice, but you will kick yourself every time you look at it.

This would be my solution - the range hood will look best and work best directly above the range.

If the return L is into a wall you could remove the 1/2" of drywall and simply set the cabinets right to the studs. The c-top would be less deep but the interior of the base cab would be full size.

[Lonnie Gallaher]

Thanks to those that responded. I don't think I can leave the error in the layout. My thought has always been, it is not an error unless you cannot correct it to an acceptable level.

Thanks again.