apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Leaving it open makes it stand out even more like a sore thumb. The open cabinet breaks up the cohesiveness.

A small wine rack would fill the space nicely.

Wow, that looks really random. I agree with ChrisToronto, fill it with some nice wine bottles or vases - something to make it blend in more, and not such an oddity.

I, personally, dont see how filling it with wine bottles would improve it. The fact that it's open and "different" from the other cabinets will still attract attention to the ceiling beam above and would continue to visually break up the space. If any of the other cabinets were left open, that would not be the case. But since this one is directly under that beam, It's doesn't look so great.

I have a hand blown colbalt blue glass water pitcher that I put up in my space above the cabinets...looks like a piece of art and I don't use the pitcher all that much so I'm not constantly climbing up and down a stool to get it...

You could get small sugar/flower/coffee tins to fit the space...

You could get a basket to fit snug in there (or a pretty little box) and store things you don't use much...

You could also fold and store pretty table cloths up there to add some color to the space...

P.S. Just have some doors made. Problem solved.

Yup, I concur. Get a door made, hinged on the right, configured to fill the space all the way up to the ceiling when the door is closed.

You could pad the wall above the cabinet, and make a small soffit as deep as the cabinet, leaving you with a space that -- if done well -- could look like an extension of the soffit. It would be of a waste of a small space, but solve your problem.

What a beautiful kitchen. I love the cabinet colors, with the stainless steel apps and white countertop.

Also, I really do like kitchens with minimal backsplashes - it looks more updated. I have no backsplash - just use a piece of glass behind my sink, which is an idea I got through this website. My wall paint is scrubbable. I just caulked along the crack between the countertop and wall.

As for the the question at hand: I say take another open cabinet, modify it so that it can slide into the space above the existing open cabinet, and you're done. I think it will look appropriately "built in."

Also in the "attach a matching door" camp...

i love ur fridge! what's the make of it. and i agree the wine rack is the best idea!

I would insert a custom-made back panel into the white space on the wall adjacent to the ceiling. The panel should be made out of the same material as the rest of the cabinets so the color and look is the same. You could then leave the cabinet open or have a custom-made cabinet door that would match the others. If you leave it open, it would be a good spot for a cookbook collection.

P.S. I like your shiny refrigerator.

Yes, I was thinking a simple answer might be to put a piece of veneer on the wall that is the same color as the cabinets. Then a vase or something could add. It also might be interesting to consider wrapping the soffit itself with the veneer, might make it look a little classier.

If all that is in there is wiring, would it be terrible trouble to have an electrician look at it to see if the wiring could be relocated to above the ceiling ... or at least into a smaller profile soffit?

If not, I also vote for a custom door, but it is still going to look a little odd.

Hi
As it looks at present, besides the soffit debacle, the existing shelving is ill-fitting as well; bringing more attention to the eyesore.
I would suggest going for a look of continuity:
Replace the background (wall) with paneling matching the cupboards, then add a shelf at the top of the microwave line, another AT the bottom of the microwave line. Not out of line as it is now. Same wood finish. I like the idea of this area being cupboardless: it gives some relief in the wall of cupboards, a place to show something special that functions in the kitchen, and adds visual depth to the kitchen. You could add a puck light here too.
If matching the wood is difficult, then a complimentary paint scheme is an option.
Is this really a good place for wine storage? Light and heat issues.
Also the cupboard idea might just show up the soffit even more.
Maybe.
Be careful.
Good luck.
The existing kitchen is otherwise very nice.

cook books, coffee tins, nesting bowls, ceramics, tea pots, silver trays or serving ware, vintage colanders, some kind of wooden or woven basket for storage...the possibilities are endless really, it just depends on your taste.

personally, i'd line up all of my cookbooks up there.

That does look like a good little nook for books you don't reference that often. If it's tall enough, run the all the way across and put things on the lower shelves, and I bet the awkwardness will just disappear.

I also vote for getting a custom door to cover it up and make it look more cohesive. Also, i feel like the lighting in your kitchen is making the problem worse, because the soffit is actually big enough to block light from the kitchen and cast a shadow on your fridge. If you could get some more light near where the fridge is, I think that would help make the soffit blend into the background.

I would put two doors on the open cabinet with a custom cut fixed panel on top to conceal that little niche.

go to the cabinet manufacturer and ask for a "filler panel" to match what your cabinets.

That's the worst place in the kitchen to store wine, except for the oven. Either get doors made or put the cookbooks you don't use up there.

Or else embrace your innner Tammy Faye and put fake ivy there and all over the beam.

i suggest a custom millworked spice cabinet with drawers the same width as the header, then filling the side with cabinets to match leaving a 1" spacer on the left cabinet to open the door.

Find a narrower cabinet that fits to the right of the soffit. Then below the soffit install a spice drawer similar to the one posted in Barry and Rosemary Brisco's entry from AT:LA.

Entry: http://la.apartmenttherapy.com/la/house-tours/house-tour-barry-and-rosemarys-eichler-home-037441

spice drawer: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/photos/112907brisco/images/010_kitchen_small.jpg

Have the millworker provide you with a panel to cover up the space. You could stash stuff in there. Well, maybe not now because people would know. Sorry. But just cover it up with a panel and it will look normal, especially after you put things on the shelf.

If you have them do this, have them create another panel to go above the refrigerator to fill that gap as well. It will appear as if your refrigerator is built-in.

Remove the shelving AND the cabinet above the fridge. As I see it right now, that narrow space above the fridge is not at all useful.

Install OPEN shelves in that entire space from the microwave to the wall, and from the top of the fridge to the bottom of the soffit. This will give your fridge a built-in look.

Leave the back wall open so your paint color shows through, and so some light gets in there.

As for the color of the shelves, you could go either way.....match your cabinets or your walls. I'd match the walls. The area will look much brighter, and would make a great showcase for anything you'd want to display....china, glassware, cookbooks, beautiful cookware, etc.

Once you have something on the shelves I don't think you will notice the gap.

gosh, why is it that robyn is the only one with the right answer?
remove the faux beam and re-run the wiring. its not difficult to re-run bx or conduit or whatever.

I like the sofit removal suggestion, too. But if that's not possible, whatever you do, be sure to balance the LIGHTING on both sides of the kitchen. Letting one side be darker than the other only accentuates the 'dividing power' of the sofit.

(By the way, as you probably know, there are laws requiring the use of sofits - wires or no wires - if your kitchen is open to the rest of your living space. So maybe you could just move the entire sofit to the end of your kitchen.)

i would paint the back of the cabinet the same as the wall. that would probably help it blend more. maybe even make it a funky color. then, i'd just use the space to display.

I like the idea of taking off the cabinetry above the fridge and underneath the awkward space, and just running open horizontal shelves to the bottom edge of the microwave. The horizontal lines of the shelving would complement the horizontal beam and give complete and flexible storage. Baskets could be used to conceal objects such as table linens and spices for a more cohesive look. Good luck!

How about a cabinet that fits to the right of the soffit all the way to the ceiling, then a thin pull-out spice rack under the soffit? It is right next to the range...