kitchen update # 51 - upper cabinet cover panels

earlier this week dad asked what i was doing and i volunteered to haul all those pieces down and we cut them on his table saw, and discussed a possible way to attach the dishwasher filler piece. lots of cutting and even more measuring.

dads table saw. the green lines are green painters tape, so the pricey panels dont get scratched or marked on his old table saw.


dad re-cut peninsula back panel piece to replace the old one that was too narrow.


dad came up today and helped me with the cover panels for the upper cabinets. the one by the living room (stove/fridge side) went up fine. the wall was not straight so we didnt have to cut a notch for the suspension rail that sticks out on top. we took down the cabinet door, clamped the panel on, and drilled and screwed it in place from inside the cabinet.


the other side by the porch door (sink side), we had to cut a notch at the top for that one. we used my oscillating tool and it took us about 4 tries to get the notch right. i didnt take any pictures of cutting that notch, darn it. it was a pretty good notch on the back side only, not showing on the front side. we also had cut back the suspension rail a bit closer to the cabinet.



then took off that cabinet door and dad held the panel up while i clamped it and screwed it in place from inside the cabinet. so they're up and look lovely.



the over-the-stove filler piece, both its ends are cut/unfinished. so if its pushed out even with the door fronts, its cut ends will show. if its pulled back even with the cabinets to hide those, it will be sunken back from the doors. we talked more about it, and the dishwasher filler piece and how to mount them. in my infinite clumsiness, i had dropped the over-the-stove piece and scratched one side and chipped the other. dad thinks a tiny amount of paint on the small chip will make that side work. and i can use the iron on edging stuff for the two exposed ends. then it can sit pushed out flush with the cabinet fronts, rather than set back flush with the cabinet and recessed from the fronts. but if its flush with the fronts, the cut ends show so it needs the iron on edging stuff. or, i could buy a 30" wide 5" tall drawer front and dad could cut it from 5" down to the 3-4 inches we need. the drawer front is $21. i'm gonna try the edging stuff and see how it looks. i'm not sure the edging will match or not since its not from ikea.



i need to make a list of questions for the countertop people. and do some research about undermount sinks and potentially not stainless steel sinks, the nicer sinks to go with quartz countertops. mom and dad think i should look more into the quartz countertops even though they're more expensive. i'm not sure about which quartz i would want. so more research must be done. and the sink i have which is a topmount meant for use with formica countertops will have to be returned/exchanged.

heidi wanted to supervise and shove her nose in to investigate while we were out in the porch cutting the notch in the cover panel. she just kept pressing in close to me so i gave up and hugged her and petted her for a few moments, then she was willing to back up and let me cut safely. she was extra needy for attention while my dad was here.

i need to hit the home improvement store and look at ideas for attaching the dishwasher panel.