Building Out the Toe Kicks on Kitchen Cabinets

May 3, 2018

Things for our kitchen are bopping along now and with finishing the floors we get to do this little project that makes such a difference for the feel of our cabinets. Building out the toe kicks bring a look of custom and polished-ness. And also just like more, balanced. The cabinetry seems more substantial when the base is trimmed out with the same baseboards used in the rest of the room. Before there were some old inset toe kicks with a kind of rubber lining of them.

We busted those out and went ahead and did fresh wood. That has been our general philosophy with things that aren’t too expensive or hard. Put new, fresh, sturdy stuff in to feel clean and solid.

Building Out Toe Kicks on Kitchen CabinetsPainted Trim on Paper Sheet

THESE NEXT THREE PARAGRAPHS ARE DETAILS FROM DAVID IF YOU WISH TO CREATE THIS YOURSELF. We measured the height of the toe kick to determine the height of our trim. We wanted the baseboard to be as low as possible on the cabinet, while maintaining enough overlap for a solid connection to caulk. I used the same baseboard as in the rest of my house except here we did 4 and 1/4 inch. (Everywhere else is 3 and 1/4 inch).

I built out some points where we could secure the lower part of the baseboard to the existing structure. To do this, we measured the depth of the toe kick and cut pieces of 1 x 2 furring strip to size. The furring strip butted up to the back of the toe kick and was as long as the toe kick’s depth. We used an air nailer to secure these to the ground every 10 inches or so. If there were any spots where we needed to create a corner in the baseboard (like by the dishwasher or oven), we measured the gap that would be created by the baseboard and toe kick and cut a piece of the baseboard in height and width to finish the corner and enclose the toe kick. Since those gap pieces we cut didn’t have the full height of the baseboard intact, we decided not to miter these corners, but to have these pieces meet perpendicularly with the intact baseboard.

After securing the pieces of furring strip to the ground and nailing the gap pieces into the side of the furring strip to create the dishwasher and oven corners, we were ready to put the baseboards on. We marked the location of the furring strip with painter’s tape and installed baseboards in front of the cabinets by nailing the bottom of the baseboards to the pieces of furring strip. There was still a little wiggle at the top of the baseboards but caulking held the top in place well.

(Sometimes he says “we,” but really it is all him!)

Building Out Toe Kicks on Kitchen CabinetsBuilding Out Toe Kicks on Kitchen CabinetsBuilding Out Toe Kicks on Kitchen Cabinets

Yes please to this! I like that middle photo above because it so shows the comparison of having the toe kick which feels a little smaller and more top heavy versus the encased one.

With the crown this completes the floor to ceiling initiative of having the cabinets feel built in and trimmed out. That is something I think makes a big difference in how nice kitchens feel. With that, phase one of the kitchen is kind of done!

Phase two would be an island and some open shelving. Phase three (which is more of a some day thing) would be stone counters, different faucet, and new appliances. Love you, kitch. Sincerely, Rach.

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Comments

  • The pictures showcase that your cabinets are top-notch. I’ve never seen better cabinets than this before, that’s for sure. I love the look and feel of these cabinets!

  • Cristina Schulingkamp

    Excellent idea, found right before I paint my cabinets n am finishing up some crown n trim in other rooms. Thank you for sharing.

    • Rachel Schultz

      You’re welcome!

  • OMG this looks so good. By the way, some of those troll comments might want to take a look around England where their Classic kitchens don’t, and have never had, a toe kick. And easier for cleaning? Absolutely! No hunting for spiderwebs and crumbs? Even better. Bravo, my dear!

    • Rachel Schultz

      Thank you Lisa!

  • That’s interesting! I’ve been browsing for a post like this for a long moment.

  • Sarah

    I’m confused because it looks like you got rid of your toe kicks essentially. This website sort of explains how I understand toe kicks working:
    https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-a-toe-kick-for-1206601

    Did you get rid of the spot where your feet would rest?

    And all of that being said, it looks so nicely done!

    • Rachel Schultz

      Yes, we built them out so there is no inset, it looks like trim flush with the cabinet fronts.

  • Kate

    The purpose of a toe kick is to prevent one from stubbing one’s toes. How is this working out for you?

    • Rachel Schultz

      Hasn’t been a problem!

  • Rebecca Kennedy

    I never thought about it, but the filled in toe kick looks so much more high end! Good choice Rachel!

    • Rachel Schultz

      Thanks Rebecca! it’s crazy the difference it makes

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