Cornices and under cabinet lighting Issues

by **splodge2001** on Thu Oct 01, 2009 10:47 am

I am about to go ahead with a wickes kitchen - Glencoe (white gloss slab with D-handle), with a quartz surface - supplied by yourselves. Trouble is I really hate the cornice and pelmet which is generally fitted above and below the wall units - it ruins the sleekness for me, and I'd like the kitchen to look like an expensive European one without a massive budget (they never have these cornices/pelmets on white gloss styles)

We had the kitchen fitter from wickes round and he said that the cornice/pelmet is fitted under the units to conceal the lighting and that expensive kitchens have clever solutions so that the lighting integrates into the bottom of the cabinet. I don't want the units to look messy so he suggested some lights from B&Q which are as discreet as possible. I'm kind of convinced by that solution, though I havent seen it yet BUT my husband pointed out that maybe one function of the cornice/pelmet is to disguise poorly engineered doors which don't align. Frankly, if we have a white kitchen with poorly aligning doors because we don#t want the cornice/pelmet thing we might as well not have a new kitchen - we can't afford a more expensive solution.

so the question is are we likely to be able to get away with not having a cornice/pelmet with this type of kitchen?

by **Majjie** on Thu Oct 01, 2009 12:29 pm

Hi Splodge ... I'm sure Tim will be along soon with a reply ... but since I love talking about kitchens (and the RSS feed is now spot on!) I thought I'd give you my opinion.

I think the alignment of the doors is down more to the fitting than the quality of the units ... although over the years cheaper hinges may sag more. The Glencoe is from Wickes' better quality range, isn't it? It's not one of their very cheap Takeaway kitchens, so I think you should be ok.

The light pelmet does hide the lights, so if you don't have one ... you either need special strip lights designed to fit over the whole base of the wall units ... or you need to choose lights with steel casings/trim, that you don't mind seeing (there are lots of styles to choose from).

The other thing the light pelmet does, is to partly disguise the joins between wall units/panels along the bottom of the units. You don't see these when you're standing in the kitchen - but they can be very obvious if you have a table, or other seating area nearby. So ... how much of a problem they would be, depends on the design of your kitchen - how many wall units are butted up together - and whether or not you're going to be sitting down anywhere near.

The way to solve the problem is to put an end panel, horizontally below the wall units(and preferably above too) to give you a smooth unbroken underside to the units - to which you can fix the lights. Trouble is ... if you want high gloss panels ... it tends to get a bit pricey. Still cheaper than a high tech German or Italian kitchen though!

by **splodge2001** on Thu Oct 01, 2009 1:36 pm

thanks majjie

Sorry to sound ignorant but could you give me an example of 'special strip lights designed to fit over the whole base of the wall units' I'm not sure what you mean.

Yes glencoe is from their smarter end! We have a small galley so sitting is not an option. does that mean we wont have any issues with lack of pelmet? I just think they are so naff!

by **timfoley** on Thu Oct 01, 2009 11:29 pm

Majjie,
Thanks for the quick response and it's good to hear the RSS is now working ok.
Splodge 2001,
Given that you are unlikely to view the underside without bending down to see, then a good option and one I used to provide a more streamline and modern finish, would be to insert an additional full depth base shelf/shelves on top of the existing wall unit base shelf. With the depth measured from the front edge of the cabinet to the back panel - the width of the shelf, for a 600mm wide x 18mm wall cupboard, would be 563-564mm.
You are then able to insert flush fitting cabinet lights into the base shelf using an appropriatly sized holesaw whilst accommodating the supply leads by routering a channel on the underside of the new, inner base shelf. The light supply lead will exit centrally through the rear void as close to the bottom that the upper shelf conceals it - using an 8mm HSS drillbit should prove ample for this. The light cable is then fed up to the top of the cabinet and, using adhesive tape, stick this to the outer top of each of the cabinets you are fitting the lights to in readiness for connection once fitted.
Fit the inner shelf/shelves to conceal lights and flexes and you have the look you require without the need for pelmet.
Although the underside cabinetry joints are evident using this method, again if bending dow to look underside, an even more unsightly front horizontal joint and additional board width below the standard height Wickes doors is now eliminated.

by **Majjie** on Fri Oct 02, 2009 5:08 pm

splodge2001 wrote:thanks majjie

Sorry to sound ignorant but could you give me an example of 'special strip lights designed to fit over the whole base of the wall units' I'm not sure what you mean.

Yes glencoe is from their smarter end! We have a small galley so sitting is not an option. does that mean we wont have any issues with lack of pelmet? I just think they are so naff!

Hi Splodge ... sorry went out and didn't see your reply. I'd say you'd be fine in a galley kitchen and needn't worry about the underside of the wall cabinets ... although Tim's scheme sounds great for hiding all the internal gubbins.

I don't think you'd be able to fit the lights I was talking about to your wall cabinets ... they're usually supplied to the manufaturer of the kitchen ... who then incorporates them into the cabinet. I only mentioned them as a theoretical option, rather than a suggestion for you - sorry. Here's what I meant (from Sycamore Lighting - a trade supplier):

I'm sure you'll find some steel effect ones that you like, though.

by **splodge2001** on Fri Oct 02, 2009 9:21 pm

Thanks for such comprehensive answers, really appreciate it. I love those integrated lights - John Lewis do them. I nearly fell over as Sycamore is based in the road I was born in!

Cornices and under cabinet lighting Issues

Cornices and under cabinet lighting Issues

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