I wouldn't even attempt to make them line up, and didn't. Honestly, I didn't even think about that when planning my layout.

I just went and checked my 'inspiration' pics, and I'd say 9 times out of 10, they don't line up, so yup, I think you're over thinking :) It's okay, we all do it with some aspect during this crazy reno business!

I may try to create a focal point in one area by balancing the bases to the wall cabinets. ItÂs more important for the kitchen to be functional. Make sure the reveals around windows are equidistant. Cabinets above the range & sink must be centered. A good designer should always be able to create a custom looking kitchen with stock cabinets.

I would say it's considered standard practice to try to have the vertical lines of the cabinets line up. So it's not so much that if you have a 24 and then a 12 below that you have to mirror that up top, but that it would be considered ideal to have a 36" on the wall. That helps to provide a cleaner line. I have very few upper cabinets but they do line up and I feel that ads to the flow. With my cabinet doors especially because they are 42" tall and have a strong vertical frame.

That said, I want to say that I consider that a TEENY part of the planning process. Part of where you weigh all the choices. There are numerous places I've been/worked on that don't have the line up that I feel totally great about. I also feel like with drawers rather than doors below it's much less of an issue.

Hmm. Naw. Balance them but no need to line them up.

I strongly disagree with morgne. I think it's a very bad idea to try to get your upper cabinets to line up with your lower cabinets -- makes no sense functionally -- and it's definitely not standard practice with any of the kitchen designers that I know.

The upper cabinets and lowers are not on the same plane, since the upper cabinets are 12-13 and the lower are 24 deep. So, the run of upper cabinets, if the kitchen has any corners, is 12" longer than the lower run.

Obviously, related areas such as range to hood or the area around the sink will align, but for the rest of it, I think a nice rhythm of upper doors makes the most sense visually.

I have done two (contemporary) kitchens where the range hood is completely hidden, and the upper bank of cabinets is just four equally sized doors, which do not align perfectly with the range below, and no one has ever really noticed that, they just comment on the clean design.

Don't try to match them up, not even the vertical lines....that way leads to frustration & non-functional storage.

Palimpsest describes it well.

None of my cabinets line up, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Indeed, I would be wary of any kitchen "designer" that pushed for the lining up of upper and lower cabinets because it so greatly limits the utility of a kitchen. To me, that's a rookie error: something that looks good on your *paper* floorplan but limits functionality. In your finished kitchen, no one will notice whether they line up or not, so why give up so much to do it?

(BTW, I feel the same way about goofy shaped islands.)

Looks like I'm over ruled!

Thanks everyone for the input! Most of the kitchens I see around here do line up, so I think there is at least some following for Morgne's logic. However, nobody I know has ever used a KD. It is good to know that I don't have to limit myself by those restrictions because I really want a truly functional kitchen.

If you want to raise the cabinet above the sink, the centerline of the cabinet should match the middle of the sink. If you prefer that every cabinet be the standard 18" above the countertop, it doesn't matter where the centerline is.