Whether your range hood should touch the adjacent upper cabinets depends on the type of hood you have and your design preference.
Under-cabinet range hoods are best for kitchens that already have upper cabinets above the cooktop, as they fit seamlessly beneath them. Wall-mounted hoods require removing any upper cabinets above the stove, so they work well in kitchens with more open wall space or minimalist designs.
What makes it look cheap: A lack of continuity disrupts the home's visual and physical flow, subtly cheapening the overall experience. Mismatched flooring, abrupt ceiling changes, or lighting that feels disconnected from nearby spaces can make the kitchen feel compartmentalized instead of cohesive.
Stove sizes fluctuate more in width than in depth or height, since most countertop and cabinet dimensions are standardized. The goal is for your range to fit mostly flush with the top of your countertops and the front of your cabinets, with the door only sticking out an inch or two beyond the cabinets.
Many installers may recommend a distance of 3-6 inches of space being the minimum. However, we always recommend increasing that to around nine inches of open space. The key here is to make this decision with the safety of the occupants in mind.
The 1/3 Guideline (Your Easy Starting Point)
A simple rule of thumb: choose a pull with an overall length ≈ one-third the drawer width. Divide your drawer width by 3 to find a pleasing pull length—then choose the closest available size. It's a guide, not a law.
Will a 60cm cooker fit in a 60cm gap? Despite being freestanding, and therefore easy to relocate when required, a 60cm range cooker from Leisure will fit into a 60cm gap in your existing units much like any standard-width conventional single oven or built-in appliance would.
Countertops, Backsplashes and Contrast
Wood has become the most popular island countertop choice. More homeowners also are contrasting their kitchen cabinets in following the two-tone trend—choosing one shade for the upper cabinets and one for the lower.
10 Common Kitchen Layout Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Gas and Electric Range
Allow a 30” minimum clearance between the surface units and the bottom of an unprotected wood or metal cabinet, or allow a 24” minimum when the bottom of a wood or metal cabinet is protected by no less than a 1/4” thick flame retardant millboard covered with not less than No.
Avoid outdated cabinet shades like navy, cherry wood, mustard yellow, and country red. These colors once felt warm or luxurious but now make kitchens look dated or overly themed. Instead, choose softer neutrals, natural woods, or richer muted tones for a timeless feel.
The kitchen triangle rule focuses on positioning the three primary work areas—the sink, refrigerator and stove—to form a triangle. This arrangement aims to streamline workflow and increase efficiency, allowing for smooth movement between tasks.
Shades like olive green, inky blue, or even a warm charcoal instantly feel a bit more luxurious and layered. These shades add depth and look incredibly refined (especially when paired with brushed brass or burnished bronze hardware) in a way that whites or pale stone and grey often lack."
A ducted range hood (also called a vented range hood) moves air through a duct to the exterior of the home. A ducted hood can be installed through your cabinetry, ceiling, or straight through the wall behind the hood.
When the hood is centered, it can effectively capture the rising heat and contaminants, preventing them from spreading throughout the kitchen. When the hood is not properly centered over the cooktop, it may not be able to effectively remove these pollutants, resulting in poor indoor air quality.
Outdated Cabinetry
Granite countertops typically pair with natural wood cabinets, but pine or hickory cabinetry can date your kitchen's style back a few decades. Additionally, cabinetry with gold or brass fixtures shows that the kitchen hasn't had an update for a while.
Appliance Clutter
"The juicer, the soda maker, and the panini maker are just collecting dust," says Red Barrinuevo, founder of Red Barrinuevo Home. Instead, purchase multi-use appliances that you'll use all week.
All Open Shelving
A few well-placed shelves can create visual interest and warmth in a kitchen, but relying mostly on open shelving looks disorganized and leaves a space feeling cluttered and chaotic, Padia says.
An Overview of the Top Kitchen Cabinet Color Trends This Year. If you just want the quick list: warm “new neutrals” (cream, warm white, mushroom, warm stone), deeper greens, inky blues, soft blacks, and carefully planned two-tone combinations are leading the kitchen cabinet color trends for 2026.
Key Points. All-white, Tuscan, and 90s farmhouse kitchens feel dated and lack warmth or purpose. Open shelves and subway tile backsplashes are being swapped for simpler, low-maintenance options. Today's kitchens lean into lighter woods, color bursts, and custom touches for a fresh, cozy feel.
Say hello to the “new neutrals.” Soft greens, dusty sages, and rich navy tones are showing up everywhere — on islands, lower cabinets, and even full kitchens. These nature-inspired colors, like one of our new Coastal Colors, bring a calming, collected feel that's both timeless and on-trend.
The general principle is that the cooker hood should be the same width and depth (or 1.5 times larger) as the hob. This ensures that the hood is large enough to remove all airborne grease and smoke efficiently. To work this out, you'll just need to measure the dimensions of your hob.
Single ovens can be installed under your counters or at eye level, depending on your layout. Most standard ovens are around 60cm tall and are designed to sit snugly in a 60x60cm unit.
The 50cm bowl means there's space for a 60cm oven tray to fit flat on the bottom and soak.