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You are here: Home / Featured Posts / How To Install Cabinet Molding

How To Install Cabinet Molding

Jun 28, 2011 By Kevin

Happy How To’s Day!

We’re spending some time celebrating our 7 year anniversary and a birthday this week, so we thought we’d pull up a popular post from the past for today’s how-to party. It’s the one about making your builder-grade kitchen cabinets look a little more custom by adding MDF boards and molding. Here’s what our upper cabinets looked like the day we moved in…

And here are a couple shots of the molding I used to make them taller…

It’s just 1″x6″ pre-primed MDF, some 3″ crown molding, and some small, wood decorative trim moulding.

I used our Ryobi compound miter saw to make all the cuts. It was the cheapest one in the store, but it always seems to get the job done!

All of the cuts had to be made holding the molding at an angle. It took me a minute (and a few pieces of molding!) to figure that out!

I didn’t have a nail gun when I did this project back in 2007, so I just used wood glue to hold everything together. It’s actually extremely strong and since we didn’t plan on hanging from the tops of our cabinets, it ended up working just fine…

This is a shot of the cabinets above the stove, after we painted them black, and before I started adding molding to them…

And here’s what the cabinet on the left looked like after I attached the first 1″x6″s, and the first piece of crown molding…

And here it is, with everything all taped in place…

After all the glue had dried, I caulked everything with a type of caulk that starts out pink and dries white…

Here’s a photo that shows all the MDF pieces in place…

After that, I used some small, decorative wood trim to hide the seam between the cabinet and the 1″x6″. The miters are a lot easier to cut on these little guys, because the trim sits flush to the cabinet. It doesn’t stick out at a 45 degree angle like the crown does.

Here is it all painted out…

And here it is all RE-painted out today…

For more info on the kitchen- check out the “Our House” tab at the top of our blog!

_____________________________________________

Now it’s your turn!

If you already know the link party drill, feel free to scroll on down and link away!

If you’ve never linked up to a link party before, here’s how it works…

1. Scroll down this page until you see the “add your link” button. Click it, and create a super-descriptive name for your link. Something like, “How To Make Carrot Cake”, or “Spring Wreath Tutorial”. That’ll make it easier for folks to browse through all the links.

2. Make sure you link directly to the How-To post you’d like to share– not to the home page of your blog.

3. We’d love it if you’d slap our How To’s Day button at the end of your how-to post on your blog. Just copy and paste the code in the box below into the html part of your post, and voila! Thank you!

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Thanks for partyin’ with us, and hope you have a Happy To’sday!



Filed Under: Featured Posts, How To, Kitchen, Tutorial

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Comments

  1. Hollie @ I'm Busy Procrastinating

    Jun 28, 2011 at 9:57 am

    I’ve been following for several months now, and you two continue to amaze me with your creativity and mad skills. I love the soft colors you use in your current kitchen. Can’t wait to hear more about your show with HGTV!

  2. Tanya @ Sunday Baker

    Jun 28, 2011 at 10:10 am

    I love how you made them look custom! Such a difference. Thanks for the great link party too!

    • Kevin

      Jun 28, 2011 at 10:22 am

      Hey Tanya! Thanks for linking up! 🙂

  3. Mandy Ford

    Jun 28, 2011 at 10:11 am

    What a great way to add height and interest to basic cabinets! If only we didn’t have a soffet above ours…I really want to rip it out but I’m worried about what is lurking underneath.

    Thanks for hosting the linky party – I shared my DIY Chalkboard. 🙂

    • Courtney @ AndThenThereWasHome

      Jun 28, 2011 at 10:49 pm

      Mandy, check out the kitchen tab at my blog.. we have a soffet too and still accomplished this look. andthentherewashome.blogspot.com 🙂

  4. Kerry Rossow

    Jun 28, 2011 at 10:15 am

    Thank you for being the hostess with the mostest!
    Kerry at housetalkn.blogspot.com

  5. [email protected] little brown house

    Jun 28, 2011 at 10:23 am

    I love it! It’s like adding accessories to an outfit – totally makes the cabinets! Now tell the truth, do you ever hide, I mean store anything up there?

    • Kevin

      Jun 28, 2011 at 10:27 am

      Ha ha! We don’t store anything up there yet, but there were some appliance manuals up there when I first climbed up there to take a look. 🙂

  6. Kathy :)

    Jun 28, 2011 at 10:28 am

    Happy Anniversary Guys….I was a June bride myself (June 16)….glad you’re taking out sometime to celebrate…..Enjoy !!!!

    All the best,
    Kathy 🙂

    • Kevin

      Jun 28, 2011 at 10:38 am

      Thanks Kathy! Our anniversary was the 25th and my birthday is today! 🙂 Thanks for the kind words!

  7. Connie

    Jun 28, 2011 at 10:35 am

    We are almost done with our kitchen… this is the one project that we’ve put off until last! Thanks so much, now we know how to do it!!
    Connie

  8. Candis

    Jun 28, 2011 at 10:42 am

    Happy Birthday Kevin, it’s my birthday too! My 5 year anniversary is July 1st so we will be celebrating soon also!

    • Kevin

      Jun 28, 2011 at 10:46 am

      Cool! Happy Birthday and anniversary! 🙂

  9. Ami w/AliLilly

    Jun 28, 2011 at 10:49 am

    Thanks for hosting! 🙂

  10. Ami w/AliLilly

    Jun 28, 2011 at 10:50 am

    WOW!! I can’t believe how fabulous that looks!! Now I just need a house that I can do this in!! 🙂 Happy Anniversary and Happy Birthday! 🙂 🙂 🙂

    • Kevin

      Jun 28, 2011 at 10:52 am

      Thanks Ami! 🙂

  11. Amanda @ The Ivy Cottage Blog

    Jun 28, 2011 at 11:09 am

    Happy Anniverary and Happy Birthday! Thanks so much for hosting!
    -Amanda @ The Ivy Cottage Blog

    • Kev

      Jun 28, 2011 at 12:25 pm

      Thank you Amanda! Glad you stopped by today!

  12. Heather @ DIYduJour

    Jun 28, 2011 at 12:36 pm

    You two are so clever! Thanks for showing me something I can keep on file for after we move!

    • Kevin

      Jun 28, 2011 at 1:44 pm

      🙂

  13. Carmel

    Jun 28, 2011 at 12:59 pm

    I’ve always LOVED your kitchen and every time I see it I want to bust out the screwdriver and take a few of the top doors off my upper cabinets 🙂 Then I get sceered 🙂 Maybe I should just DO IT already!

    • Kevin

      Jun 28, 2011 at 1:37 pm

      I say GO FOR IT! 🙂

  14. Beth

    Jun 28, 2011 at 1:24 pm

    These are the exact cabinets we have, and I’ve been dying to paint them. but my husband is worried they’ll chip too easily. Can you tell me what products/techniques you used, and if you’re having chipping issues? They look awesome to me, and it’s just the look I’m going for 🙂 Thank you!!!

    • Kevin

      Jun 28, 2011 at 1:40 pm

      Hey Beth! We haven’t had any chipping issues so far. You can see the whole process under the “Our House” tab at the top of the blog. Hope this helps and thanks for the comment! 🙂

      • Beth

        Jun 28, 2011 at 2:10 pm

        Oh, awesome, thank you!!

  15. Fairfield House

    Jun 28, 2011 at 1:34 pm

    Happy birthday, Kevin!
    Even when you and your bride are in your eighties you will remain vibrant and full of life because you are young at heart.

    Happy Anniversary to the DIY and Blogdom’s sweetest couple! We wish you a lifetime of love, friendship, passion and joy.

    Your Friends,
    Deborah & Thomas

    • Kevin

      Jun 28, 2011 at 1:43 pm

      Thanks so much for the kind words Deborah! Your sweet comment made my day! 🙂

  16. Julie M. ~ The Little Red Shop

    Jun 28, 2011 at 1:53 pm

    I had to use nails for mine because…

    1. My wall & cabinets are so old & crooked that if I’d just glued ’em…the moulding probably would’a snapped off on one end and slapped me in the face.

    2. I actually do grab a hold of it as I swing myself up onto the counter to do a little “above cabinet” storing & redecorating.

    Happy Belated Anniversary Birthday Day!

    : )

    Julie M.

    ps Awesome party name!

  17. Evie @ Brown Paper Packages

    Jun 28, 2011 at 2:13 pm

    Thanks for hosting! I’ve always admired your cabinet redo…if only I could convince my hubby to tackle it here!!

  18. Julie

    Jun 28, 2011 at 3:42 pm

    I absolutely LOVE your kitchen!!

    • Kevin

      Jun 28, 2011 at 5:22 pm

      Thanks! 🙂

  19. Katie @ On the Banks of Squaw Creek

    Jun 28, 2011 at 4:15 pm

    I totally want to do this to my cabinets! Storage is at a premium in my house, and I’m thinking I could use that 6 inches to store a lot of stuff, too, like Christmas decorations or something!

  20. SJ

    Jun 28, 2011 at 4:28 pm

    Thanks for hosting and happy birthday 🙂

    • Kevin

      Jun 28, 2011 at 5:23 pm

      Thank you! 🙂

  21. ritajoy

    Jun 28, 2011 at 5:32 pm

    Thanks for posting your cupboard molding tutorial again. Your kitchen (and that post specifically) inspired us greatly as we recently worked on our own kitchen makeover. (P.S. I linked up “how we live with open cupboards”…so you can see the end result of your molding tutorial!:))

  22. Weekend Cowgirl

    Jun 28, 2011 at 5:46 pm

    Maybe this will be a good project for my old farmhouse kitchen!

    • Kevin

      Jun 29, 2011 at 9:39 am

      I love old farmhouses! lucky you! 🙂

  23. Stephanie @ henry happened

    Jun 28, 2011 at 6:11 pm

    Thanks for hosting – I’m so impressed with your tutorial! Congrats on 7 years. It’s my 7th anniversary this year too and my birthday is the next day. Fun times 🙂

    • Kevin

      Jun 29, 2011 at 9:38 am

      Nice! We both had 2004 weddings. Happy early birthday! 🙂

  24. Courtney @ AndThenThereWasHome

    Jun 28, 2011 at 9:23 pm

    I love love love this! In fact, it inspired me to create the look I did in my kitchen. I found your blog a few weeks before we bought our current house and I immediately knew what I wanted to do with the kitchen, armed with your ideas, ha!

    • Kevin

      Jun 29, 2011 at 9:35 am

      Awesome!

  25. Mandy

    Jun 29, 2011 at 12:50 am

    Thanks so much for hosting this! My entry wasn’t too detailed since there was only one step, but I’m super excited to be a part of this for the first time! Thanks for hosting it you guys! Your blog rocks! I’ve been a reader for years and even show my friends your stuff when they are at my house! Love it!

  26. Roeshel

    Jun 29, 2011 at 8:22 am

    Great tutorial! I wish we didn’t have the dumb soffet above our cabinets. I’d love to extend them or do something pretty like this! But, it must be there for a reason. I’m guessing heat and a/c to the upstairs. I still love your tips and have it bookmarked for adding interest to bookcases though!

    Thanks for hosting such a fun party! As you know, I’m a big fan of DIY and love going through the links! 🙂

  27. susan

    Jun 29, 2011 at 8:28 am

    thankfully i have a handy dad and he helps me with all this stuff but i need to learn ,so thanks for sharing! he got a bunch of old barnwood yesterday and can’t wait to do something with it!! enjoy the day and thanks for the link party!
    susan

    • Kevin

      Jun 29, 2011 at 9:36 am

      I LOVE old barn wood! So cool!

    • Tyler Perkins

      Feb 25, 2012 at 9:53 pm

      @Susan, I love that I get to be that dad!

  28. Dawn

    Jun 29, 2011 at 9:38 am

    Awesome! Happy Anniversary you two! Happy Birthday Kevin! I hope you have wonderful celebration and it renews you redoing spirits ! Enjoy! 🙂

    • Kevin

      Jun 29, 2011 at 11:49 am

      Thanks Dawn!

  29. [email protected] Nikiforoff Designs

    Jun 29, 2011 at 9:44 am

    In a word: Beautiful! So much prettier in white!

    • Kevin

      Jun 29, 2011 at 11:54 am

      🙂

  30. Shannon {aka}|design

    Jun 29, 2011 at 10:02 am

    Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary! Thank you for the link party and the inspiration! You guys rock!

    Shannon
    {aka}|design

    • Kevin

      Jun 29, 2011 at 11:50 am

      Thank you Shannon! YOU rock!! 🙂

  31. Ada in Coastal Cali

    Jun 29, 2011 at 10:33 am

    what will you think of next? who knows, but I know I’ll LOVE IT! Hard to choose between my fav: making a “oh no not those cabinets” kitchen into “Ooo la la I love it’ OR how you made my favorite 1234 PB cabinets. Tough choice. Thank you for always inspiring & having great taste. Now, if I could just get my hubby on board to learn how to build stuff! Other than amazing food that is…..HA!
    Your creativity inspires. Thank you. Truly.
    Ada in Coastal Cali
    PS-praying for you guys & your adoption too, been thru it with friends & its is a LONG process…but oh so worth it. 🙂

    • Kevin

      Jun 29, 2011 at 11:52 am

      Thanks Ada! Maybe your husband can come teach me how to cook!! Ha Ha 🙂

      • Ada in Coastal Cali

        Jun 29, 2011 at 11:39 pm

        I’m down with that. What a deal 🙂

  32. Debbie is reFresh reStyle

    Jun 29, 2011 at 12:35 pm

    Happy Anniversary! You are so talented, the cabinets look great!
    Debbie

    • Kevin

      Jun 29, 2011 at 4:00 pm

      Thank you Debbie!

  33. DeeDee

    Jun 30, 2011 at 10:05 am

    Happy Anniversary! Happy Birthday! Kevin, thanks so much for posting this information! We were wanting to make our old kitchen cabinets look more modern and I think I really love what you’ve done here! Greatness Sir! 🙂

    • Kevin

      Jun 30, 2011 at 10:59 am

      Thanks!! 🙂

  34. Jennifer

    Jun 30, 2011 at 11:07 am

    Hi- this is off topic (the cabinets look great!)- where did you find your wicker chairs? I love them!

    Thanks!

    • Kev

      Jun 30, 2011 at 6:34 pm

      Hi Jennifer!

      The chairs came from Ikea. I can’t remember what they’re called, but Layla is about to finish up the the dining room section of “Our House” tab at the top of the blog. So it should be up soon! Hope that helps a little. 🙂

  35. JoLynn

    Jul 5, 2011 at 3:18 pm

    Happy {belated} birthday and anniversary! We will be celebrating our 7th this year too in a few days. 🙂 Love the “How-tos”…keep ’em coming. 🙂

  36. Nicole

    Jul 22, 2011 at 10:21 pm

    We have been working on the cabinet molding all week and it looks fabulous!!! We removed the cabinet doors when we refinished the kitchen last year, but they looked unfinished. Thanks for the tutorial! It really helped to inspire us to tackle this project! (Note: it took all week because of 3 kids and a questionable mitre box!)

  37. Randy Arnold

    Sep 17, 2011 at 9:32 am

    Where have all these good ideas been hiding. I’m trying to learn how to Pinterest and it is fantastic. Your blog is so inspiring.
    Thanks,
    Randy Arnold
    Whitehouse, Tx

  38. Kathy M.

    Feb 23, 2012 at 3:44 pm

    I am SO in love with your Blog. Thanks for your sharing your talents and being such an inspiration!

  39. Stacy Jacob

    Sep 8, 2012 at 5:00 pm

    Thank you for posting this how-to! I am finally ready to do this to my cabinets (after putting it off since you posted this several years ago!). How did you attach the 1×6’s to the cabinets? Did you just glue it or use brackets?

    Thank you!

  40. Mary H

    Jul 7, 2013 at 10:07 am

    Love the idea of adding height to the builder grade cabinets.

    Question: how did you attach the 1 x 6 to the top of the cabinet? Did you use some sort of bracket? Please post or send reply!

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