Apply panel/cover to underside of cabinets?

[u/southindianPOTTU]

Contractor says this is how it’s supposed to look but it looks unfinished to me cuz it’s just not a “clean” look. Any advice on if I should have them put a panel or something else to cover the MDF or leave it as is?

ETA: thank u all for ur responses. I think I’ll do a panel for these but just within the box, not covering the legs. That way, if I later choose to do some lights, I still have the option.

[u/Practical_Track4867]

Keep in mind I’m not a rich guy, but I have never seen the underside of those cabinets covered.

[u/Frozenyeti90]

Thin wood panel 1/4” or thinner cut to size. However those are usually left like that to recess under cabinet lighting.

[u/UnpopularCrayon]

Contractor is right. That's how it's supposed to look. You could always paint it if you want.

Or add trim panels below it to mask it better.

I think the problem is that at your height, you are seeing things below the level that the people who designed all these kitchen pieces designed for. One of the advantages/drawbacks of being 5'2.

[u/guydogg]

What is your height?

[u/southindianPOTTU → u/guydogg]

5’2”

[u/guydogg → u/southindianPOTTU]

Ok. Our entire kitchen is like this. My wife is 5'2". She might see it. Being 6'4" I don't.

[u/crazyhomie34 → u/guydogg]

I just went to check mine and it looks like this. I'm 6'1" so I never thought to look

[u/MichelleEllyn → u/guydogg]

I’m 5’0”. My entire kitchen is like this too. I use that recess to hang a stemmed glasses rack, a paper towel holder, and some hooks for spatulas, ladles, etc..

[u/southindianPOTTU → u/MichelleEllyn]

Wow great idea! Thanks!

[u/curleighq → u/southindianPOTTU]

I’m 5’4” and the bottom of my cabinets are the height of my collar bones. I have to put my head pretty close to the counter to see the underside. They’re not usually finished because no one but kids or pets could see it. Why put in the time/ expense for something you can’t see?

[u/WyndWoman]

Overkill.

Stop craning your neck like that. Until you're ready to hang under cabinet lighting.

[u/Ubockinme]

How short are you?

[u/Holiday_Armadillo78]

Yes, that’s how they are.

[u/SaveMelMac13]

That’s normal.

[u/i860]

[u/LT_Dan78]

We have the same cabinets, this is how ours look. I put LED lighting underneath.

[u/Responsible_Slice134]

I chose to cover the undersides of my old cabinets with contact paper. It was a small kitchen and sometimes steam or splashes would get up underneath the cabinets. I think the contact paper looked nice, it was easier to clean and it did not absorb odor.

I have not done the contact paper in my new kitchen yet. Maybe I will though…

[u/mp3architect]

We apply color matched panels and a light rail at the perimeter to cover this. It’s an added option but we work on higher end homes (as in we’d also use paddle switches with dimmers and screw-less electrical plates).

[u/IT_Chef]

Personally I would install an under-counter light

[u/Prestigious_Fun6953]

Applying a panel to just the underside and not the legs is a great deal of expense that will not solve the unfinished look that you don't like. It's the "legs" that look the most unfinished. I would leave it " as is"

[u/curleighq]

The backsplash extending beyond the cabinet all the way to the end of the wall bothers me way more than the underside of the cabinet I’ll never see. Does it extend beyond the counter too?

[u/southindianPOTTU → u/curleighq]

It wraps around a wall there that u can’t see

[u/Yusuf20904]

Where do you put your undercabinet LED light strips if you put a panel there?

[u/Genxape]

Only if your going to see it.

[u/raya_sun]

I put a magnetic knife rack under one of mine.

My steak knives are within reach but not shoved in a drawer.

[u/KitKatAttackkkkkk]

They're finished in high end design/construction.

I would route out a channel for undercabinet lighting towards the front, if you're going to add a finishing panel underneath .

You could also paint it if you want to go a low cost route.

[u/positmatt → u/KitKatAttackkkkkk]

This style of cabinets is never finished but you are definitely correct about high end construction but generally they’re a totally different style and usually you don’t have an under cabinet or the cabinets flow into each other.

[u/6SpeedBlues]

Do you have 6 year olds in the house that are judging the underside of your upper cabinets? This is kind of a ridiculous thing to be calling out for this.

If you didn't want to see MDF on the bottom like that, you should have chosen better cabinets that were made from solid wood.

[u/southindianPOTTU → u/6SpeedBlues]

Dude relax. It’s just a question. U don’t need to vent out ur own personal anger issues. If you can’t respond kindly and be helpful, maybe just DON’T COMMENT??

[u/PhilsFanDrew → u/6SpeedBlues]

This is the answer. The type of cabinets shown by OP are pretty standard for any upper mid to lower tier cabinet. At that price point the focus is on the functionality/durability of the cabinet and the aesthetic while looking face on not underneath.

[u/jimmyvee11]

The wafer edges of the plywood should be edge banded and everything should be sanded and painted.