How do I make large kitchen bulkhead more attractive?




Ready to start DIY on kitchen makeover...I HATE this bulkhead and I’d love to remove it but sadly that may not be an option. I desperately need ideas how to make it more attractive!

Suggested Project Book
Related Discussions
Vinyl plank flooring vs pergo (laminate)

I currently have stinky dirty carpeting in my living room and I want to replace it with a durable flooring that can stand up to dogs and kids.
How to remove popcorn ceiling that has been painted?

Does having a paint over a popcorn ceiling change how I'd remove the popcorn ceiling?
How can I redo my melamine kitchen cabinets to look more modern?

My cabinets have a brown wood edge and no door handles. Other than the face of the cabinets, the rest is fine. It is just the bland, uninteresting face of the cabin... See more
How do I make over my particle board kitchen cabinets?

I habe particle board kitchen cabinets and they are peeling and look awful. I really want to paint them but i know little of primer and paint. Any suggestions on what... See more
How can I makeover my older metal kitchen cabinets?

I HAVE EARLY 1970'S KITCHEN METAL CABNETS THAT I WANT TO REDO BUT NOT JUST PAINT TO MATCH MY 1950'S STYLE KITCHEN DESIGN.MY WIFE AND I WANT IT TO BE REAL ORIGINAL ANY... See more
How do I make French doors more private?

I teach piano in my home. The only thing that separates my teaching room from the family room is a set of French doors. My family has no privacy and my younger studen... See more
How do I make my gas wall heater look more like a fireplace?

My gas wall heater is soooo ugly. I would like to do something to make it look more like a fireplace and remain functional as it is the only heat in that space
Does this house heating/air ducts?
If you don't know what's in it besides the can lights, you can drill two small holes, one for your eye and one for a flashlight. If all that is in there are the lights, you can remove the bulkhead and the lights and replace them--you'd have to rewire, but that's usually possible and fairly easy. But you need to find out what's in there first.
Hi. Consider putting a wood skim on the entire bulkhead, staining it the same color as the cabinets and putting crown moulding at the ceiling. It will visually heighten the cabinets. Happy DIY'ing!
What type of decor do you have? If it's rustic, you could put a color you like on the bulk head and put up some nice rustic signs. You know "Kitchen", "Family" or a saying that's special to you. Would'nt cost a lot until you can do something more permanent. Good luck.
You could open the front up. I think the problem is the color. I think BIJ had a good idea of making it blend more with the cabinets instead of being so white. good luck
Unless the bulkhead is absolutely necessary, do yourself a favor and get rid of it. If you redo your kitchen and leave the bulkhead it will always be a source of irritation in your pretty redone kitchen. Every time I have "made do" with something I could have changed, I always regret not having gone the extra step. If you absolutely have no choice about leaving it (and we all have those things in our homes) then that is something you can accept and learn to live with. Everyone has given you good ideas about decorating around it. Another way to think about it is to embrace it by painting it an accent color from your surrounding color scheme and using it to mount a collection of plates or antique kitchen utensils (rolling pins, egg beaters, colanders, etc.), or go quirky and mount different clocks--it depends on your decor style.
I know my bulk head in the kitchen has duct work for the central AC. Be sure yours does not. You will have to hire a contractor to move the AC vents etc. I put crown molding on mine painted the molding white and painted thebulkhead the same color as the kitchen.