Shallow Upper Kitchen Cabinets . More and more, we’re seeing kitchens with no upper cabinets (so just lower cabinets with either a full wall of tile/stone or just a short backsplash). Depending on the type of sink, this can vary. Shallow instead of buffet. Adds storage space, counter space from www.pinterest.com And if you are pulling the bases out to 27, you can have upper cabinets a few inches deeper. 40 unique kitchens without upper cabinets. Shallow open shelves and a hardworking island provide the storage she needs.