What Are Kitchen Cornices and Pelmets?

What Cornices and Pelmets Do

Cornices and pelmets are the finishing elements that transform a run of wall cabinets from functional storage into something that resembles fine furniture. A cornice is a decorative moulding applied along the top front edge of wall cabinets, bridging the gap between the cabinet top and the ceiling. It gives the kitchen a complete, built-in appearance and hides the uneven junction between the top of the units and the ceiling. A pelmet is fitted along the bottom front edge of wall cabinets, covering the underside of the unit. In practical terms, the pelmet also conceals under-cabinet lighting, creating a clean finish with light visible but the fitting hidden.

Materials and Styles

Cornices and pelmets are supplied by the kitchen retailer in a matching finish to the doors and cabinets. They are available in a range of profiles — from simple flat boards to elaborate traditional mouldings with detailed cross-sections. Modern kitchens typically use a minimal, square-edged cornice that gives a clean contemporary line. Traditional and in-frame kitchens use a more complex ogee or cove profile that reflects the classic furniture aesthetic. The mouldings are mitred at corners to create seamless right-angle joints and scribed at walls to follow any irregularities in the ceiling or wall line.

Lighting Integration with Pelmets

Under-cabinet lighting — whether LED strip, puck lights, or linear fittings — is one of the most functional and aesthetically pleasing additions to a kitchen. The pelmet conceals the fitting while allowing the light to spill onto the worktop below. During installation, the lighting is positioned behind the pelmet before it is fixed, with cables routed back through or behind the wall unit to connect to the switch or driver. If you are planning under-cabinet lighting, this must be agreed before installation begins so that first-fix electrical work is in the correct position.