How can I properly finish off a smaller solid wood vanity installation with no subfloor in the gap, including extending the baseboard?
Asked by Valentina Sundet 
6 months ago
Last Updated: May 26, 2024
I swapped out the old particle-board vanity for a new solid wood one. The new vanity is a bit smaller, so there’s a gap without subfloor. Any ideas on how to finish it off at the front and side? Should I extend the baseboard too?
You might want to consider using trim on the side, along with a transition strip for the front, or even quarter rounds combined with trim and the toe kick.
Install a kick plate and 1/4 round molding.
The space under the cabinet is quite large, so it’s necessary to install flooring to fill the gap.
Make sure to add some thickness before installing the baseboard.
‘s top comment really resonated with me, it was exactly what I had in mind too! Adding trim at the bottom in the front is a great way to seamlessly tie everything together.
Move the cabinet to the left side and place a filler on the right side next to the wall. If there is a wall present, extend the existing toe kick to match the baseboard on the cabinet.
Extend the front with a 1” board (unfinished), obtain cabinet base trim and paint it to match the vanity. Install it along the front with 45-degree cuts on the ends. Thoroughly remove existing wall baseboard for the vanity trim to fit in between. You may need to modify the thickness of your extension board. You may also want to slightly extend the vanity and use scribe trim along the back side of the vanity
Adjust the cabinet by shimming it out, conceal the gaps against the wall with trim. If the countertop is already installed with the vanity then be careful. Just ensure no one stubs their toes.
A scribe is required at the rear – you’ll need a corner molding, a shoe molding, and to extend the toe kick to fill in the gaps on the floor
Install an end gable and finish it off.
Include a 3/4 kick plate on the front followed by quarter round.
If it were up to me, I’d go with 1/4 round on the side (cutting the end at the front to a 45 degree angle). Use hot mud to fill the gap between the baseboard and vanity, then sand it to shape. As for the front, I’d add a kick board and use a floor transition to cover the gap.
The correct way to do it is by replacing the damaged flooring with new pieces. Otherwise, it will always look like a rushed job.
If you have extra flooring, use it to replace any damaged areas. If not, try using grey caulking to fill in the gaps for a smooth finish.
Try moving it further from the wall, incorporating a thicker toe kick, and adding shoe or quarter round molding
If you’re unsure, just throw in some trim 🤷♀️
That’s the reason cabinets are placed on top of flooring, whether they are floating or not.
I’d go ahead and add some quarter round trim to it, or you could buy cabinet trim as well!
Trim the entire cabinet with 3/4 pre-finished white board, cutting the base to meet 3/4 on the sides, and adding a piece of shoe molding just to the front for a clean finish. Obviously, you’ll need to add a kick before the 3/4 board, though.