What is a Base Skin?

The base skin of a kitchen cabinet is the recessed area between the bottom of the base cabinet and the floor. Base skins may also be referred to as the “toe kick” or “toe skins”.

The base skin is the attractive trim that reaches from the bottom of the cabinet to the floor. It is often more shallow than the rest of the cabinet and allows room for the toe kick, which is the space beneath the front of the cabinets where cooks can place their feet while they are working. The base skin blocks the area underneath the cabinet from food and dirt while allowing chefs to maintain their balance when working on the countertop. Base skins are available in the same finishes as cabinets. Base skins come in predetermined widths, so it can be difficult to keep the cabinets level while also having the toe kick extend all the way to the floor.