So the top of the cabinets are at 90 or 84 without their molding and 93-1/2 or 87-1/2 with their crown molding and the ceiling is 95-1/2?

I don't think you have room over the taller cabinets for ceiling crown, if I understand correctly.

Yes...that is correct....and I was thinking the same thing....I don't mind not having the crown around the ceiling where the cabinets are .....but will really miss it at the other end of the kitchen in the breakfast area...
But will have to live with it....
thanks

I vote to put the crown back up. You can trim the crown 1/2" on the taller cabinets. Just make sure you trim it from the bottom. It shouldn't be seen very much since the crown matches the cabinets, doesn't it? You have more cabinets where there is room than without so the overall affect will be seen rather than the shortened crown.

I think most kitchens look better with crown molding unless they are ultra modern. I think your staggered cabinets will look odd without it. At least put it up on the taller. Why don't you think there's enough room?

If you plan to go up to the ceiling though, I highly recommend a two piece crown: Profiled flat stock with crown.

Did you also stagger the depths of the cabinets to allow for crown to die in to something on the lower areas? If not, then can't do the crown....But you might be able to put a 3/4" or 1 1/2" thick wood shelf on top of those cabinets to give it some detail.

I am not understanding....Are you talking about crown molding on the cabinets themselves...or the ceiling crown molding?
I am in a real delima... I thought all the time I had a 8ft ceiling with only a 1/2" taken off when they put up the new drywall.
But when we remeasured today the ceilings are only 94 and 1/2" ...don't know where that other inch went to??
Anyway...With the 36" cabinet with 4" crown molding there will only be a 1/2" to ceiling so will not be able to do crown over them...
Will it look right to do crown over the shorter cabinets? There will be 6 and 1/2 inches over them?
Also to answer RoRo 67...No the crown molding around the ceiling is not the color of my cabinets...if that was what you were asking?
thanks for your help everyone...

This post was edited by calyle7 on Wed, Sep 18, 13 at 16:49

Sure, you can do crown to your ceiling with the tallest cabinets. You just need a horizontal filler strip first that takes up space, then you attach the crown to it. But, it only works well if you have staggered depth cabinets as well as staggered height. The crown has to have room to die into the other cabinet. The taller cabinets need to be pulled forward to let that happen if you only have standard depth cabinets.

How do you pull the taller cabinets forward without a space showing in the back?
I know this sounds like DIY'ers....and a lot of this renovation is!!
So any help I can get is so very much appreciated!

My ceilings are 7'6", not the ideal height for crown to begin with. I used staggered cabinets, but needed a finished look for using the staggering. Can't remember exactly how much I held the 36" cabinets down from ceiling, thinking it was an inch, but shouldn't matter with 8' ceilings since you will be going from counter to bottom of cabinet. Anyways, what I did was use the same rail on top of cabinets, as I did for the bottom. No problem ending the molding.

Thanks for the pictures..your kitchen is lovely....I see you didn't use any crown molding on the ceiling...and it looks fine...
But I will have more space than what you have with the 30" cabinets....and even with the 36" I can still use the 4" Rope Crown Molding that is coming with my cabinets....but will only have 1/2" to the ceiling with these....but 6 and 1/2" with the shorter ones. I would really like to use the ceiling crown above the cabinets...Maybe I should get some that isn't as wide as what I took down?

I thought Calyle was talking about crown moulding between the wall and the ceiling In Addition to crown moulding on top of the cabinets. At least that is how I answered the question. I may be mistaken.

palimpsest. I think I'm the one mistaken!

calyle, I think I misunderstood your initial concern. BTW, thanks for the compliment.

This post was edited by Roof35 on Wed, Sep 18, 13 at 21:15

Sorry I have made this so confusing...
I will have 4" Crown Molding on the Cabinets
With the tallest cabinet because of a lower ceiling there will only be 1/2" from the Crown molding on the cabinet...But there will be 4 and 1/2 inches from the cabinet itself...of course the 30" cabinet will have 6" more than the 36" cabinet.
So Question is...Can I put my ceiling crown molding that was taken down?
I really hope so....My kitchen is more of a traditional style and I feel it really needs the ceiling CM if it's possible.