Example 1 with beams dying into soffit (though our beams would only run one way):. http://houzz.com/photos/11752409

My house will have 12 ft highs ceilings with beams also. my first question. Will you have complete custom cabinets? If so this is a tad more workable. Looking back. The 12 ft ceilings have been a huge design issue regarding the range hood. I am going to the house later this afternoon. I will take some pictures. We are at framing. So no actual finished product. If you want 42 in uppers with the 12 inch stack on top. Plus whatever molding on top....I would have the ceiling touch the cabinets like your 2nd picture.

7 months ago when I started this process, having space between ceiling and the cabinets didn't bother me at all. But now thinking about my overall look. It is on my list of learning curves.

I had dust-catcher uppers once. Never again.

Ha! Yes, there are so many details I never thought much about until going through this process! I agree...I don't want dust and cobweb catchers, but does that mean I need some kind of soffit? Ugh. Gwlake...would love to know how high you took the range hood. That is definitely an issue too! Did you lower your ceiling down at all?

Not sure this will help. We have beams in both our living and kitchen/dining. We have a space above the wall cabs. Still need to add the crown. I am not sure if this is anything like your house.

Love those pictures.

It was so hectic, we did the electrical walk through today. I didn't get a chance to get the pictures. Okay...no we will have the 12 ft ceilings. It is open concept. Ceiling height was important because I love all things southern and grew up with super high ceilings. Your best bet is to vent hour hood through the wall. You need a certain amount of space if it is and interior wall. I didn't have that space. I have to vent through the ceiling. Here are my pictures for inspiration and potential problem solving. :)

This picture I would actually build out a soffit This doesn't have soffit but it could be a realistic plan

As far as dust goes. We get dust on built-ins. We get dust on fans and light fixtures over bathroom mirrors. Cleaning is part of life.

If someone likes the look enough to dust, sure, go for it. I am minimizing dust collectors and love the free time I have gained so I can do other things.

I opted to have space between my cabinets and ceiling because my ceiling is not flat and I would have had to get different height cabinets and soffits to enclose or just lower the entire ceiling. I just Line my cabinet tops with Old newspaper and swap it out twice a year. Quick and easy.

Since taking this picture, I have stained the beams to match cabinets. One beams is a real support beam for my upstairs and we added extra faux beams to make it a more cohesive design.