Discussions about where cabinetry and crown molding end should be part of the contract and should be decided before work begins.

A crown and or riser can be anything dreamed up by a good designer and only limited by supply availability. Part of the consideration is what the rest of the room and adjoining rooms look like. In the photo below, this crown goes around the room and the cabinets so it’s all matching. Adjoining rooms have different molding. Ceiling height should be a consideration too, in the photo below the ceiling is 10th.

YES! Per my post the crown is being fixed! Everything was decided before we started construction. It was supposed to go to the ceiling! The riser piece was made too short. COVID hit and they just put it up the way it came in because everything was shutting down. NOW they are back to fix the crown. They are removing all the crown and starting over. I feel like my question has been deflected. So back to my question. I have a new designer and they are now telling me that exposing 8 or more inches of a riser is too much. He wants to add another piece to stair step it. I have no idea why exposing 8” is too much? It sounds like he wants to expose 6” then add another riser with 2”. He said we can play around with it when everything comes in. I can do the 8” but he says it doesn’t look right. Now I’m feeling insecure because this is what we originally decided on. Now I’m being told it doesn’t look right. Is there a rule about how much of the riser can be exposed?

What’s your ceiling height? Also, when you say ‘riser’, are you referring to the height of the entire crown or just a flat piece that the crown is on top of? Here’s a rule of thumb for how much crown based on ceiling height. Maybe the stair step makes it more subtle if your overall height is a smidge too large for the room height.

I like the pictures shown with the different moldings....you could also do a straight up bulk head type panel/molding and it will look nice.

Added molding

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Strip lighting above open cabinets also an option

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crown molding above bulkhead

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All possible looks and finishes.

I have 9’ ceilings and 42” cabinets. What do we need to do to take the crown to the ceiling? Pictures appreciated!

Maybe like this?

I’m sorry, the cabinets are 45” and we have 9” ceilings. I need options to take the crown to the ceiling. I’m not installing new 48” cabinets. TIA

Your 2nd question regarding the backsplash: I prefer the one that you have, rather than your inspiration one. What you have is clean, and tall...I would not change it.

Maybe ask the designer to bring you 3 or so options then you can choose what you like best. I suspect the designer is saying 8” is too much because of the ceiling height but those are just rules of thumb. You’ll have to see your options on top of the cabinets to see if it feels right in the room and compared to adjacent rooms. But it’s a beautiful kitchen!