Omit the upper under the beam ... use some shelves or a wine rack instead if it needs something.

I would also keep all the uppers the same and add another tier on top in the taller celing height unless they are meant to have a separate feel. Similarly, lower 1 is going to feel odd with the sections next to it each having a drawer or false drawer at the top and it not.

The blue tarp is in place to avoid dust; the kitchen will flow into family room
This is a preliminary sketch. We are still trying to decide between drawers, and/or cabinets.
The first picture is what is facing the stove so the fridge with cabinets on either side and the second picture is the right side wall next to the stove but door leading to garage

Your cabinetry drawing should show that wall as one elevation - not two. So you can see the true ramifications of your design. It’s looking disjointed because they (you?) are designing in a disjointed fashion.

Posting your plan would be helpful. Not understanding the sink situation. And all of this does relate to the beam question.

The sink is next to the dishwasher. My husband says due to the plumbing, that is the only location for the sink unless we plan on doing more demolition and plumbing
As far as the design, are you saying that I should keep all the cabinets the same height? How do we show the wall as one elevation if the older part of the house is 8 feet tall and the newer part is 10 feet, so the kitchen will have both eight and 10 foot ceilings with cabinetry.

We will have a bar sink in the addition and standard kitchen sink in the renovation

I have a lower ceiling in here. I wish we could have taken it up 25 yrs ago when we redid it the FIRST time, but oh well.

8' isn't bad. mine is so low I can touch it w/my fingertips (I'm 5'7")

always take drawers over cabinets. much better storage

Just to give you an idea, this is mine w/a 36" range top and wall oven. I have 36" drawers under stove ( and in the island I have even deeper drawers, 2 of them, for large pots)

I only have a few doors on the lowers, everything else is a drawer. (i have a double pantry you can't see )

if you keep it at 8 feet, can you do a nice wood beam to split the diff? what's the overall look you're after?

these are 8feet

9'

I like it, very nice!

From your elevations I am going to assume that the right side is where the 8' ceiling is and the left side (bar area) is where the 10' ceiling is.

Actually in this case I probably wouldn't do ceiling to counter cabinets as that will just exaggerate the height difference, but rather do regular uppers to the same height as the ones in the other section and glass fronted cabinets to the 10' level. I'm not sure what practical use uppers that high are so they might be better off with lights in them and for display of favourite items.

To further tie in the two sections I wouldn't do cabinets above the sink but rather floating shelves instead and nothing under the beam.

Thanks everyone for all of your great ideas and suggestions, please keep them coming! Nothing is set in stone, so the whole design can be revamped

Match the 96" ceiling height in the added on space for the kitchen, or it will always look like 2 different rooms. Or, keep the kitchen within the original 96" ceiling height portion, and use the 120" portion for an eating area, or a completely different function, where it makes sense to have 2 ceilings heights so close to each other.

I am having a the same issue of trying to expand my kitchen into an area with a different ceiling height. I am not sure it is worth it, and thinking to just stay within my original footprint. Can you tell me what you have chosen? how did it come out?

We had to revamp the design; gave up on our initial budget, but I am beyond happy with the finished look. Here are some pics

It turned out beautifully!

Beautiful!

Wow!! Thats beautiful. Can you tell me about your floor choice? Engineered hardwood?

It’s LVP
Stanton Golden State of mind: sandbar
Flooring was extremely difficult because no picture can truly portray the flooring shades. It all depends on lighting and furniture and decor.

Yes, it's impossible to choose! Yours is really stunning. thanks for the quick response and photos.

Best of luck. Be patient; we have not had living room furniture for about two years, waiting to save more funds to replace it.

Excellent decision in changing the beam to a flush. I'm sure that's what blew the budget, but certainly worth it to me that you spent your money on it :) Good job.