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If I were doing a full renovation of cabinets anyway, I would remove that entire bulkhead.

The problem is the bill head goes all the way around the kitchen so I don’t want to get rid of it.

*buk head

Have you considered just adding crown molding to close it off and painting to match? I’m not sure that little gap is worth the expense and trouble. Your $$ of course, but that kitchen looks like maybe it just needs a little freshening up, rather than a reno.

Thanks for saying that Carrie. I’ve wondered about that too but it does needs some work as far as adding soft closures and changing out the guts to update them. It’s actually 23 years old. We’d also like to change some of the functionality of the kitchen like adding wall ovens, pull outs etc. Now I’m second guessing myself lol.

It's apparent these are expensive cabinets. I don't know that I would tear them out. We have no idea from your photos how the details of the ceiling relate to the rest of the rooms that open to this. You could tear out the strip lighting and cove and then either leave the cabinets short of the ceiling or install a fascia panel on top of the cabinets and move the crown to the ceiling.

If you’re ripping out the cabinets but keeping your good appliances, you need a kitchen designer. Taking out the whole bulkhead is an option. Everything is - your budget determines what gets done. You need someone who can work side by side with you.

If you want help here, you need to post a completely measured out floor plan. Please donate those cabinets since they are fully functional and someone else could really use them.

What is your vision for a new kitchen? Do you have some photos?

I'm sorry whay do you want to keep it if you are redoing the kitchen ? I think you need to talk to a good independant KD not a cabinet sales person but an actual KD.IMO all that bulkhead weird lighting accenting that all need to go and IMO half assed kitchen remodels are never a good plan .IMO that whole ceiling bulkhead inclused needs a redo . I have no idea of what kind of cabinets ansds tyle you want now so maybe share a bit more info.

Could the half of the ceiling over the kitchen have the cove removed with the half remaining over the area in the foreground in some logical fashion? Its that division in the middle a logical dividing point?

I think trying to keep it in the kitchen area is going to complicate rather than simplify matters. It could also be the way it photographs, but the lighting in the cove does not seem like a very flattering color temperature and seems like it's a little harsh. I am not trying to be critical, but sometimes you just get used to something the way it is, and don't really see it anymore.

Ok so now some of you really have me thinking. I was prepared to gut the kitchen but some of you now have me second guessing myself (and thank you for that). It’s an open concept kitchen with family room so no, don’t want to pull out the bulk head. Apart from the entertainment area and floor color which I will definitely do, should I keep the kitchen and just refresh it (soft closures and the guts of the cabinets) and repaint it white?
I’ll try and do another post other my visions cuz for some reason it won’t let me do it here (and yes I’m in the process of getting a kitchen designer but your input is so valued as I’d like to have a clear vision for whomever I hire)

Here’s my “vision board” from floor colour to tv area and kitchen with waterfall island. While it may not be exact, the color palette is. I want to do a floor to ceiling stone mantle with a linear fireplace and glass shelves on the sidles. I want to do the waterfall island with grey/white stone which compliments the stone on the fireplace and backsplashes etc would be the same. I envision glass cabinets across the top of the kitchen like the picture. Thoughts?

Is this kitchen as dysfunctional as I think it is? The cooker is in a whole different room from the sink & refrigerator?

There’s another sink where you see the oven. It actually works quite well. We like the fact that all the cooking and mess happens in the wok kitchen which is perfect. If I do a full on renovation, I won’t add another stove top. Just extra wall mounted ovens.

Add a soffit, you can always dress it up with molding.