I'd add the moldings. I think it finishes the top and evens out the cabinet door with the moldings for a seamless and finished look.

Needs crown *and* light rail to make it complete. But the molding that you show isn't crown and isn't substantial enough. Looks like a panel edge molding, not crown.

Agree with Sophie. Could that be the reason the contractor didn't want to install it (because it isn't the right moulding)?

It is an angle molding that is too big. There is not enough room between the ceiling and top of cabinet door so he cut it down to fit.

What about a moulding like this for the top of your cabinet (shape, not size)?

Or this one?

If he hacked on it, then have him replace it with proper crown. And fix the install. The cabinets shouldn't have been installed tight to the ceiling to begin with. He should have left room for crown. Or, whomever designed the space should have designed the install with room for crown.

Not the fault of the contractor at all. He is dealing with the error that was made by the kitchen designer. Can't lower the cabinets as the backsplash is 18" now. I've already had issues with the kitchen dealer and designer so I'd rather cut the molding to fit than deal with them.

I just realized that I have the molding upside down in the photo! I'm going to have him put it in - right side up!

Glad you put the crown moulding on - it looks great! Nice recovery :)

It looks great with the molding!

Totally agree with Sophie Wheeler on both counts! Have the contractor re-install properly and add a proper crown.

When I bought my house the cabinets had a little picket-fence detail running cross the top of every one of my upper cabinets. As soon as the closing was complete and I got the keys, I took a crow bar and yanked those nasty suckers out. Then I hired a carpenter to fashion some crown molding out of three different pieces of trim I found at a sweet local lumber yard. Painter matched the stain to the existing cabinets and carpenter installed them. I think they're smashing! I also fashioned a lightrail trim at the bottom of each cabinet to hide the under cabinet lighting. These two additions transformed my kitchen!

Stuck in Lodi...nice kitchen! What is your countertop?

Corian--came with the house.

depending on the cabinets that you have chosen and the look that you want to achieve, crown molding give the cabinets that special finishing touch that will turn kitchen cabinets into formal furniture, if that's what you like go for it . Keep the stain label and in the future you can add the molding if you decide .