While I try to maintain a clean and orderly home, I prefer to do as little housework as possible. I wouldn't have cabs that stop 6-9" from the ceiling because I would see the top of the cabs as something more to clean. But many people are not as housework adverse as I. Since the area isn't visible, only you would know how dusty or clean it was up there. And I've seen some lovely effects with uplights on top of cabs.

My kitchen is 8 x 15, and taking the cabs to the ceiling did make the room seem larger by taking your eye up.

If you prefer to not go to the ceiling, then 30" with crown molding would be a more appropriate traditional look than the tiny little bit of open space that taller cabinets will give you. It will also be easier to access to clean. One tip for helping with that is to lay newspaper on top of the cabinets and then instead of dusting, just fold up the newspaper and dust and throw it away and replace.

Other than the cleaning bit, the other reason that most people choose to take the cabinets to the ceiling is that it's less choppy and makes the room seem bigger than bisecting it with cabinets, which makes the ceiling seem shorter.

Ironically, I've been told by a few kitchen designers that not having cabinets to the ceiling would create a feel of more space because there is the visual sense of space beyond the cabinets rather than feeling closed in.

I am a cabinet to ceiling person.

But it really depends on the space and how it's done.

Thanks for your helpful comments. hollysprings- you add so much to Garden Web, thank you. I hear you about 30" cabinets, but I'd find them too short and squat for our room. The newspaper idea is interesting. I have tall antique armoires in the foyer and LR, so I'm use to vacuuming in tall places. They are short of the ceiling and look wonderful: drawing one's eyes up to lovely moulding then wall crown.

Ginny20-I completely forgot about uplighting. I agree, it adds a certain je ne sais quoi to the room. Kids (and moms) love it! Like outer space at night.

nap101- "visual sense of space beyond the cabinets rather than feeling closed in" I am investigating how to alter the ceiling paint from ceiling white. I recall reading that a contrasting color or white with semi-gloss can add height. Do any of you recall any similar comments?

I truly thank you all for your comments and feel free, others, to add in. I'm going to look at custom cabinets this week, so a little traveling is planned.

We have a similar height room, and also chose not to take the cabinets all the way to the ceiling. I just don't like the look of cabinets that go all the way up. It's a subjective thing. Here's how the cabinets look in our room. Making the room seem bigger wasn't really one of our objectives. We started with a large room. As for the cleaning, I admit that someone else comes to clean for me, but even I as a non-cleaner don't see how difficult it is to run over the surfaces with a duster once in a while if you prefer the look.

Lovely, sas95. Thank you for showing your kitchen as the visual is very helpful. Very nice cabinetry and overall space. Are yours 36" cabinets then crown?

Did you have to fabricate the additional range hood duct below the ceiling? I know I will be dealing with this issue and have the place lined up to help. This is one reason I considered going to the ceiling as the ducts are vertical with a 90 or 45 degree elbow just below the ceiling.

Thanks again.

I think you should do what makes sense to you being that you are aware of what some consider the "downside" to not having cabinets to the ceiling. It is a personal preference. I wanted to go to the ceiling in our 9' h kitchen but given the extra expense weighed against the usability of that space it did not make sense to me. Having said that we have 39" h cabinets on order with cabinet crown molding as well (all to be installed this spring in new home). I wish I had a photo to show you. I did agree with my KD that doing 39" h cabinets would look better than 42" because it would allow more than just a little space and we do want crown molding to continue around the room, as we will have crown in adjacent dining room, hallway and family room. In my current home we have a lower ceiling and I have 36" h cabinets which are the perfect height for reaching all items on top shelf without needing a step stool (I am on the tall side 5'8") I hope this helps!

sas95, Great kitchen. Can you please tell me who made your cabs and what color are they? What is your countertop. And last, but not least are their more pictures of your kitchen on GW? Would love to see more. Thanks.

I do love the look of fluorescent uplighting especially, it's such a lovely and warm lighting both at nightime but also on cloudy or dull days.

saas95, your kitchen is absolutely gorgeous! Wow.

Laura517, thank you for your insightful comments. I do think 36" with a 3" crown and crown at ceiling would be fine. I do have to stand on my toes @ 5'5" to reach deep into the top current 36" cab uppers. I mocked this up with shoe boxes this week, and 39" was too little space imo.

I remembered the ceiling tip: it's to add a little blue to ceiling white: BM baby's breath OC-62 or BM white ice OC 58 with neutral walls. Apparently the blue tinge to the white ceiling paint also yields impression of height.

Thank you.

Debating/considering goes on.

Similar recent GW thread. Great discussion and pictures. Thanks Linelle.

Here is a link that might be useful: Helpful link:

SparklingWater, I'm not sure what we did with the vent ducts, as my husband was the only one around when that was being done.

Island, the cabinets are from Signature Custom Cabinetry. The green color is Willow. Counters are Caesarstone Champagne Limestone. There are more pictures of the kitchen on the original reveal thread here.

This post was edited by sas95 on Sun, Feb 24, 13 at 8:26

My kitchen cabinets don't go to the ceiling, and I like them. They are 98 inches high including a little molding on top. Then there is drywall for 8 inches and then crown molding. I'm 5'10" and can't reach the top shelf without my kikstep stool, but I store my china on the top shelf. I LOVE having my china in the kitchen; I'm much more likely to use it.

Here's a picture I love of a "not to the ceiling" cabinet kitchen I saw today:

Here is a link that might be useful:

Thanks karen_je-your space sounds majestic and beautiful. I love china for its texture and pattern and with newer china cycles on DW's, it's easier to use mine more regularly to spice up, say, the dulldrums of winter days.

sas95-thanks for your link: seeing the process is very helpful. Your space is lovely.