Hello Classic Comfort,

Architecturally it does add some interest. The only thing I would suggest is maybe adding some pendant lights to it. They don't need to be large so they keep the view clean and open.

Karen

Adding the trim to the bulkhead does emphasize it more. I don't find that to be a problem, but someone else might.

What color is the gray(ish?) paint, and what color is your backsplash? Do you plan to do any more work to the kitchen to update it, or are you finished?

I have a somewhat similar kitchen. I have soffits above the perimeter cabinets which I do not plan to remove because I prefer them to dusting the cabinet tops. If I ever get new cabinets (not likely) I would get those that go to the ceiling, but your cabinets are already tall. I would consider removing the bulkhead over the island. There may have been a large fluorescent light there at one time and the bulkhead was done to cover the area and make it more updated, but if the ceiling was flat there, it would be a little better - but you need to decide if it is worth the cost. It also might be fine to keep it and hang some pendants over the island as long as they function as well as the lighting you have.

#1 question is why is there a bulkhead? What is in it? I detest these things so if it's empty, I'd get rid of it.

There is nothing wrong with a flat, plain ceiling, that is what is appropriate for most ceilings in most houses.

I do think it would make your kitchen look bigger and airier to remove the bulkhead/soffits...but like said above, it would entail new cabs which might be more of a renovation than you envisioned. I would remove that entire center thing, no offense (but since you didn’t design it you shouldn’t be offended, lol) but it just looks odd. Kind of futuristic or something...does not seem to match the classic style of the kitchen.

I would at least remove the island one. Looks like it’s there maybe just to add lighting. So you would have to consider where you would add lighting if you ripped it out. How tall are your ceilings?

Yes, I would remove them, but before you go out and order any new things, the first thing you should do is poke a few holes in the soffits to make sure you don't have any water lines, drains or hvac pipes hidden in there.

Hidden pipes should not stop your project, but you need to plan ahead because it will add time and money to the project.

Sometimes you can makes the exploratory holes and still miss something. It happened to my parents. Just be prepared for some creative thinking and spending more time and money! A good GC will make all the difference.

If there's nothing inside that can't be moved, I'd get rid of all of them in a heartbeat, esp. the one over the island.

Thank you so much for all the responses! I don't know what's inside the bulkheads. The wall color is SW Anew Gray (Love it!) which is hard to tell, as I brightened the phone photo. The kitchen ceiling is 9' and the attached family room steps down about 6."

Thank you!

Your home is beautiful! I have never, not even once, noticed if someone had soffits or not above their cabinets. I would keep them, for sure. I would remove the one above the island.

We have two homes. Our main home of 32 years has soffits. Our other home does not. I think it looks like they were trying to save money by not " finishing" the job. I do not want to waste money on such a project, but I would surely like to add soffits.

Knowing how much work and mess is involved in removing soffits, I would really have to hate them to undertake such a project.

Whats inside is rather a crucial bit of info, dontcha think? Probably a lot of electrical wiring for all those lights - but what about air or heat ducts?

Its the one over the island that I think is the biggest eyesore - the others around the periphery arent as obtrusive - Id leave those unless you were to get cabinets that go up to the ceiling. IMHO, I dont think cabinets just collecting dust on top are much of an improvement over soffits. some good ideas here- https://www.thekitchn.com/15-ways-to-disguise-a-soffit-reader-request-week-204890

If you do work on the soffits, rather than remove the perimeter ones altogether, consider removing just to the cabinet and then dressing the area with millwork. Otherwise if you just remove, you have a giant, high, dust catcher - which is why I prefer a soffit to empty space above a cabinet.

I prefer something like this to dust catching bare tops:

I think you have a very nice space. I would not change anything!

A complication here is that *all the kitchen lighting is in the soffits and some of it or all of it may *not be able to simply be raised into the same spot in the flat ceiling above because of joist position, plumbing or HVAC.

I would remove the central soffit because that lighting could easily be replaced with surface or pendant lighting.

I don't particularly like projecting soffits like these but I like flush soffits just fine.

I just find it interesting that pretty much everybody in GW seems to be against this ceiling detail in a kitchen because it's a soffit or bulkhead and those are the worst thing ever but a goodly portion of the same population loves the same thing in a different room when it's called a tray ceiling.

Looking at it more I might leave them and just remove the one over island. I think white would look fine with your counter tops. Not sure about backsplash though but you could always just replace the backsplash. I would leave your island color as is because I think it’s beautiful lol if you remove soffits and have to change crown molding I notice it goes into your living room too. I bet you’d feel different I’d just island one was out. Then with the money you save you can have cabinets painted

I wouldn't mess with the bulkhead, soffits or paint the perimeter cabinets. What I might consider is to paint the island cabinet white. It would provide a nice contrast to your flooring and not be too big of a DIY project. I did it myself and it brightened up our kitchen.

I really like the change you made to your trim and bookcase. Much brighter!

I like the side ones, but not the center soffit. That one sticks out like a sore thumb.

Keep all the soffits and paint them entirely white. The grey is a lovely color but it creates a narrow horizontal line around the cabinets and the center piece that chops things up for my eye. Just looks too busy. Make the parts you don't like invisible by continuing the white. Start with the center piece being all white. That might do it. If not, then try painting white, the grey above the cabinets. By "center piece" I mean the thing on the ceiling over the island.

I'd only remove the island box and call the rest a tray ceiling.

If painting the upper cabinets is under consideration, I'd think about painting everything white, cabinets, walls, and ceiling. Not sure if there's a natural transitioning point with your family room, though.

Yes, yes, yes, to painting all the kitchen trim around the room and over the island white to "white out" the soffits.

And I haven't decided on what to do with the kitchen cabinets. I'm afraid to paint them white without a different counter and backsplash. Also, I don't know if it would be too much white w/o some warmth. If I do replace doors to remove the arch and/or paint the cabinets, I probably won't replace the surrounding bulkhead. I would only remove the island bulkhead. Wish I would have expanded the island a little bit when we put in the granite years ago...

This is what I was wondering. Honestly, I would leave the bulkheads alone until you do decide what, if anything, to do with the kitchen as a whole going forward.

No. They don't bother me( I realize it's highly personal). Even the middle one doesn't bother me enough..besides, I highly suspect it's there for some invisible reason. I much prefer pendants so if nothing's there I might remove it just to get different lights-but I'd make damn sure it's not the whole big can of worms. Starting with these things-to me, it's like going to a dentist..)) If I can avoid it-I'm not going.

I just see a nice kitchen:)

Then I'm not there, while you are.

yes ...yesterday!

I think it would look prettier with the one over the island removed, and add some pendants or a rectangular chandy in its place.

Not crazy about tray ceilings at all.

My hated soffits came down just about 2 years ago and it was a day of joy for me!! I'd hated those things since we bought this house in 1984! I'd tried to convince 2 different contractors to remove them before, but they all told me that I was opening a can of worms - probably ductwork, pipes, electrical in them that would all have to be moved at great cost. When my husband heard the "great cost" part, that was the end of the discussion.

Then, I finally realized that the space above the kitchen had been unfinished attic when we bought the house. All pipes to the 2nd floor were in the front of the house - this was the back. There was no electrical in that attic other than one overhead bulb. And no duct work as it was not finished! Eureka!

I had them removed before I had even signed the contract with the KD to order my new cabinets. Yes, I wanted them gone that badly! What I did find was two electrical junction boxes. One, was very badly work (1948 house and original), and was a fire hazard, so it was a good thing that it was discovered. It was very easy to put it up under where molding above the cabinets would be. The other, allowed my electrician to easily tie in one more pot light in the ceiling. It was tucked back into the ceiling.

When one removes soffits, it is usually easier to just throw up 1/4" drywall for a new ceiling than to try to patch. Since my ceiling was plaster, that was a no-brainer - also no more cracks.

Best thing I ever did, but boy is it messy to do!

I removed a box above my island and we removed one over the island in my sister's former home. Made a huge difference in each. I would not change the one above the cabinets unless you are redoing the cabinets because of the way it is constructed and houses the lighting -- more involved than drywall and framing.

I would definitely remove it (assuming it's possible to) and I would get upper cabinets that go to the ceiling (assuming that is in your budget).

I don't mind soffits...in fact to me it's preferable than having a space that gets dusty above the cabinets...(ideally, the cabinets would go to the ceiling, but most of us have to make do with what we have until we win the lottery).

I also think that the center bit may have once housed a fluorescent light, so it's probably a case of the previous owners wanting to update it a little. I would say to to get rid of that one so you have a cleaner look. We had the same lights and we removed them. It was an oak box attached to the ceiling that housed the lights. Actually easy to remove (but get lots of help because it's heavy!).

Good luck with whatever you decide to do!!