"We are having our carpenter recreate it to go above the white kitchen cabinets, then continuously flow into the hallway, across the top of the new black pantry, and over a transom". Please tell us more about your pantry. How contiguous is it to your kitchen in feet/view? It is a pantry wall as opposed to room/closet with full built-ins of matching style/make black cabinets, right? Continuing the same white dentil moulding in the pantry is what I would do. I might modify the pantry to be black and white in scheme. Black cabinets perhaps with a black trim, the white crown, then accent rug in white/ added white linens/art. The black and white combination is time honored. Hoping others will hop on to help. Btw, you have helped me tremendously with your insightful step wise posts as you marched through this kitchen renovation. thnx. Here is a link that might be useful: [link[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/black-crown-molding-phbr0lbl-bl~l_4032)

rtwilliams - You are too kind! What a beautiful kitchen! I wish I could get my kitchen to look like that, but our soffits go over the eating area too, not just the cabinets. If we painted only the soffits white, it would look like the ceiling was low (well, which I guess it is!). Our DIY kitchen remodel is being done on a strict budget. One day, for a future remodel, I hope to have enough funds to get custom cabinets (or at least custom doors) and completely remove (or at least shrink down) the ugly soffits. I can't WAIT for the day when I can take a sledgehammer to them!! It will be SO gratifying!! :) I talked the ideas and photos over with my DH. He doesn't think the crown where the ceiling and soffit meet will work b/c our kitchen has some strange angles and opens up to both the den and foyer so we couldn't continue the crown to envelop the kitchen - it would have to stop awkwardly in a number of places. =/ Sigh - I think, in our case we are going to have to "embrace" the soffit. Maybe I can dress it up with some pretty decorative plates, and add some collectibles over the non soffited cabinets to try to make it look cohesive. Our kitchen is never going to be anywhere Near as gorgeous as the kitchens that are shown on here. It will probably look like most people's before photos. But, we just have to try to be grateful for what we have, and make the best of it. Thank you again, for all of your thoughtful help!

Those look like very expensive cabinets being inset face frame and all the moldings. I think it looks great if it is your style that your business. I understand with wrapping cabinets it makes leveling or whatever word you want to call it difficult. Problem is sometimes you have to pick you visual doing that you want levels and to have the correct measurements. I agree that the counter to cabinet top should be it. If the counter is level then the measurement to the top of the cabs should also be level and the ceiling should not throw that off as the cabs were hung level then the moldings were added. I think you are correct in saying there is an issue at the point of measure. If your counter is level then 17" up from that should be level as it is parallel to the counter. If the ceiling is off it will effect the ceiling to cabinet top which again is parallel to the counter level. It should be off at the ceiling to crown measurements. You can go on Amazon and buy a laser level and tripod for about $150 and then will shoot a line across the entire room. You can start at counter height and work your way up to see where it is off. Picking a backsplash without a design that make this very visual will be difficult and the installer should have stopped and told you that. Hiding it and walking away for the next trade to deal with isn't professional. You have a valid concern it isn't an IKEA kitchen.

IMO the way to make the ceiling look higher is to not add crown at all. Paint the walls and the ceiling the same color it will give the illusion of higher ceilings. IMO crown never is agood idea for an 8' ceiling but you need to post some pics