Who did the measuring for your project? My KD worked in conjunction with the contractor. They measured, and measured again, to make sure all was correct before the cabinet order was finalized. Enough space was left above the cabinets to install crown molding.

Before molding installation. Click to enlarge.

After

I'm sorry it's not what you envisioned! Here is one of your inspiration photos that I think you are close to replicating.

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So, the trim piece that matches the cabinetry doesn't look good with it or match?? I'm not sure I would use a flat white trim piece instead of the matching trim. Do you have photos with better lighting to show the "matching trim"?

Your contractor should be giving you new cabinets and if he doesn’t then withhold the last installment to replace these. if you don’t have the stomach for that fight, the “Pine box” with mounding can help you replicate the look you wanted. Think about slightly recessing the pine box (maybe half inch or so) and putting a simple mounding across the top that comes out to “meet” your cabinet doors. Paint the box and the mounding to exactly match your cabinets. Will give you a modified version of the look in the first post. Good luck!

Many homes are not perfectly,level and,plumb. Is that the,issue with your ceiling? He should have told you.

I am confused - were the cabinets in the plans that are in the contract that you signed supposed to be tall enough to reach the ceiling? Or, did you contract for the cabinet height that has been installed? If the latter then I don’t see how @groberts0921 comment “Your contractor should be giving you new cabinets and if he doesn’t then withhold the last installment to replace these” could be at all possible. Please let us know.

I would also add that your mentioned fear of dust up there is misplaced, and from greatly exaggerated stories. I have had several kitchens over many decades where the cabinets did not reach the ceiling. Went up there once a year—if that—and found little or no dust. You will find a great deal more dust on your floors, under beds and dressers, inside lamp shades, on little-used table surfaces, under sofa cushions, and any number of other places in your home. If you want a different appearance of your kitchen cabinets, that’s one thing. But if your motivation for this change is fear of dust up there, I’d give that up and accept the current cabinets - even moreso if they are the heights that were specified in your kitchen design.

Me too . What design did the cabinet company have? Where was the KD in this mess. Why pine soffits that you don’t want .? Sorry but really we have no info . If your contractor designed your kitchen shame on you. I guess it boils down to who designed and ordered the kitchen without approval from you.

Did you have a contract specifying the height of the cabinets and requiring cabinets to meet the ceiling? We’re you there when the first cabinet was installed? If so, did you halt the job until everyone was in agreement on what you want?
Details must be agreed upon in writing before a contract is signed. I never leave a contractor on his own when work is being done...it’s easier to stop work in the first ten minutes than to take down a whole installation of cabinetry later. You may have contracted with an owner or supervisor, but the installers only do what they have been told to do.

Thank you all for your helpful info! And pics extra helpful. Sorry I didn’t clarify—I was not originally assertive enough with my KD when I’d really wanted cabinets to reach ceiling and she felt very strongly against it. I didn’t think it would bother me but after all was installed, I just really did not like it. So the mistake is on me and my contractor is doing his best to help me out. It’s not coming out exactly as I’d envisioned (the “boxes” do not line up exactly with the boxes of the cabinets—they meet edge of the cabinet doors and on the window wall, they overshoot the sides as well. But I think it will be better than it was before. The “boxes” will be painted flat white—just like ceiling as trim at top has sheen to it. See pic below of current status. Thank you!!!

The “boxes” cast weird shadow over doors now because contractor brought them out too far but I’m gonna just live with it as all this is really my own fault for not being more decisive to begin with. Live and learn. We will still love kitchen. Thanks All!

If I didn’t know the many steps you’d gone through, I would never question the installation at all. It looks great and it’s a beautiful kitchen.

Why did you add the second layer of trim and not leave it smooth to the ceiling. You don’t need that second little piece

Good save. It looks intentional.Things happen. Is there anyway the light can be moved?

So the light there is temporary and will be 1 of 2 24” pendants over island— once actually find ones I like! PS. Here is most recent pic of cabinet tops. They fixed the extra jutting out so flush now and happy with it!

So much better!!!

@Michelle NJ If it is any comfort to you, it looks to me like in order for your cabinets to have reached the ceiling you would probably have needed a stacked design which would have been much more expensive than the trim you ended up with. There are physical limitations to how big and heavy the doors can be, especially when they are pulling on MDF boxes as yours appear to be. I actually think this trim might have been the solution you would have chosen originally unless you had wanted to increase your budget for stacked cabinetry. I hope you're enjoying your new, spacious kitchen!

Thanks! Cost for the soffits/trim was $750–I think my contractor charged me the bare cost of materials and labor for that. Thanks, all for your input!!

You cabinets turned out great! The solution doesn't look like an afterthought at all.

Thank you, Norwood!

Your contractor did a good job on the cabinet trim--it looks as if it was planned. Not so much, though, on the vent for the hood. Is that flexible duct? You need to have a talk with him about that issue and/or check your local safety code--unless that is just temporary until the new chimney cover is installed.

Yes, mama goose. The chimney cover will go in after backsplash does. Cannot wait.

Backsplash! Grout color recommendations, anyone? Thank you so much!!