hi--have been away for a bit--first, for peace and rubyfig--the handles are from Restoration Hardware. And yes, I was very pleased with myself for thinking of that detail! The only problem is that I wish I had installed them on the lower doors, as the towels are always getting caught when I open the doors (as I do often b/c trash and recycling is there). I actually figured this out going to sleep one night and went down the next morning to tell my GC, but he was so gung-ho that he had already installed them on the pullouts, as I had told him the day before...oh well. Scrappy--I love the Crown Point cabs! And hopefully you see that mixing inset and frameless is totally doable. The only thing is that I did not get my replacement doors from CP--we replaced some drawer fronts on the bases but these were supplied by the local guy who did some other built-ins for us. I think I could have gotten CP to do them but as replacement doors aren't really their thing the other way worked better, I think. However, If I were replacing all of them I'd try to do all CP. They are lovely to work with although they did gently try to get me to consider replacing the bases too--but I said no and they weren't at all pushy. Yes, the pantry is CP also. The crown molding is not CP--I think that probably would be $$$$. It's from a great local lumberyard (Anderson-McQuaid if you are in eastern MA). Our ceilings are 9' and the uppers are about 50'', then the crown on top. THis is including the light rail underneath--I don't remember what the ordering dimensions were. If you look at the pix, you will see there are several inches between the top of the door and the bottom of the crown. My GC actually had to attach a board on top of the cabs and then the crown--it all worked out fine, but I don't know if this was a mistake on CP's part or not. I was worried about the single doors being too big so it probably is just as well. Also, this is an old house and the ceiling wasn't level, which doesn't show with the extra valance board on top. (It's all painted so the seams aren't visible.) I don't think you'll have any trouble at all getting a crown in with the 8'. Crown molding is available in all different sizes and CP will build the cabs to your measurements. You might not have room for stacked cabs if that's what you want, but a friend of mine has stacked and I know her ceilings are lower than mine, so maybe you could. (I sort of wish I had done the stacked, but it was a lot more money.) HTH!

Using any kind of paint would destroy the work so there would be no point in it. The best thing to do is stop focusing on it and let some months go by. While it may produce more, it will also dissipate over time. If you try to clean it now, it may produce more efflorescence and just need cleaning again in not too long and there is a limit to how much it can be cleaned with acid. in several months or a year, try cleaning it with dilute muriatic acid, using proper cautions.

Thanks for the feedback guys! I’d really hate to cover up the whole thing, as the front and stair-side walls are fully bricked and visually cohesive at the entrance (as the 1st floor part of the chimney is also right there front and center). Thoughts on drywalling just the 2 sides that have the cinder blocks, and leaving the front visible sides as brick? Also, any thoughts on if we were to stain/paint the brick in any way (such a white washing or German smear)? I generally like brick, just seems like it could be brightened up or updated some how? Katie B- thanks for showing that cinder blocks don’t have to be an eyesore! Those are beautiful, and if it weren’t for the sudden change from brick-cinder block, I may be more inclined to appreciate it in this case. When we bought the house from the son of the original owner, he told us that his dad ran out of bricks, so that might just be sitting with me as an job done perfectly, until the end lol.

are you in love w/the brick? If you're not, you could fir it out and do something different on it. another tile, stone or even a wood. By doing that, you'll create another 6" of depth so you can have your built in's examples fir it and apply cement board (or, you could complete skim coat the brick w/mortar) do a diff stone,,,maybe do a wall treatment like this, with consoles. or a place for the tv here's one they did w/wood I love this look. fir it out and apply these planks of walnut. gorgeous maybe you just do some benches on the side if you just paint the brick, you could do thin shelves. Or, along side the brick on the sides, use a thicker molding that would allow you to do shelves that come further out these are shallow built ins. but see the side trim and how they stick out past the fireplace? you could do this or, just paint the brick, wood molding, and no shelves. here they did a tongue and groove treatment none of these are especially difficult or expensive. if you can do some DIY, you can do any of these yourself