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Paint Building a Home Design Dilemma

Should we paint crown molding that wraps around cabinets same color?

last year

last modified: last year

My wife and I are currently building a custom home.

We have crown molding painted in SW semi gloss alabaster that goes through out the entire home.

In the kitchen, the molding wraps around our hood mantle as shown in the picture. Our cabinets are obviously a different color, and we are trying to decide if keeping it as is would look best, or if we should consider painting the molding the same color as the cabinets in the circled area.

My wife and I think it would look best if painted the same color as the cabinets, but our concern is how the transition between colors would look in the corner. Are there any best practices in handling molding transitioning between two different colors?

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Comments (12)

kandrewspa
last year
Why not paint all of the crown molding Alabaster in the kitchen? Is there a point where it would need to transition from Alabaster to the original color?
Ryan Lee thanked kandrewspa
Ryan Lee
Original Author
last year
All of the crown molding IS currently alabaster in the kitchen as well as the entire house.

We are considering painting the crown molding that wraps around the hood mantle (circled in red) the same color as the kitchen cabinets. If we do this, yes then there would be two points in the back corner where the color would transition from the cabinet color to alabaster. Hope this makes sense!
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I personally think it looks great. I'm with MIssyV, do you like how this looks? I think it's pretty unique. Every other pic I found has it all the same color so I think it would be something unexpected. You both might appreciate this link for some ideas Here is a link that might be useful: [kitchen cabinet molding[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/kitchen-cabinet-crown-molding-phbr0lbl-bl~l_11462)
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ffjunk, of course it's a personal choice, but thought I should add, we have a situation similar to yours, with a pass-through window between painted cabinets, as well as a pocket door between a cabinet and a cabinet pantry. Our cabinet crown molding, and our whole house crown molding are the same heights, but different cuts, so the choice was easier for us - keep the same crown molding throughout the kitchen, though it is open concept. We are using stop blocks at the pocket door crown as the pantry is a stained along with the crown molding above it, and the cabinet adjacent is painted, along with the crown above that. The trim around the door will be painted the same as the cabinet/cabinet crown molding. Our ceilings are 9'. We are also using a stop block where the whole house crown meets the kitchen cabinetry crown - it would be very difficult to both cope and scribe the crowns to match and we prefer the stop blocks. I don't have photos as we are still in the midst of remodeling and our cabinet maker has yet to bring and install the stop blocks.
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PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
last year
I would paint the crown molding that wraps around cabinets same color as the cabinets . . . or Hunter Orange.
Ryan Lee thanked Mark Bischak, Architect
shead
last year
Paint the molding circled the same as the cabinets. Leave the other molding the color it already is.
Ryan Lee thanked shead
HU-402831377
last year
I agree with shead.
PRO
JAN MOYER
last year
last modified: last year
Allllllll Crown upper attached to cabinets must match cabinets, or look like hell : ) That means your circled hood, and all other spots unseen in your pictures.

Your pic is shadowed. I shall pray the molding continues elsewhere
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
I need to see the whole room but what I see needs to match the cabinets.
PRO
Perfect Edge Finishcrafters
last year
I retract my previous statement regarding 2 crown colors after looking at the photo more closely. I now see continuous 3-piece crown. What appeared to be only above the hood actually runs throughout.

Cabinet color on all 3 sides of hood crown to end at the wall inside corner (or replace all uppers with boxes to the ceiling 😉) is what I see most.

Nice 3pc crown, says custom without you having to.
PRO
Norwood Architects
last year
It's unfortunae that the middle section of cabinets pops up above the other cabinets. This is a trend that I earnestly wish would go away.
PRO
JAN MOYER
last year
Fortunately.........The high low cabinet trend has mostly disappeared. It was always a bad idea.
shead
last year
Coming back to say that if your cabinets were painted by your cabinet maker using sprayed catalyzed paint finish, it will not match if you have it painted with a regular paint. BTDT and learned my lesson the hard way. I would have the crown molding removed around the hood (3 sides) and take it to the cabinet maker to be sprayed the same finish as the cabinets. Then it will need to be reinstalled. I tried to color match my catalyzed cabinet paint once to paint the crown and there was always a noticeable difference in color and sheen.
Ryan Lee thanked shead
PRO
Virgil Carter Fine Art
last year
Same, same!

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