Take them all the way up! :)

At least crown the top of the cabs. I put above cabinet lights up there (with molding on the cabs) and love the lighting at night. I have 9 ft ceilings also.

Agree: all the way up!

To the ceiling!

How are the cabinets in the rest of the room? I have a wall of cabinets like that, but I don't have any uppers in the rest of the kitchen. I think it should be consistent with whatever else is going on in the kitchen.

I understand that you're getting tired, after looking at the top of my cabinets, I'd say to bite the bullet and close that opening.

There is no reason to add crown unless you really like that look. Crownless is a perfectly acceptable alternative.

Yes, but take Mahlgold's lesson. There's an important reason why her cabinets stop there. Very deliberate and very excellent. Can you add something else to integrate that top line into the overall design? How about working on the layout of those shelves in the corner for a start? But it doesn't have to be this summer. :)

Mahlgold, I love your kitchen. It looks so simple and serene. It must be a joy to work at your counters without uppers crowding your space.

I noticed that there is a door on the far side of that pic. Would you get a tunnel effect putting the up to the ceiling?

Without seeing them in context with the remainder of the kitchen, I agree to take them all the way up. Cleaning there will be a pain.

One important difference between Whit and Mahlgold's kitchens is that Mahlgold's cabinets are much shallower than are Whit's.

Malhgold, it's like you knew. We have no uppers in the rest of the kitchen (sorry, the pic was just taken over morning coffee). The cabinets come out 24" and nearly fill a space between 2 doorways. We have 11" clear at top and it is not enough for functional doors above. Original plan had me going all the way up and installing crown around the room. With careful planning I could add faux drawer fronts later which would be a consistent look all the way to the top. Urgh...... I am one hard weekend from being done!

Based on the rest of the kitchen, I would leave them as they are. I think if you take them to the top it will overpower the kitchen. To me it would feel like they were top heavy.

Your kitchen looks beautiful. Great minds think alike!!

Your kitchen and Mahlgold's have some nice things in common. Your pantry block is much higher than the rest already, though. Nothing to tie in to. I'd finish to the ceiling in a very simple manner--12" board sawn down and very simple moldings as needed bottom and top. The flat plane will echo the rest of the kitchen cabinetry. Doesn't have to be done this summer, though. :)

As is....total dust collector...do you really want to be on a ladder cleaning the top?