I always think it looks best when you use the exact same crown so they miter nicely together, but of course, one will be stained cherry and one painted white

I am facing the same dilemna. When it comes to the working kitchen, I am planning to have wood stained crown molding to match cabinetry. For me, its about more than just the crown molding. During my renovation, I am replacing and adding new doors and windows. I will also have a fire door in my kitchen that must be white (cannot be stained), also my existing door to basement will be white. I am also planning to add french doors to my LR and another to my DR, probably both to be white. I hope to pick a transition point wherein white trim will prevail, but I think I am going to stain the window over my kitchen sink and leave windows in my eating area white.

Not sure if this is the best option, but that is what I was planning. I will be interested to see what other GWers have to say on this topic.

Do your cabinets go all the way to the ceiling? If so, what about letting the cabinets have their crown/top moulding under the room's continuous moulding which also goes across the top of the cabinets as well.
I've seen this done before, it was recommended to me by an artist who has done renderings for Clive Christian, and I did it in my home with results I'm happy with.

I used the same profile of crown molding for above the dark cherry cabinets and for the cream colored, painted crown molding for the breakfast room. They look great together. Don't hestitate to use molding in your great room with the stained molding above your cabinets.

singingmicki, yes cabs go all the up to the ceiling.

Anyone have pics that depicts the two different moldings? I've scoured through the internet and was unable to find one that fits my perdicament.

I found one picture and I'll link to it. Sorry I can't figure out how to embed pics from houzz.com.

Here is a link that might be useful: [Houzz.com different moldings[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/kgrahi-traditional-kitchen-phvw-vp~69874)

I used the same crown molding on the cabs that is in the rest of the house. We picked an unobtrusive place to transition the color, which turned out not necessary as cab color was very close to trim color. But in your case the important things are to use the same profile, and find good transition points.

how did you cope (spl??) the two pieces of trim together since they were different?
we have to do the same exact thing from our den into our kitchen.

Sorry, I didn't personally do it, our cabinet installer did. In our case, the painted trim profile was scribed onto the stained trim - the stained trim is the one that was cut to fit.

Usually, the profile of the moulding already on the wall would be taken using a profile gauge.

They are tools that consist of hundreds of plastic or steel pins held in a row. You push it against something and the pins conform to it. You would then use this profile to trace onto the moulding you wish to cut.
:)

Here is a link that might be useful: profile gauge