Extending Kitchen Cabinets to Ceiling Before and After: 25 Ai Makeovers
If you need more storage space or can’t stand the dusty space above your kitchen cabinets, then you may want to consider extending them all the way up. Extending kitchen cabinets to the ceiling not only makes your kitchen look taller, but it also looks custom, without needing to change your existing layout. In this before-and-after gallery, you’ll see how the same kitchen transforms across different styles so you can imagine how it might look in your own home. We’ve used advanced Ai image generation software to show designs with stacked uppers, crown details, moody lighting, and different hardware finishes so you can see how a remodel makeover could look.
Modern Mediterranean Kitchen with Ceiling-Height Cabinets
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This Mediterranean new-build style makeover not only extends the cabinetry to the ceiling, but it also swaps the hardware to warm brass and layers in earthy accents for a more earthy feel. The soft, creamy cabinet color combined with the warm wood stools, black pendants, and terracotta decor pieces makes it feel styled. The before image backsplash was changed to a soft stone-look tile in a herringbone pattern to bring in extra texture without adding any more bold colors. The use of double-stack cupboards helps you avoid wasted space and the need to constantly get out the stepstool.
Tips: to get a similar look, go for a creamy warm white paint like BM White Dove (OC-17) or SW Alabaster (7008) and use a satin finish so it’s easy to maintain. If you can’t replace your cabinets, you can consider adding stacked uppers or a matching soffit with crown molding for a built-in feel.
Modern Minimal Kitchen with Flat-Panel Cabinets to the Ceiling
Going for an ultra-modern design, this kitchen uses flat-panel uppers that hit the ceiling, with slim black hardware, and a white quartz countertop and backsplash that makes the room feel larger. In addition, hidden under-cabinet strip lighting gives the space a high-end look that also helps brighten up the countertops. An interesting black finish linear pendant was hung over the island that matches the rest of the matte black, straight bar pulls.
Tips: For something like this, choose slab/flat-panel fronts, or just swap out the doors if you’re refacing. Keep the cabinets a crisp white like BM Chantilly Lace (OC-65) or a softer modern white like SW Pure White (7005) to avoid an icy feel. On you, Go matte black, straight bar pulls, consistent sizing (don’t mix styles). Use a continuous linear LED under the cupboards at a warm-neutral 3000K for a modern look.
Modern Organic Kitchen with Taupe Cabinets to the Ceiling
This refresh goes for an organic modern look by using taupe cabinetry and wood accents to add warmth. The counters are a light quartz with soft, wide Calacatta-style veining. Hardware is a brushed nickel with simple shapes to reinforce the modern feel.
Tips: Choose a warm taupe/greige such as BM Pale Oak (OC-20) if you want to go light, or SW Accessible Beige (7036), for a deeper shade. Use satin for the finish as matte can look more chalky and high gloss looks too sharp for an organic modern design. Make sure to sample first, as taupe can be tricky and shift a lot with your lighting. To complement it, select a creamy tile with texture that looks good with taupe cabinetry.
Scandinavian Kitchen with Light Natural Oak Uppers to Ceiling and Soft White Lowers
This transformation targets the Scandinavian look by using light oak up on top with soft white lowers, so you get both warmth and brightness. Hardware finishes are in black for the cupboards with stainless steel appliances and sink faucet in the island. A simple white quartz slab was used, and a vertically arranged linear tile for the backsplash. Two globe pendants, recessed cans, and under-cabinet LED’s over the island help keep it all bright and inviting.
Tips: For the wood tone uppers, choose a natural white oak in matte or low-sheen with minimal orange/red tones. To get balance in your two-tone design, keep uppers oak and lowers in soft white. Flat-panel, simple doors read most like Scandinavian, or a slim Shaker also works if it’s not too traditional.
Warm Modern Rustic Kitchen with Ceiling-Height Cabinets
This makeover adds warm, modern, rustic, and stylish without going too much toward farmhouse. The plaster-style hood becomes an interesting focal point, and it’s paired with a stone-look backsplash that adds an earthy texture, which goes well with the floating wood shelves and wood plank flooring. Lantern-style pendants are hung in warm brass and avoid looking ornate, but are more contemporary instead.
Tips: Use a creamy warm white for the cabinetry, like BM White Dove (OC-17), or SW Alabaster (7008), as these cool whites go against the rustic warmth you’re after.
Warm Transitional Kitchen with Full-Height Shaker Cabinets
This one utilizes full-height shaker cabinets that feel custom, with a layered crown with subtle uplighting so you get that built-in luxury kitchen effect. Finishes in warm brass modernize the shaker and look stylish against the white backdrop. The backsplash is off-white with a subtle, soft diamond pattern with a zellige-look that keeps it transitional without looking dated. There are LED strips under the cupboard that light up the backsplash and counters.
Tips: If you’re not replacing the cabinetry, add stacked upper boxes, or like this, a finished soffit with LED strips for that alluring glow. LED strip uplighting above the crown for a soft halo should use 2700K to 3000K, with a dimmable switch to control the mood..
Coastal Contemporary Kitchen with Cream Cabinets Up to the Ceiling and Soft Blue Island
Going after those who love the beach theme, this Coastal kitchen design features creamy cabinets that keep it warmer and are paired with a soft blue island. A cozy blue tile backsplash with white grout ties it all together. To bring a touch of nature and texture, there are woven counter stools. Brushed nickel pulls look stylish and keep things light, fitting the style.
Tips: To get this look, choose a warm cream that’s not bright white, such as SW Alabaster (7008) or BM Swiss Coffee (OC-45). For the island paint, use a muted, gray-blue, something like BM Boothbay Gray (HC-165), or SW Smoky Blue (7604).
Kitchen with Greige Luxe Cabinetry with Statement Marble
This makeover goes for a luxury feel with a dose of drama through its soft greige cabinetry, and bold veined marble-look slab countertops and backsplash. An interesting effect that shows a custom flair is running up the backsplash to the ceiling, and using a thicker countertop edge that feels high-end. The warm brass faucet and door hardware, and the statement piece modern glass cluster chandelier, feel warm and expensive.
Tips: Choose a balanced greige that doesn’t look purple, by selecting BM Pashmina (AF-100), or SW Accessible Beige (7036). Sample first for your room’s light as greige tends to shift a lot.
High-Contrast Modern Kitchen with Full-Height Matte Black Upper Cabinets
This transformation is bold and bright with white lowers and tall matte-black uppers that go all the way to the ceiling. The effect is an architectural look that goes for the wow factor. Pure white quartz countertops and grey veined white backsplash help counteract the darker aspects. Large black pendants, black faucet and pulls connect together so the contrast looks put together and designed.
Tips: Use a deep black like SW Tricorn Black (6258) or BM Black (2132-10) and select a satin/velvet finish.
Euro-Style Kitchen with Handle-Free Cabinet Fronts and Soft Glow Lighting
For those wanting a seamless European look, this kitchen offers flat slab front cabinetry with minimal lines and integrated lighting that feels just like a high-end showroom. There is toe-kick glow along the perimeter and under-cabinet strips focused on the counter surfaces, with a linear pendant over the island that looks spectacular at night. There’s no door hardware at all since they are handleless, further enhancing the modern, stylish vibe.
Tips: Use a matte or satin lacquer to get the look for your cupboards. Avoid going high gloss as they can smudge easily. When it comes to the hardware you can go handleless rails, J-pull, or push-to-open, but many people prefer rails.
Japandi Kitchen with Warm Greige Cabinets and Fluted Island
A Japandi-style kitchen is one that feels calm and warm and is designed with minimal decor. The greige cabinets shown are soft and pair well with the stone backsplash that adds natural texture, and work well with the natural look of the fluted white oak wood on the island. White quartz countertops are used to lighten the palette and provide extra warmth.
Tips: For a similar greige tone, consider using BM Pale Oak (OC-20) or SW Drift of Mist (9166), which both look good with natural wood.
Charcoal & Brass Glow Kitchen with Dramatic Veined Stone
This dramatic makeover goes for a moody feel by using deep charcoal cabinetry that feels rich and tailored. They are combined with warm brass hardware, a faucet, and a sculptural chandelier over the island that brings a soft glow. The veined stone backsplash and counters look stunning against the black backdrop and add a designer touch, especially with the under-cabinet lighting that makes everything look expensive at night.
Tips: Pick a soft charcoal shade, not a black, so it still has depth. Paint picks to try are SW Iron Ore (7069) or BM Wrought Iron (2124-10) in satin finish. To counteract the dark cupboards, keep the ceiling light.
Polished Industrial Kitchen with Concrete-Look Cabinets and Steel-Frame Glass
This one feels like a loft kitchen, with its industrial tones and concrete-look cabinetry, steel-frame glass uppers, and glass pendants. The bright quartz counters and backsplash pair well with the mixed metals, and you’ll find black, brass, and stainless working together without looking chaotic.
Tips: Go for a concrete, stone-look laminate or textured matte finish with flat slab doors. For the steel-frame glass, you’ll want to add just a couple of black grid glass doors, between 2 and 4, to get the industrial feel without overdoing it.
Modern Farmhouse Kitchen with Extended White Cabinetry
A modern farmhouse kitchen is inviting and charming, and this one uses white cabinetry with Shaker style and simple black hardware, with a wood band statement hood to make a warm impression. The backsplash features a light grey grouted vertical tile, and suspended above the island, there are two lantern pendants that bring character, but still give a modern and refined sense to the space.
Tips: For cabinetry like this, choose a warm white that doesn’t turn gray, like SW Alabaster (7008), or BM White Dove (OC-17). Keep your hardware in matte black and avoid adding overly rustic details like distressed wood so it doesn’t look too much like a country-style design.
Modern Kitchen with Soft Black Cabinets with Reeded Glass and Warm Brass
For a makeover that feels timeless, this design uses soft black cabinetry for the uppers with reeded glass doors that add texture and depth, and white lowers to help add balance. It uses brass hardware to further warm things up and light counters and backsplash to keep it bright. Interior LEDs inside the glass doors add a subtle cabinet illumination, making the glass fronts glow.
Tips: For a soft black paint that gives a touch of softness so it doesn’t look harsh, try BM Black Beauty (2128-10) or SW Tricorn Black (6258) in satin finish. Choose a few of the uppers to have reeded glass and add interior LED strips if you want the glow.
Elegant Kitchen with Extended Warm Beige Cabinetry with Champagne Bronze Finishes
This kitchen features beige-taupe cabinetry, with slab quartz counters, and champagne bronze hardware that looks softer than gold. A stone-look porcelain backsplash gives it an upscale, hotel-kitchen finish that matches the cupboards. The island has a built-in sink with the same muted bronze finish that looks rich under the two hanging drum pendant lights.
Tips: Go for a warm beige/greige that stays creamy and avoid looking not pink, by using BM Pale Oak (OC-20) or SW Natural Linen (9109) in a satin finish.
Contemporary Glam Kitchen with Sculptural Pendants
This kitchen creation is geared toward those who love the look of a glam design and want tall cabinetry and statement pendant lights that act like jewelry. There is a hidden perimeter glow from cove lighting along the ceiling line, under-cabinet strips, and toe-kick lights that make the whole kitchen feel like a stylish evening reveal.
Tips: For a soft, warm, greige or champagne paint that looks luxe, try SW Drift of Mist (9166) or BM Balboa Mist (OC-27).
Cream & Copper Warmth with a Big Statement Dome Pendant
This kitchen makeover creates a sunlit, welcoming environment by introducing creamy cabinets, warm copper hardware accents, and an impressive oversized copper pendant that instantly makes the room feel styled and attractive. The backsplash is a light beige stacked subway tile that is soft and earthy, so the warm copper metals stand out and make an impression.
Tips: Use a creamy off-white paint like SW Alabaster (7008) or BM Swiss Coffee (OC-45). For the copper accents to work best, repeat them 2 to 3 times, for instance, on a pendant, faucet, and pulls, but not everywhere. If copper feels too orange in your lighting, swap one element to champagne bronze for a softer feel.
Walnut & Cream Two-Tone Kitchen with Marble Slab Surfaces
Going for a high-end two-tone design, this kitchen features rich walnut veneer uppers and creamy white lowers for an alluring contrast. The countertops and backsplash both feature a bold marble-look stone with varied gray veining that adds contrast. A modern globe glass cluster pendant offers warm lighting from above the island, and paired with recessed lights, makes the wood look deep and expensive.
Tips: Go medium-to-dark walnut for the uppers in a matte/low sheen and avoid using red or orange stains. Keep the darker color up top only if the room has good light. When choosing stone surfaces like the one shown here, you’ll find that large veining looks best with walnut, and those with small, busy patterns fight the wood grain and should be avoided.
Tailored Gray Shaker Kitchen with Polished Nickel Hardware
This kitchen uses a timeless soft gray tone for its tall cabinetry, but adds that custom-built vibe with ceiling-height Shakers with a layered crown molding that’s backlit by LEDs. The design is paired with hardware pulls, faucet, and pendants in a cool polished-nickel finish that looks stylish with the gray. The gray cabinets feel refined against bright white quartz, white tile backsplash, and subtle perimeter lighting, which helps make everything look more expensive.
Tips: When selecting a light gray, go with one that has a calm undertone like BM Gray Owl (OC-52) or SW Repose Gray (7015). Stick with polished nickel pulls/knobs to maintain an elevated luxury look.
Soft Sage Statement Kitchen with Warm Wood Accents
If you want a fresh and inviting appearance, it’s hard to beat the look of sage cabinets paired with a white island. This modern update has warmth, and the sage cabinets go all the way up, so the room looks taller and you benefit from extra storage potential. The room’s hardware uses an attractive brass, and goes well with the wood stools and decor that keeps the green from feeling overpowering. The white tile backsplash and bright counters are doing a lot to tone down the green and add needed contrast.
Tips: Go muted, and not minty for your green paint by trying a paint pick like SW Evergreen Fog (9130) for a soft gray-green, or BM Saybrook Sage (HC-114) for a warmer, classic sage. If you have a darker or cooler room like one that is North facing, avoid greens with an undertone that turns gray-blue, sample in your room to tell first.
Ivory New Traditional Kitchen with Lit Display Uppers
This updated kitchen features some interesting updates by adding ceiling-height cabinets with a decorative crown build-out, and lighted display uppers that make the space look custom-designed. The color palette basically stays a soft ivory, with some added greenery, but the addition of warm light through hidden LEDs and glass lantern pendants transforms the overall appearance.
Tips: The custom addon is to install stacked top cabinets or glass front display boxes at the ceiling with interior lighting inside. Keep the lighting temperature warm at about 2700K to make the ivory tones look rich instead of beige/yellow.
Bold Navy Kitchen Cabinets with Bright Quartz and Brass Finishes
For those who crave a bold kitchen that manages to avoid feeling heavy, using deep navy cabinets that span up to the ceiling creates drama and a luxe ambiance. It manages not to look too dark by pairing the navy shade with a white island and other elements like a light hex backsplash tile and quartz countertop to keep it bright and modern. Other bright elements, such as the oversized pendants and warm brass hardware, give it a high-contrast, editorial style that homeowners love.
Tips: Use a deep navy shade that doesn’t turn purple as an undertone. For this, try BM Hale Navy (HC-154) or SW Naval (6244). Go with a satin finish that helps it look current and wipe up splashes much easier than matte, which can show marks.
All-White Kitchen with a Fluted Island and Soft Glow Lighting
This makeover delivers a refreshing all-white theme to keep the kitchen crisp and airy, while adding designer touches through the fluted island base, taller cabinetry, and warm globe and under-cabinet lighting. The fluted base and linear tile backsplash add subtle texture and character, so the clean white surfaces feel elevated instead of plain. Hardware finishes in polished nickel and under counter and cabinet lighting add drama and visual interest to the design to make it stand out.
Tips: Paint the cupboards in a soft white, so its not stark by using BM White Dove (OC-17) or SW Alabaster (SW 7008) in a durable satin finish.
Modern Cottage Kitchen with Green Cabinets and Arched Hood Feature
This kitchen offers a big transformation from before to after with a new cottage vibe. This pairing of rich green cabinetry to the ceiling, combined with warm brass hardware finishes, pendants, faucet, and an arched hood detail, feels custom and designer. The green tone of the cupboards goes perfectly with the creamy stone quartz countertops and classic white subway tile backsplash to give a cozy vibe you’ll love to be in.
Tips: To get that moody olive/heritage green for your own cabinets, try a paint color like BM Saybrook Sage (HC-114) for a classic olive-leaning choice, or SW Evergreen Fog (SW 9130) for a more modern muted green.
Designer Tips For Adding Cabinets to Your Ceiling
| Designer Tip | What to Do | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Make the top look built-in | Use a taller crown build-up stacked molding, or a clean scribe/trim reveal for modern slab cabinets and take it all the way to the ceiling. | A deliberate finish line looks more custom. |
| Choose full-height or stacked uppers | Pick either one tall door or use stacked uppers such as a main door & smaller top door). You can use glass on the top row to lighten the appearance. | Stacked uppers look more designer on larger 9 to 10 ft ceilings. |
| Keep top lines consistent | Ensure your cabinet tops are level across the kitchen. Use scribe/trim to absorb ceiling waves and make sure transitions around corners and tall cabinets are aligned. | Avoid any uneven tops that can draw attention. |
| Design the hood wall as one composition | If you have a hood, plan cabinet heights and trim so the hood area feels like the star. | The hood wall is the focal point. |
| Go taller with the backsplash | For the most “built-in” look, take tile to the ceiling on open walls like around the hood or sink. | Full-height finishes enhance vertical lines. |
| Use lighting so taller uppers don’t feel dark | Add under-cabinet LED lighting and add extra recessed lights if the uppers get taller and block ambient light. | Ceiling-height cabinets can reduce bounced light, so layer your lighting to keep it bright. |
| Plan storage for the top section | Use top cabinets for rarely used items like platters, or seasonal pieces. | This helps limit the need for a step-stool routine. |
| Use color to control visual weight | In small kitchens, keep your uppers lighter or match the wall color. | Extra height can feel heavy if not careful. |
| Add texture if everything is white | Use wavy or handmade-look tile, reeded glass, fluted panels to add depth. | Tall white cabinetry can look flat, but texture adds another design layer. |
| Avoid the most common mistakes | Skip tiny filler strips, undersized crown, and ignoring wavy ceilings. Don’t stop short with a random gap. | Most ‘off’ kitchens aren’t about materials; they have unfinished-looking transitions. |
| Reliable “Pinterest-ready” formula | Warm white ceiling-height shaker cabinets and a crown build-up help counter the light blocking effects. | It photographs well, looks current, and works across different home styles. |
