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[Katcat1]

I had my kitchen cabinets to the ceiling in my townhome (no longer own) and I never had problems with dust or grease.  I believe the use of appliance fans helps that problem.   I liked the to the ceiling cabinets as I stored hardly ever used item up there.

[Peaches McPhee]

I agree about this.  I think ALOT of kitchens look great in a photo, or just after you cleaned it up, but not day-to-day.  Where is the coffee maker, the toaster, the bread, the fruit?  All the normal stuff that is in a kitchen.  This is why I don't like open kitchens.  

[Katcat1]

When I lived in an apt. there were not many cabinets so I bought a Metro cart. I stored my dishes on the top shelf, and the I realy don't remember what else.  But, what I did was wash the dish(es) before using incase they were dusty.

[jeanlake]

I like my cabinets to the ceiling. I store cookbooks, straw baskets, seldom used kitchen gadgets and appliances up there. Plus, I don't like a lot of stuff sitting on top of cabinets.   

[Sooner]

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@depglass wrote:

One nice thing about deorating the top of the kitchen cabinets, you can't SEE the dust and grease.  So cleaning weekly?  You are kidding.  I only have a real problem above the stove as my kitchen fan doesn't suck in the vaporized fat floating around.  Do any of them really work that well?  This reminds me that spring cleaning is upon me.  

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@depglass Good question!  Do ANY of those exhaust fans really work?  We have had 2 pop-ups, one an expensive one, and it pulled the flame sideways, and I am thinking of replacing the current one with a re-circulating hood vent.

The way our house is built, we can't vent to the outside.  And there is a pretty long run to the outside for the downdraft.  

So do any of you have comments on that issue?  Thanks if so!  We don't have a grease problem really because we don't fry, but smells accumulate sometimes. 

[Carmie]

I prefer kitchen cabinets that go up to the ceiling.  They are usually custom made cabinets.

Cabinets floating on the walls with space above them are stock cabinets.  When I see very expensive homes with these cabinets, I am always disappointed. Someone cut corners to save money.

I do not like open shelves either.  I would have to rewash my dishes if they were stored on open shelves.  My house is dusty.

I do have some cabinet door with glass fronts.  I keep pretty dishes that I don't use every day in there so they don't get sloppy looking.

I agree with @stevieb  that pipes are often behind soffits and they can't be removed, especially if there is a bath above the kitchen area.

[Sooner]

We had soffits removed in our old house and it made a big difference.  I don't like cabinets to the ceiling because to me it makes them too tall and it's claustrophobic

I really prefer a little air above them.  This house has taller ceilings but there's still an area above the cabinets.   So I guess part depends on how tall your kitchen ceilings are what will look best or be overwhelming (at least to me). 

[Icegoddess]

My cabinets are to the ceiling except the ones in the walkway between the kitchen and dining room.   I'm glad because we get a lot of dust in our house for whatever reason.  Even the top cabinet in my closet which I can't even reach areas of standing on a step-stool get covered in dust.  I don't feel the need to decorate over my cabinets and I prefer the exta in-cabinet storage space.

As far as hoods and fans go, I have an older Jenn-aire with the downdraft vents and I can say those don't work worth a darn.  I dream of getting one of those industrial type fans in my kitchen, but I would also have to give up some cabinet storage space to do it, not to speak of the cost.  

[Nonametoday]

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@stevieb wrote:

Well actually, soffits often can't be easily removed because they house pipes, ducts or other things... If one is able to and chooses to rerun pipes, ducts etc., sure they can be eliminated, but for some folks, like me, it's not worth it... If they serve no purpose then for sure, have at it and tear them out if you choose...

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@stevieb 

Exactly and now they are disguising that with slanted ceilings, those bedrooms with the soffit in the decorative designs.  They are there and the covers cannot be removed.  Otherwise, you are totally industrial.  It's also known as a bulkhead to cover pipes and various essentials.  It can house snakes, however, as they can come in from the attic and speaking of attic, that too can house pesky animals and reptiles.  

[Drythe]

I think a lot depends on the ceiling height.  My ceilings are over 9 feet, so cabinets to the ceiling would be useless, as I couldn't reach anything even with a 3 step stool.

In my home, anything that can be stored that far out of reach

can be eliminated.