Im knocking down a wall between my kitchen and dining room. The ceiling height in the kitchen is 96" and the dining room ceiling is 101". I had thought that we could just sheet rock the difference and finish of the edges and that would be that. Then we would have a finished look and I would be able to see the whole end of the upper cabinets.

The contractor said it would look horrible. He suggested to things.

Rip out the ceiling in the dinning room and fur out the difference and make both ceilings even. Or put a bump out of about 10" between the rooms so you wont see the difference in ceiling heights.

The first method would cost me about $800 extra and I would lose 5" of ceiling height in the dinning room. The second method would cover 10" of my end cabinets with wall and and the pendant lights hanging over the peninsula could not be centerd over the peninsula becuase of the bump out.

Am I wrong thinking it would look fine just to have 2 ceilings of different heights just finished with sheet rock on the ends. Basically the edge would look like an L. Is this that architecturally disgusting.

Any feedback or questions would be greatly appreciated.

 

I'm not sure I understand the 'bump out' idea but IMO furring down the high ceiling would be a good way to go. I doubt you'd notice the loss of 5" especially since 8' is normal ceiling height on most homes.

Not sure how it would look with your style of home but you could install a fake beam at the transition. You'd still be able to see the height difference but you'd have to look close to see it.

 

Thanks for the reply. A bump out would be like you said a beam or what not 10" seperating the two rooms as not to notice the different heights.

I guess my question would be why do you have to put anything between the two rooms as to disguise the difference in ceiling heights?

Since the cabinets and the pendant lighting will break up the rooms would it look that bad if you can see the difference between room ceiling heights.

 

Here is a photo looking from the dinning room to the kitchen.

 

I've done that a lot in the past. I just put a piece of corner bead along the lower ceiling. If you do it nice and straight it looks fine. Sounds like contractor is trying to get some more money out of you.

 

You will notice a difference of 5 inches for sure. My ceilings are 102" and they make the rooms feel a lot taller than 96" ceilings.

I think the idea you refer to as "a bump out" isn't too bad. You wouldn't lose 10" on the kitchen side, only 5". I don't think I would go 10", maybe 7". At that dimension, it extends past the kitchen ceiling just enough to look like there is a beam there. I think having it the way you suggest would make me say "what's wrong with your ceiling?".

So, what exactly is wrong with your kitchen ceiling that it is so much lower than your dining room?

 

The bathroom is above the kitchen and some pipes pertrude past the joists.

If its done correctly and is nice and level and mudded correctly I was thinking it would look pretty good.

Ive looked at many pictures of this method online and it looks pretty good.

When the wall is gone you would see both end cabinets with the knick knack ends and the crown mouldings without anything obscuring them. Also two pendant lights will hang from the center above the granite top peninsula.

I just dont see any other way of doing it.