How to Install Double Crown Molding on Kitchen Cabinets
Homeowners and contractors ask us this all the time, so here’s how we do it on our jobs.
What is double crown?
Double crown is a two-piece way to close the space between the top of your wall cabinets and the ceiling. A furniture base (it looks like a baseboard) goes on the cabinets, and crown molding comes down from the ceiling and overlaps it. The result is a closed, built-to-the-ceiling look with no gap on top and no shelf for dust.
When should you use it?
- When the ceiling isn’t straight or level. This is the main reason.
- When the ceiling is a little under 8 feet (95″, for example). 42″ cabinets can still go in with a slightly shorter gap above the counter (about 17″ instead of the usual 18″), but some tall countertop appliances may not fit underneath. 36″ cabinets with single crown would leave a gap.
- When you want the custom, built-in look without paying for custom cabinets.
How to install it (3 steps)
- Lay a 2×4 flat on top of the wall cabinets, flush with the cabinet front.
- Install the furniture base across the front, upside down, with the curved edge at the bottom. Set it 1/8 to 1/16″ below the top of the cabinet so it hides the seam between the cabinet and the 2×4.
- Fix the crown molding to the ceiling. Let it come down and overlap the front of the furniture base.
Example with real measurements
You have a 36″ wall cabinet with 6″ of space to the ceiling:
- The furniture base is 4½” tall. It starts 1/8″ below the cabinet top, which leaves about 1⅝” between the top of the base and the ceiling.
- A 5″ cove crown installs about 3⅝” tall (it sits at roughly 45°), so it overlaps the top 2″ or so of the base.
Why this works on uneven ceilings: the crown is attached to the ceiling, not the cabinet. Where the ceiling dips or rises, the crown just covers a little more or less of the base, so the difference doesn’t show.
The detail that makes it look custom
The furniture base is ¾” thick, and so are the cabinet doors. That puts the face of the base almost in line with the face of the doors. The doors sit out just a hair on their rubber bumpers, and the door tops are about ½” below the cabinet top, so there’s a small gap between the base and the doors. With the faces lined up, the top reads as part of the cabinet instead of something added on.
Questions we get
What’s the difference between single crown and double crown?
Single crown is one piece of crown molding attached to the top of the cabinets. It usually leaves a gap to the ceiling; how much depends on the crown (about 2⅜” with a 5″ cove on a 6″ space). Double crown adds a furniture base on the cabinets and fixes the crown to the ceiling, so it closes all the way and hides an uneven ceiling.
What’s the best way to install double crown on kitchen cabinets?
A 2×4 laid flat on the cabinets, flush with the front. A furniture base installed upside down, 1/8 to 1/16″ below the cabinet top. Crown fixed to the ceiling, overlapping the base. See the steps above.
Should the crown be attached to the cabinets or to the ceiling?
For double crown, attach it to the ceiling. That’s what lets it follow an uneven ceiling while the base stays straight along the cabinets.
Why install the furniture base upside down?
With the curved edge at the bottom, it finishes the cabinet top edge and hides the seam with the 2×4. The flat part faces up, where the crown overlaps it.
How much space above the cabinets do I need for double crown?
It works well with about 6″ above 36″ wall cabinets, which is typical for an 8-foot Chicago ceiling. We can check your exact space when we measure.
My ceiling is 7’11½” (about 95″). Can I use 42″ cabinets?
You can. With a 17 to 17½” gap above the counter instead of the usual 18″, 42″ cabinets fit, and we’ve seen it done. The trade-off is that some tall countertop appliances, like larger stand mixers (around 17½”), may not fit underneath. We don’t recommend 42″ cabinets when the ceiling is under 95″, and if your ceiling isn’t level, 36″ with double crown usually looks better. It’s your kitchen, so it’s your call.
Is double crown more expensive?
Yes, a bit. You’re adding furniture base pieces on top of the crown. Each piece is 8 feet long, so a typical kitchen needs only a few, and it usually adds a couple hundred dollars. We’ll give you the exact number in your quote.
Do you sell the furniture base and crown to match my cabinets?
Yes. Every cabinet line we carry has a matching furniture base and matching crown molding, in the same color and finish as your cabinets.
How much furniture base and crown do I need?
Both come in 8-foot (96″) pieces. Measure the length of the wall-cabinet run, then add:
- Crown molding: about 12″ for each corner. Crown is cut at 45°, so every corner uses up extra length.
- Furniture base: almost nothing, maybe 1 to 2″ per run. It’s cut straight, so there’s practically no waste.
Example: a larger kitchen might take 3 pieces of furniture base and 4 pieces of crown. We count it for you in the quote.
Ready to finish your cabinets to the ceiling?
Contractors: get trade pricing on cabinets and matching moldings.
Homeowners: book a measurement and we’ll tell you which top finish fits your ceiling.
