Question:
I'm about to start putting the crown molding on our kitchen cabinets.
The face frame of the cabinet extends 1/4" past each side, as on most
cabinets. This creates a question on how to handle this.
What is the general practice for the side pieces of the crown molding?
Should the molding be notched to allow the 1/4" of the face frame? Should
the face frame be cut away to allow the crown molding?
I know that I can easily add 1/4" of material behind the side molding pieces
to bring it to a straight shot, but I have never seen that done, so it seems
I'm missing the best way!
Answer:
I have put up crown about all of the different ways that it would be done,
but the best is to add 1/4 inch X 3/4 inch scribe molding that is finished
all the way around or cut some finished filler strips 1/4 + or - X 3/4
inches wide with the finished 1/4 edge down and even with the crown mold at
the top of the cabinet to "pad " the edge flush with the end of the face
frame, If the scribe molding is rounded on the edge, turn it backwards and
then even with the crown, that way the crown and the 1/4 inch scribe will no
have a slight gap where they come together. The scribe with the slight
radius against the end of the cabinet will not show that much.
Now putting crown molding up to a soffit is a color of a different horse,
but have done it. What is fun when you use crown with dental molding between
the face of the cabinets and the soffit.
When I remodeled my kitchen, the old cabinet face frames were notched to
make way for the molding.
The easiest way is to add a 1/4" thick by 3/4" wide stripe to the sides to
bring them out flush with the face frame. Stained it the same and it will
look very professional. Better than cutting pieces away.
Most - not all - people who do trim work will notch the face frame. One week
after you do the work; you will not even think about how it was done or even
notice how it was done.
