On Sat, 15 Dec 2007 05:36:22 -0800 (PST), Mikepier
wrote:

This is going to be kind of hard to describe so bear with me. I'll
try
to post pics later.
I recently renovated my kitchen and I started to install the crown
molding on top of the cabinets.One
wall has wall cabinets and the last cabinet is a 45 degree cabinet
that ends with the wall . Past this wall is my DR and LR.
Here is the problem. the last 45 degree cabinet ends about 1" away
from the end of the wall. When I put up the crown, it sticks out
past
the wall. It looks good if standing in front of it in the DR, but
when
you look at it from the LR on the other side, all you see is this
piece of crown sticking out past the wall and it looks ugly. I
thought
about putting a return, but it would not look right on top of the
cabinet. I would basically have to cut the top molding about 3"
shorter then do a return and it would not look good. The only way it
looks good if I cut the end of the molding straight ( no 45 at the
wall). The molding does not stick out past the wall if I do this.
Obviously does not look as good as a return or a 45 , but this looks
like my only choice.
Anyone ever run into this before and how you dealt with it?

Kind of tough without pics, but a few ideas:

Instead of a normal 90 degree return, how about a 45 degree return
that would die into the wall flush with the side wall (or 1/4 back)
This would require a compound miter. The return piece would be
triangle shaped. A variation of this would be to build a decorative
corner block with one 90 side for the crown to die into, and one 45
side to parallel the wall.

Or, carry the crown 6 or 12 inches around the corner and do a normal
return into the wall. To make this look right, you will have to build
out the top front edge of the 45 cabinet with a flat piece so it ends
up flush with the corner. Then the crown can continue around the
corner without a notch in it. Of course, this will mean recutting the
piece before the 45 since it will have to run longer to line up with
the extended cabinet front.

Or, return the crown at the end of the straight row of cabinets and
use a flat molding (or dentil) to trim the 45. The flat piece would
die into the return on the one end and the wall on the other end. I
think this might end up looking best, especially if there is another
area (perhaps over sink or hood) where you can echo the treatment so
it looks like a design element.

HTH,

Paul F.