Why are there faux walls above my cabinets?

[ear3]

I have a long list of projects to carry out on my slow moving home renovation (bathroom and master bedroom are done at least), and am strategizing for what comes next.  I've considered doing the kitchen, but this may be too much right now to fit in evenings and weekends, so it may have to wait until summer.  But I preemptively wanted to ask a question that has always bugged me, which has to do with how the cabinets are built, and whether I can rebuild them on a larger scale.

As you can see in the pictures, a faux wall (I'm sure there's a technical term, but I don't know it) has been dropped from the ceiling to meet the top of the cabinets.  Maybe this was the aesthetic when the house was built in late 30s, but from my perspective, it's kind of ugly in how they cut off the top corners of the window trim with that arch.  And why not use that extra space for a taller cabinet?

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Might it be serving a functional purpose, hiding pipes or conduit?  The thing is, it doesn't go wall to wall, so it doesn't seem like it would be a place where a line is running through.  Ideally I would rip them out along with that outcropping and rebuild cabinets that go all the way to the ceiling.

I'll find out one way or another when I start ripping some of it back, but I'm just wondering if anyone has experience with this type of set-up.

 

[Alan m]

15 years ago my moth got something similar done to our kitchen . she did it to stop my father throwing crap up there. ours is a bit more in keeping than yours.

that arch really takes away fro m the window.

it is unlikely there is any thing behind it . but even if there is it probably will be easy enough to move . unless its a sewer line etc

 

[bigjonh]

Bulkheads or soffits, sometimes are hiding plumbing or duct work.  Often they are just there to cap your standard 30" upper cabinet.

 

[nclemmons]

I removed the soffits in a kitchen remodel I did years ago to make the cabinets go all the way to the ceiling.  It was a one story home and found out upon tearing out the soffit that the sink vent pipe angled into the soffit to clear the edge of the roof with more space.  So be mindful of that.  I ended up building a box around the pipe inside a cutout in the cabinet and was glad to have the extra space for storage with taller cabinets.

I think your kitchen would look a LOT better with taller cabinets, but it might take some workarounds above the window. 

neil

 

[pettyconstruction]

Cut a hole, and take a look.
If it's full of stuff,patch the hole and move on.
It's unlikely that there is anything up there from the pics.

 

[papasmurff]

typical furr downs. sometimes electricians would use these to run wires but in all new remodels these are removed. most anything that you may find can be moved or just put a false top in your cabinet where you can't move and raise cabinets to the ceiling minus your crown mold space

 

[Brent Taylor]

Most of the time we installed them because people don't want the dust to lay on top of the cabinets & they didn't want to pay for 42" uppers ( or they were not speced).

 

[ear3]

Cut a hole, and take a look.
If it's full of stuff,patch the hole and move on.
It's unlikely that there is anything up there from the pics.

Will do, thanks for the advice.  And thanks for all the other comments as well from everyone else.

 

[wow]

Cut a hole, and take a look.
If it's full of stuff,patch the hole and move on.
It's unlikely that there is anything up there from the pics.

This^^^^

If you have (or have access to) a borescope camera you don't even have to cut a hole, you can just drill one (or two or three).

 

[ear3]

Looks like my Milwaukee tool kit will have to get a little bit bigger:

http://www.milwaukeetool.com/instruments/inspection-and-detection/2313-21

Cut a hole, and take a look.
If it's full of stuff,patch the hole and move on.
It's unlikely that there is anything up there from the pics.

This^^^^

If you have (or have access to) a borescope camera you don't even have to cut a hole, you can just drill one (or two or three).

 

[pettyconstruction]

A bit more high tech than what I was thinking,but a great excuse for a new tool purchase. Btw, I just saw a car show where the dude used one of those( snap on) to check the numbers on a block. Ie number match car.

 

[wow]

Looks like my Milwaukee tool kit will have to get a little bit bigger:

http://www.milwaukeetool.com/instruments/inspection-and-detection/2313-21

Cut a hole, and take a look.
If it's full of stuff,patch the hole and move on.
It's unlikely that there is anything up there from the pics.

This^^^^

If you have (or have access to) a borescope camera you don't even have to cut a hole, you can just drill one (or two or three).

I think that's the exact model that I have. It lives in one of the drawers in my rolling tool cabinet in the shop, but I have it on a list to go in a Systainer. I keep going back and forth on that.