We would like to add stacked cabinets on top of our existing frameless cabinets, but the cabinet maker I'm working with says they would look like an after thought because it would be very difficult to get the trim/side panels lined up properly. There is no way to put continuous trim panels up without disassembling the entire kitchen and we don't want to do that. All of the cabinets will be painted. Any suggestions?

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Take the crown off, put a break molding on, add stacked cabinets, put crown back on.

The break molding can be something as simple as a piece of 3/4" flat stock with something routered into the edge. This allows a separate panel for the top cabinets as the panel is separated by the break mold.

Thank you, JM!

"they would look like an after thought"

Pretty certain he can't see it from his house :=)

Lots of ways to minimize the joint appearance, simplest is a piece of trim at the panels and just a reveal at the doors.

It will visually blend in with paint and allow movement without a future crack.

Thank you, Alan. Now he says it would be difficult to get the doors lined up. Not sure what means by that. Do you?

It means he doesn't want to do the job. I'd start looking for someone else.

Visually you want the vertical lines of the doors to math and the horizontal lines between doors to be the same size. There may have been some site conditions that would make that difficult.

If that's the case then JM's solution of a horizontal piece of trim would break up the alignment and it wouldn't be visually apparent.

A-

Jim, I don't think he doesn't want the job because he's already agreed to remodel a portion of the island with new cabinets/custom doors to match the existing doors in the kitchen and is planning to add new crown and light rail. Alan, I think you're right. The trim piece should work. I'm going to meet with another company tomorrow to get another opinion. Thanks, guys!

I'd worry most about the color and glaze matching. I'd also think it will look odd around the windows and since there is a staggered seam over there, even worse.

I think this homeowner should be posting on Home Advisor or Angie's List...

The windows would look odd stuck back between the cabinets.
At the oven corner it looks as if the cabinet would stick out past the soffit. This would look like a mistake unless you redid the soffit.
Also the continuous cabinet set back at the microwave. Up to the ceiling, would look out of place.

Rich, we are having all the cabinets painted. Not sure what you mean by a staggered seam, but if you are referring to the one staggered cabinet, we plan to lower it by removing the 12" box below it. Duster, I came here because I was looking for expert advice. Not sure I'd get better advice anywhere else.

Eddie, I appreciate that observation. I would like to get the crown above that window. Would a 10" trim piece topped with the crown look okay or am I stuck with a measly 2" crown?

How about like this instead of stacked cabinets?

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Here is an example of what your cabinets might look like painted with a parting bead between upper section & lower.

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Your cabinets are framed full overlay, so if you go the moulding route, you'll be putiing the proposed added trim in between, not face mounted per photo of inset kitchen. While the trim idea seems most logical, I'd keep it simple -- 3/4 x 1-1/2 with eased edges (similar to end panel of center cabinet, now higher and deeper than flanking cabinets). "A" question ... you said you'll be removing the 12" high cabinet below it and lowering that cabinet. What about end panels and depth of that unit? Maybe I missed that.