[emge]

Nah, I'm talking tiny details here, just a four-inch space or so.

It's the difference between the cabinet above the stove and the rest of the cabinets. They offset it probably for visual interest and to define parts of the kitchens,and so they could stick a wine rack in there and perhaps showcase that it could be "display space"

The problem is, you can see the cheap 'eh, we didn't bother to put the same veneer on this' panel of white laminated MDF on that four inches - something that higher-end homebuyers would notice.

Another thing that's often done these days is that a second set of upper cabinets, either regular-size or horizontal ones (which yes, one would need a stepstool to reach) are placed above the regular cabinets. This open-floor-plan one-side kitchen doesn't lend itself too well to that concept, but the ceiling height would certainly accomodate them.

Again, though, a minor detail, but in this price range it can be about minor details, and if I was buying a $350k place, I wouldn't want to see particleboard showcased in the kitchen.