Well, I'm of the opinion that it's totally OK to use good quality artificial greenery . . . if it's used in a setting where that plant could actually grow. Obviously, it would be extremely difficult to grow real plants in a tipped sideways basket, though (LOL). That said, I always think that your above cabinet spaces should reflect you and your interests and/or continue the look of the room. I do think that a few larger items grouped together look better than a lot of little things lined up "like ducks in a row". It's a great space to showcase your collections, if they'll work with the rest of your kitchen decor. My own home here in New Mexico is a Contemporary Hacienda style home, with Spanish Colonial and Southwestern art, furniture and accessories. Bright Talavera-type pottery and santos (statues of saints and angels) are two of the things I like and collect and so I've used these types of things above my own cabs. BTW, I also have built-in lighting up there so that this area is lit in the evenings. But . . . my laundry room is out of the public eye and I've turned it into my little refuge filled with childhood memories from our summerhouse on Lake St.Clair outside Windsor. If my home and kitchen were of a different style, I would have used them in my kitchen instead. Above the cabs in my laundry room, I've got my inherited collection of Cottageware pieces displayed. Many are too small to look good sitting on their own above any cab, so I've put the smaller ones up on old cake pedestals, a cottage-y shelf and even a rustic doll chair. It's my solution of how lift up and showcase my smaller pieces. As you can see, I also like propping framed art up above my cabs. This wonderful retro-looking clothespin bag, like the one my mom used, hangs on another short wall and continues the cottage look. That and other chilhood memorabilia helps my Cottageware work in this room: Anyhoo, you can take any of these ideas here on this thread and apply them to fit you and your kitchen; your interests and/or your collections. Don't forget to get back to us and show us the final results! Lynn

Don't paint a vine with flowers on them. That will suck value from any resale you want to do. DH just had to pay to get his ex wife's taste in murals removed so the house would sell. Do you have a photo of your soffits? We have something similar. We put crown molding up there and it looks very elegant.

Dear Kiwi13, You have an architectural floor plan. Contact the architect or builder (if this was a spec home) and ask them which direction the ceiling framing runs in the Family Room and Living Room. In most cases the first floor ceiling framing will be run in the direction of the shortest span. In English your first floor ceiling framing probably runs from front to the back of your home.Meaning you should be able to remove either wall once you confirm the ceiling framing direction. If you are like the majority of home owners and not going to keep a formal living room, because you just never use it. You may want to consider reconfiguring that whole area of your new home. So you can get the family room and kitchen you truly want and expect, and that new, different, easier, better life you hope this new home will deliver for you. Tons of possibilities if you reconfigure the family room, kitchen/breakfast room, and living room area, you may not want to take out a wall as much as move one. Keep a family room and kitchen which you want. And add an informal dining room (breakfast area is a little tight), office, study, library whatever you need? The kitchen you have now I believe is just too small for the size of this home and awkward. Like it doesn't belong to this home. I can’t imagine that the realtors wouldn’t help you answer this simple question, especially if this is all it will take to sell this home. Hope this has been helpful. Joe Brandao Kitchen Design Company

"No one has mentioned so far that the dust that shows up above kitchen cabinets is GREASY dust. Super yucky, and hard to get off." Gas stoves are the worst for this...but my experience was it only appeared directly above the stove. For sure the type of hood/ventilation one has would make a huge difference. I just packed #1DDs kitchen for a move to a new home. The open shelving above the stove top was GROSS along with everything on it. No where else. My crystal, described earlier in this thread, was never greasy. Here in our 'forever' home I have a soffit that holds a set of God Bless America plates. They get cleaned once a year and the only ones with any grease are directly above the electric stove top, and it's not a big deal. Dawn soap is your friend!!