How about some nice cookie jars or pretty mugs?

I would put my collection of pretty china tea pots, tea cups and saucers. Something just for display because it is difficult to get to all the time.

PIcture 3 looks good to me, especially if the contents of the jars are things you use in cooking.

The pretty mugs sound good, too.

JoAnn_Fla How would you display the mugs so they didn't look diminutive? I have a decent amount of off white mugs, but only a few of really pretty ones I do have 2 wide rooster/hen mugs that would probably look really good, but only 2. It's the figuring out how to display odd ball items that is the problem. Especially in different colours.

caflowerluver - I thought about my nice china, but thought the two styles would be quite clashy (fancy tea ware vs. very rustic country kitchen).

I think the last picture of the jars looks fine. Cookbooks on the bottom shelf and a few decorative item on the top sounds good too. The big white soup tureen would be nice on top. Do you have any matching pieces?

I love beautiful decorative spice containers and tins they would fit in nicely above the stove, or tea tins if you like teas. Google it for some nice options.

I'll go see if I can find the box I put my china in and see what you think.

ravencajun Zone 8b TX I'll try one with cookbooks too and post. I don't have anything else in the tureen set. That was my "I need a tureen and this is only $1, score" buy.

I'm on the short side so I keep the spices in a built in antique cabinet. I can't reach the stove cabinet without a chair unless it's large items right at the front of it. So everyday use items are not a good solution.

I'll be a while folks, have some digging to do. I appreciate everyone's feedback so far.

I like rustic/casual. I like your soup tureen, your dry goods and some cookbooks.....not ones that you use everyday. A colourful cast-iron pot.

I would put a rich, plain colored fabric at the back of each cabinet that coordinates with your kitchen then add a set of rarely used glassware either clear or colored to accent it all. Lovely, clean and uncomplicated.

I love part of the second picture! Yep, part of it. The lower right doesn't fit. No stacks on display! If you would stand a plate up in the back, and the mug in front, for display only!

My thought.

Moni

maggie200 The corner cabinet that is 36" long will have all the glassware.

OklaMoni - That picture is just to show height of the glass from the base. Those were stored away in a closed cupboard. I just grabbed them because they are close to the stove. That' not how I would have it all look.

Making dinner so I'll try to get some options after that. Have half the boxes pulled out from under the stairs and still didn't find the china, watch it be the last box I get to. LOL

Well, you have discovered the problem with glass front kitchen cabinets. They really don't provide storage since whatever you put in them needs to look decorative too. The canning jars look nice. I love the tureen and teapot, but they do get cut off by the frame around the glass.

sheilajoyce_gw and these particular ones have a wide frame too. I can't complain though. We got enough doors to do our entire kitchen and have leftovers for only $200. They are maple too. We did have to custom build all the upper boxes but that's fine. Putting glass above a stove wouldn't be my first choice, but when you consider 1 solid wood door is usually about $200, didn't do too badly. I can live with the dilemma for that price, just have to pull out everything I own that's not an everyday item.

Part of the problem with some of the stuff I already have is that it's dark and you can't even see it in the cabinet.

I'll be a squeaky wheel. If you were to put food products above the stove, you would be exposing them to higher temperatures than appropriate. It looks good, but it might not be practical.

When we had a similar situation as we were remodeling our kitchen, we had some cabinets with glass fronts. We elected to illuminate them. It was a touch light, 3 levels of wattage, it worked well. Above the stove might not work as well.

Wanna hide things? Cut out some really cool pictures or use family pix and mount them on the inside. Then you can put whatever is sorta not necessary on a regular basis on the shelves. Be aware, that no matter how good your exhaust system, some grease and stuff will get on the glass and you should be almost anal about cleaning.

Your cabinet is similar to one over my fridge. I have four vintage pieces, similar in shape and size, and all off-white. I think you should either add another white mass in the upper left, or move the large bowl down, and add something similar in shape/color as the teapot, on the top right side. You could use a book or piece of wood to raise the bowl on the bottom shelf, so that most of it can be seen.

I love the look of the dried goods in jars, but if you can't reach them without a hassle, function trumps form.

I would look for four lightweight square or rectangular boxes...either wicker or cloth...seagrass, or any other texture that appeals to you and would fit well in the spaces. You may find some that go with your colour scheme. Each "basket" could hold those things that usually end up in the "junk" drawer because you know if you toss it you will need it. One could be used for cookie cutters or items for the kitchen that you use occasionally. One for maybe seasonal and holiday linens, tablecloth, pot holders and hand towels. I'm sure everyone would have their own ideas what they could use a spot for storage. Another here that would not like to keep washing items that have been above the stove for a period of time especially those that are antique or have special meaning. They are very hard to wash with the film that gets on them, even if inside a cupboard. The baskets also would probably be light enough, if you are shorter, that it wouldn't be awkward to lift down from above your head even on a step stool.

I like the turern. Any like items? Copper molds?

I love glass-fronted cabinets, and have two of the taller double cabinets like that. Mine contain white dinnerware, vintage casseroles and yellowware, and stemware (red wine, white wine, and martinis).

Some good suggestions have been given above. I would go with the more decorative items. It's not the most accessible spot in the kitchen, so it would make sense to store attractive items that are used infrequently. If you have some glassware you don't use for everyday, that's a possibility.

I agree with Jim about not using that space to store food, but I hope you won't stick pictures on the glass. :-)

My screen decided to freeze as I was typing all the replies. Here I go again.....

jim_1 Central Illinois The plan is to eventually illuminate, we're just doing the kitchen in stages.

mama goose_gw zn6OH I'd love to have more off white, but for some reason I always seem to gravitate towards colours like green, red, yellow and brown. I only have a few pieces that are white or off white other than fancier dishes. I can reach the glass jars because they are bulky and wide but only if it were 1 row deep, but I already moved the jars back on the built in. I like them there way better. I think what throws me off is that it's not a solid glass. Your eye gets divided by the wood detailing in the middle.

threejs

I do like the idea of baskets, but we have quite a few basket spots already in the kitchen. I have all my cookie cutters and linens already stored in baskets in the built in cabinet and on the butcher block island. Surprisingly that cabinet doesn't get greasy. There's nothing on the inside and minimal on the glass. We don't fry much though, maybe that's why. We've had the cabinet up for about a year and I just had miscellaneous stuff in there but nothing had any grease on it.

Amazing Aunt Audrey No copper molds unfortunately.

I will post so picture options in a moment. Also just wanted to note that the backing is staying. I like it. The rest of the kitchen is fairly neutral with white plank ceiling and walls so I want something fun for a while. It was just a wall paper remnant from our bedroom so down the line I can easily change it when I get bored.

Wish I had some glass front cabinets. I would show off more of my Fiesta Ware!!

Ok, first off I got my most of my glassware in. I will play around with it somewhat, but I just wanted to get it in before the kids knocked it off the counter.

Here's the glass one. Shelves still need to be adjusted lower, but somehow we keep putting that off. I leave the hole drilling to the hubby.

This is an option with the tureen and some of my English pottery. I could do something like this until I see affordable whiteware. I would just paint the back solid when I get bored with the paper and want to take more than 5 minutes to do the back.

Or here is an option with china. I have a few more serving pieces but they weren't in the labeled box. I should have a gravy boat, a serving bowl, platter and some salt and pepper shakers.

kathyg_in_mi and I wish I had fiesta ware. LOL

Do the white cups and saucers have to stay with the cream/sugar and teapot? What I'm thinking is the other 2 pieces of white pottery along with your white teapot and the cream/sugar. Maybe the teapot and cream/sugar on the top shelves with the other 2 pieces on the bottom.

That might be the place to display a collection of coffee cups.

I wasn't going to add my 2 cents but changed my mind (a woman's prerogative). First, the tureen is lovely but IMO, proportionately too big. I love the tea pots, perfect in size. The white one is almost bordering on too big, but will do You could visit some thrift shops and pick up two more. That cabinet is just for show, not really practical for daily use, so just put something pretty in it.

So I left the china in last night to see what I thought this morning and I don't like it at all. It feels too formal for our casual space. I was considering selling it anyway since the only thing I ever use is the teapot. That is why it was boxed up. In looking at the pictures I also like the tureen on the bottom shelf and not the top. Anyone else think that? I'm not set on it, but I do like the idea of 4 large pieces rather than a bunch of small if I can make something work.

I do have some more of my vintage pieces that I may try today if I can squeeze in some time in the afternoon. My problem is that I don't have a lot of large pieces and I gravitate towards items that are very eclectic. I have a few antique bowls that I may try in there (one was pictured in 2nd photo) because I don't use those since they are about 150 years old. Currently they sit on the top shelf of my dry goods bookshelf, but they are stacked together. I'd love to be able to have them both show.

Thank you everyone for your advice so far. You've had some fabulous ideas. I may pull out some of my favorite pieces and take a picture, that would be probably easier for you to help me. This wouldn't be that difficult if I were to run out to the store and purchase all new, but I don't want to do that and spend money that I don't need to. Thank you for the feed back, it's helped to eliminate some of the ideas so far.

I agree--bulkier pieces on the bottom. I like the white teapot, but the smaller pieces get lost in the paper print. Your dark pieces are very nice, too, just too much contrast with the white pieces.

If I wanted to display mugs I guess I would get some matching colored plates to go behind them. or stack some matching bowls close by.

I'm too lazy to attempt the upkeep on glass fronts over a cooking surface. Maybe your hood has a more powerful exhaust than mine! Don't put anything up there that will be affected by heat, steam, grease.

Our kitchen glass-front cabinets are over a buffet. The shelves are glass, and the soft lights mounted in the top front interior illuminate the whole interior. I have family momentous there, a mix of large and small items: A brass dish, Grandma's brown teapot, a big seashell, some small framed family pictures, Great-Uncle's 'gold' pocket watch, my mother's childhood music box -- 'stuff'!

All our upper cabinets have soft under-cabinet lighting. I seldom use my ceiling lights at night -- just these and the lights over the sink and in the exhaust hood. I can see what I'm doing, and it looks 'cozy'.

I agree on all big pieces, I do like the white pieces best the larger ones. I like the mix of the white and pottery also. Not so much the small pieces . You might try the tureen and the other big white piece on the bottom and your big pottery piece and that big old whitish bowl you had in there in earlier pictures? Or that yellowish pitcher with the pottery. I love that big bowl by the way. My mother had one just like it but my sister snatched it up. Pretty platters or plates on a plate stand would look really good too if you have anything like that. I have a lot of those on my shelves.

My last fun idea that is purely decorative. If you have some cool, vintage toys that are special to you, they would be a source of fun conversation. Or vintage farm tools. Repurposing. Take your time. It is there. I am not in favor of wallpaper in the back of cabinets either. I do like finding 2 or 3 colors to coordinate in the kitchen. Towels, oven mitts, tablecloths, spatulas.......nice

Hey, just scrolled back to your latest posts. The wallpaper looks great the way you centered it into s medallion. I like your arrangements too. You are fabulous.

Maggie that's a great idea with the vintage toys. No toys here though. I had thought about my vintage kitchen items. I really wanted to put my old school cookie presses in there but couldn't figure out how to display them other than having to build something. I have milk glass vases but of course they are just a little too tall. I might end up taking the shelf out and putting in some of my larger items to see how they look. I haven't had a chance yet to sort through my stuff yet though, we've been busy all weekend.

As soon as I saw that there would be no cabinet doors that would fit over the stove except glass ones, I knew it would have to be a decorative only cabinet but just didn't have the inclination to figure out what I was going to put there. Also this is more for me, not for how it looks to other people. Other than family and the odd person, nobody sees my kitchen. I not really going for a magazine perfect look, but I do want it to look good to me and actually "feel" like me. I do get that most people wouldn't like that wallpaper, but I do like it. I like the retro vibe and the yellow of it. It's not a long term thing, but the cabinet was too dark and I didn't have the time or money right now for fabric or loads of work with paint. The wallpaper was free and just going in the garbage so it serves a purpose.

I have been playing with my kitchen for 30 years just changed out appliances as needed. It still looks great and my great pleasure is adding something I have. There is no money in the world that could make me renovate it again. I still walk into it with a smile. You figured your kitchen out for yourself really. I hope you love it for a long time.

Have you tried the two white tureens, the white tea pot and the cream colored bowl together with the bigger tureen on the bottom?

sheilajoyce_gw I did actually try that, but the bowl was the odd one out it's too off white. I just had my company leave so I'm going to dedicate a little time this afternoon to playing around with it. I was actually making custard today and had a duh moment when I opened my lower corner cabinet and saw all my glass bakeware and pie plates. I'll give that a go too.

I think what I might end up doing down the line is using it as season display like someone mentioned above. Sorry can't remember who said that and don't want to re-read through. I think that was a great suggestion. For example at Christmas usually I have dishes that I only use at that time of year, or I have fall inspired pyrex dishes or in spring you could do pastel coloured ones. When we have the money for the lighting I think this is more of the route I would take.

I'd paint the entire inside of that cabinet black, then use the white pieces. I'm probably in the minority, but that wallpaper looks incredibly dated...

imstillchloecat

"I'd paint the entire inside of that cabinet black, then use the white pieces. I'm probably in the minority, but that wallpaper looks incredibly dated..."

I would politely suggest you read several of my posts above about the fact that the wallpaper is staying. I love the wallpaper and I love that it looks dated. The vast majority of my favorite dishes are all from the 60's and 70's. I have many pieces of vintage clothing that I love. I may have been a baby in the late 70's but the colors I love. They remind me of my favorite time of year which is fall.

I'm not one to do something just because other people think I should. While I do appreciate the feedback I've been given it also does get a little tiring to repeat oneself. Before the wallpaper went in the stained back was a dark chocolate and it didn't look good that way either. It was terribly drab.

If anyone else wants to mention taking the wallpaper down that is ok, but I'm going to stop repeating my self about it. LOL So rather than responding I'm just going say "see above".

On a side note, I haven't had a chance to try some other pieces yet, we were taking out our old pool liner this afternoon so that will have to wait a little bit longer.

You asked for opinions and I gave mine. :) Enjoy your kitchen.

"You asked for opinions and I gave mine. :) Enjoy your kitchen."

Thanks, I am enjoying it.

Well, with 3 white things that work, you might find something else you have that is white that would work as you look around the house. I love teapots and tureens. The white would look good against the holiday decorations which you could situate around them too.

Wallpaper is totally (back) in! I think that using it as a backdrop in the cabinet is terrific, but it does limit (in my measly opinion) what will look great in there.

I love the use of the white or cream ware, especially the larger pieces. They don't have to exactly match in color, probably. The glass doesn't work for me at all.

I wouldn't treat it as a living room mantle, either, but limit the display pieces to kitchen or dining room items.

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7 I totally get that it's harder with the backing I have and the fact that I'm short on stuff that is cohesive to fill it. LOL I like a good challenge. That's why I do appreciate the feedback and didn't even mind people suggesting to remove the wallpaper. I actually fully expected that. It just get's a little tiresome to repeat something several times. I do like the white pieces best, though I did put my hand crank meat grinder in there and it actually looked fantastic, but other pieces that are similar didn't have the same weight as it. I have decided to sell the teapot though so I'll be down to two white pieces but I may take some of the Royal Albert sale $ and get a couple of second hand white wares.