As long as I had plenty of storage, I'd enjoy having those open cabinets. My cats would kill to have the lower one.

I think they look very nice and potential buyers are not going to be the least bit fazed by them. Above the oven, you could probably do something with a bit more color and current style. A trip to Home Goods could solve that.

I do not think the open cabinets are a problem. They look deliberate not unfinished. I am finalizing a plan for a kitchen remodel and came across lots of photos of open shelves above wall ovens and refrigerators. The key as others have mentioned is to use them for strategic display.

LOL Linelle - that lower cab would really be a warm and cozy spot for a kitty :-). There is more than enough storage in the kitchen - more than I've ever had and I doubt I will find again. Very good point to remember.

Maddielee - I agree with you about the wine. Too warm up there. We don't store wine in the kitchen.

I took cookbooks from a bookcase just outside the kitchen... always something... :-)

So I put baskets in it. Does this look goofy?

Graywings - I'm not good with "color and current" and I never seem to see anything at Homegoods even though I see some great things posted here. I would like to find a rug or two for the kitchen but can't seem to come up with anything that looks right.

Take some of the books and lay them on their side. Maybe some the way they are on one side. Then something like a pitcher to act as a bookend. Lay some others on their side on the other end and put something on top of them (like a small basket or bowl) Just an idea...

re wine over the oven: Most people aren't so serious about wine that it must be at 55 or whatever is best for preservation.

The spot is decorative and this is to sell the place -- get a few $5-10 bottles and call it good. Or, find some empty ones and fill with colored water and cork.

Also - I can see over a stove top -- but I have had wall ovens and I would be very concerned if the shelving over a foot above the oven with at least two layers of wood between warmed up enough to be noticeable.

books - I love the colors and the height arrangement. And, behind them is a great hiding spot for seldom used items.

Decormyhomepls - I tried your suggestion and it looked so empty behind there -- it is a very deep cabinet the depth of the oven. I'll try again and post a photo to see what you think.

Better?

I don't think so. Do you have more cookbooks? Maybe go to Goodwill? If you fill the spaces up with cookbooks, perhaps a potential buyer will think your kitchen must be a great place to cook as someone so interested in cooking lives there. Do you have any special cookware? That might help define the space and show storage possibilities to a buyer.

Nightowl - I'm not sure what you're saying. You don't think so on the area above the oven or the bookshelf in the hallway?

The dining room is part of the kitchen - that seems to be a drawback for some buyers. That's why I wanted to make the kitchen as clean lined as possible.

I happen to like that better, but let others chime in and maybe help tweek it.

The pottery on top looks a little meh to me. The books look better because they are toward the front and obscure the depth of the cabinet. I may have a third shelf somewhere but not sure that would be helpful or not.

Or display a pretty plate on the right side on top of books. Or move middle books to left. Put the pottery piece from the left next to it (like a bookend). Put some books on their side on the right end of cubby and a decorative plate on top. Or a teapot on top. Let me do a search for some ideas for you. I think my explanations leave a lot to be desired!!

Décor - I understand what you are staying. You're saying have a plate on a stand, pitcher or teapot. I just stuck the jug there - not sold on it :-) I do think variation is better than the straight across books. I'll take another stab at it tomorrow. What about the top shelf?

http://theinspiredroom.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/open-shelves-for-dishes1.jpg

I hope this works. Look at the picture on the lower shelf with the dishes. Plates, teacup and a picture.

You can also add books to that look, but I think not as many as you have.

Mind you, my decor skills are kindergarten level. I liked the whole row of cookbooks better than the one with the things on top of the laid down books. Now that you say you want it more dining room like, do you have nice china? Or, a Goodwill that always seems to have odd pieces of colorful china. Pretty water pitchers? Pretty platters you could prop up toward the front of the cabinet?

re: hallway shelf -- it looked crowded to me with the baskets. The looked too big and too many.

I am having trouble with my computer. Google "open shelves decor" and you'll get lots of ideas.

I also prefer the whole row of cookbooks. They look like they belong there.

I love the row of cookbooks in the first picture. I'd remove one of the pottery pieces and try it with just one on the top shelf. I feel like I should explain that I deleted my first comment suggesting cookbooks because my internet connection is so slow that I didn't see your other pics, just the one of the oven. I thought I was so quick that you wouldn't see it and I'd have a chance to look at the rest of the pics.

Décor - I love the photo in the link but because the shelf is so deep I don't think things like that would work. See the top shelf how deep it is? That's why I'm going crazy thinking I need doors.

What is above the refrigerator? I can only see black on my computer.

Above the frig is a TV. This what it looked like when we purchased it. Now it is very plain and more attention is directed to the cabinets because of the lack of "stuff". I think the books look a little blah.

re: wine -- put some bottles up there if you have them and a few glasses - colored wine glasses if you have them -- just to see what you think.

Do you have a few bigger cookbooks you could stand up facing outward?

If you put some flat baskets in the back of the cabinet, you maybe could then put some things in front of them. The thought being maybe the space won't look deep and empty - which is what I think is your concern.

I like the row of books with the clay pot--no books on their sides for a cookbook collection. I don't like the Indian pots side-by-side, and they seem out of place in your cottage kitchen anyway. I agree that a plate or platter would be better for the top shelf with the decorative cabinet trim framing it.

Is there a third shelf?

A person could go mad doing this. Now everywhere I look I see to much junk.

I very much like the row of only cookbooks. Or the cookbooks and the pot to the side. I'd prefer to see a plate or platter on top but think pots are fine. I like the baskets where you removed the books.

I wouldn't worry about lack of doors because it looks finished. I see many kitchens where people have removed the doors and it looks like they failed to put them back on. Even if they're painted out and styled well it looks off to my eye.

I really like the open shelf and I don't think it would dissuade anyone from buying the home. And I really like your dining room being a part of the kitchen. It seems I've noticed a lot of rooms like that lately, and I think it conveys a sense of community, not just for your family, but for guests as well. People like going into other people's kitchens and if they bring something to heat up or whatever, then it's like everybody's a part of the "hub." And if the cook/host has to get up during the meal, she or he isn't then cut off from the conversation. When you show the house, have some nice scents going on in the area and give your realtor a story to spin about friends coming for dinner and how the kitchen/dining room works so well for that sort of thing. People love a story! :-)

I thought by the heading that none of the uppers had doors. Now I see there is only one cabinet and the fact that it has decorative trim means that its not missing a door, was designed to be open.

Of all the things to worry about prior to selling a house - Im pleased to tell you that this isn't one of them!

Now - on to the next problem! Good luck with your sale.

I'd probably use something like these - maybe 2 narrower ones, side by side, or 1 wider one:

Here's a cute way to store kitchen linens:

My 2 cents - I also like just a row of vertical stacked cookbooks on the shelf. Looks practical and as a home cook I'd see it as an advantage to have a place for my favorites right where I could easily grab one.

Also, I wouldn't worry about the missing doors. With so many new kitchens being installed with just open shelves instead of a wall of cabinets it actually seems to be on trend.

Unless your realtor advises differently, I think your kitchen is very appealing as is.

I think you're there. I like this one best of all.

I like this, but would remove all from the upper shelf but the center piece, or else move the pitcher further back so the center piece is featured. I think the pitcher and the jar next to the books are too similar; might work if the jar was on the other side of the books, but I still think it would look better a tad simpler.

I'm all for simpler :-) Ahhh..... calm at last.

I like where you have landed and it shows both form and function.

And I thought it couldn't get better. Better!

Thank you all. Couldn't have done it without the Home Site Décor Peeps :-)

Looking good!!

You can always send the pottery pieces shown in your first pic to me. I'll give them a very happy home, I promise. ;-)

When I rest up from this one area update - I'll get your help on my living room

bookshelves =:-0 Yikes!

Thanks, Jen! I'm hoping they will be right at home when we move to NM. For now, they are in the living room and I think they look a lot better there.

I would keep the towel off the oven door handle - the oven looks much better without it, and it makes it look like you do not have proper storage for towels. As a buyer, I would be very put off by seeing a towel on an oven door.

I do not know where your house is, but where I live, high open shelves like that are very dangerous during earthquakes.