What we're trying to combat the dust issue is a box mounted to the wall (kind of like a cabinet with no doors, but not even quite that involved)---I saw a kitchen in Sunset that did something similar, and it seemed like a great way to put a buffer both between our shelves and our stove and to have a "top" to the shelf to keep dust from above out. Theirs was actually custom designed to have "cubbies" the right size for each type of dish, which was a neat idea. No clue if it will work or not, though...

Rita, thank you! In that kitchen, I love the shelves placed perpendicular to the counters inside the bay over the sink. I may do something similar for plants, but not for anything I'd want to be able to reach easily/frequently. I am also not a huge open shelf fan, since I know exactly how grungy everything gets and how easy it is to knock things off, but I do have some stuff, like coffee mugs, that are in such constant rotation that it almost isn't even worth opening a door to get at them. Also, there's all that stuff that currently lives on my counter that could go up and off the counter – canisters, sugar bowl, carafes, etc.

I am sorry, but my practical side has issues with that photo. First, those are high ceilings that it does not appear that you have, so the proportion is completely different from yours. Second, open shelves can gather dust enough just on their own, but placed on either side of the cooktop will be a dust and grease magnet so you will always need to clean the shelves themselves, as well as each and every item placed on them. And really, tell the truth, how often are you going to be climbing a stepstool to do that cleaning? Also, that pic shows doodads on the shelves (and those poor plants not getting any light). That's fine for display elsewhere, but in such a central spot in the kitchen, those shelves should have utility. People often put their spices, oils and non-refrigerated condiments in cabinets there. To lighten the space, I think Patricia Colwell's suggestion of glass-front cabinets instead would be good. Don't get mullions in the glass; the interior shelves will be lines enough, and glass doors without mullions are easy to clean with a spritz and a wipe. "My concern, though, is that it will feel closed off if it's just a big block of cabinets. I definitely want the vent hood in a cabinet style" I think you will be better off with a stainless steel hood, as mentioned earlier. Less expensive than a cabinet surround, and you don't need to buy separate parts of hood liner and blower, and it's much easier to wipe down a stainless steel hood than a cabinet hood. A stainless steel hood will be a more effective visual to break up a big block of cabinets than leaving the big block of cabinet hood surround. Also, it is often quite expensive to get a cabinet hood surround that is deep enough - typically they're only 20" deep, and it is a custom upcharge to get them to the needed 24" deep, and then find a liner in that depth as well.

My 17 foot long galley kitchen has no uppers. Installed two LED (light output is 4,000k / on a dimmer) flush mount "cloud" fixtures centered over the aisle. I'm a Senior and they provide excellent light with no shadowing. Similar to this https://www.lowes.com/pd/Lithonia-Lighting-LED-LITEPUFF-linear-47-88-in-White-Modern-Contemporary-LED-Flush-Mount-Light-ENERGY-STAR/5001841865