Leslie, also try one rectangular piece of art - three of them might look busy if you also have several copper pieces on the shelf. Even one piece might look busy...need to try it out and see. So far we have a black, white and copper colour scheme.

Here's how a design savvy friend of mine arranged items in my kitchen hutch.

She used each door to frame the displays. The area behind where the doors meet in the center is empty. I have a sentimental attachment to the majority of these items so I'm glad that they are on display instead of behind closed doors or in a box in the attic.

As Pal suggested, fill the knee-hole space. Choose a backless stool that slides completely under the counter. An upholstered seat (covered with Sunbrella or other durable, easily cleaned fabric) would add some fun as well as comfort.

I think a wide-striped fabric would work with your granite.

Or you can keep it simple so that the focus is on your displayed items.

I also like the suggestion of making it a baking center, especially now
that I see its proximity to your ovens. At 30" high, it's a great height
to roll out dough, knead bread, etc. My SIL displays her collection of
old stand mixers behind the glass doors in her baking center.

what if you did the back of those shelves in the same black as your island? maybe paint some beadboard that color and attach them to the wall. then display either the copper or white pottery/vases with maybe a plant or two.

as for the wall above the granite, that bareness would bother me. you could do the same black beadboard or considering doing the same tile as your splash. I have an almost identical set up in my kitchen, but they did a piece of wood, to match the cabinets, on the wall. no one ever sits there, but it's for sure a catch all for all the mail, bills, and general crap.

I think it is a baking center. Put your KitchenAid mixer there and some cookbooks on the shelves. Hang a decorative Bundt pan in the space between the upper cabinets. The upper shelves could hold decorations for frostings, cookie cutters, etc. In other words, make this a working baking center not a design statement.

It doesn't necessarily have to be a baking center. In a lot of homes, an office type space used to be integrated into the kitchen. A place where you can answer the phone, set your laptop down and do a bit of work. I've added a few decor items to your photo to reflect that! It can be whatever functions best for your lifestyle.

Meg, I was just coming back to suggest the Williams Sonoma copper fruit basket...

Leslie, thought of your "ANTIQUES" sign when I ran across these cute tea cup scoopers. Of course, you would put flour and sugar in kitchen canisters. ; )

If your heart is set on artwork, something like this set of 3 with copper accents from an Etsy artist?

The artist has many bird options that are adorable...

I think a coffee station or a wine bar could be really fun! For the coffee bar you could hang up some mugs next to the coffee maker. If you like the idea of a wine bar, maybe look into a mini fridge that would fit into the space below!

If you can't use it as a desk I think you need to put something where the chair would go otherwise it looks funny to me. I love the beverage fridge idea! You could do that then make it a coffee station on top, keep your mugs in the cabinets above.

Thanks for reminding me Alexandra and Kim K. I forgot about this pic earlier.

A wine bar would be very doable! Plus pinterest has diy wine glass holders, but they are fairly inexpensive to add in :)

Love the feel of your kitchen. My guess is the desk is a catch-all because its purpose has never been defined. Seems like it has wonderful potential to be very useful.

You could gain storage by adding shelves and/or doors to the bottom opening. This would be a good place to put appliances toaster, mixer, or baking pans.

You can also have hidden pull out storage in the toe kick for pans and lids, etc.

I like these Ikea Fintorp rail and hanging organizers for the walls -- they also go with your drawer pulls and Antique sign. Perfect for the desk wall and might even work and look great on the wall above the stove. They are simple, versatile and can be easily changed as needed.

The hanging round flower pots could be good for herbs. The wire basket good for jars, seasonings, oils in nice glass bottles, etc.

Here is a link for ideas on how to use them. They have so many items you can hang off the
rod.

Ikea Fintorp Rod and hanging items

Ikea Fintorp

Ikea Fintorp

Ikea Fintorp on Amazon

IKEA CATALOG – WALL STORAGE AND ORGANIZING Ikea Catalog

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I like the idea of mixing green in this area, seems to bring it to life and has a fresh feel – green apples in clear glass cylinder containers or avocados in a bowl on the shelf, etc. Like this picture.

Green apples in glass cylinder

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You could make it a coffee/tea and snack center -- The coffee pot, sugar/creamer, mugs, silverware in a black wire basket or flower pot, a multi-tiered plate rack for thing to eat on the run like bagels, donuts, fruit.

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A little off track but the one thing I love in my kitchen is my Universal pot lid with the glass center. It’s the only one I use and it fits all my pots and pans. No more storing and hunting for that matching lid.

Universal Pot Lid

Black Universal Pot Lid

I'll be interested to see what you do with the space. I think you will be surprised to see how useful this area can become.

I would continue the white subway backsplash from surrounding kitchen space to the desk. This will help the flow/ eye movement to incorporate the desk area into your kitchen and increase visual space.

A chair/stool is essential. I think a small chair would tuck in just as easy as a stool and look much better than a stool---you want to see a chair for purpose to the area. I'll look for some examples.

With white backsplash; add artwork on an easel in lower shelf and cookbooks w/new black linen covers on top shelf. New interesting lamp. Lidded faux books to store/hide paper clutter.

With the vintage pulls/antique sign/black center island etc... a chair like this is inexpensive, easy to find and would tuck in easily.

Open some counter space left of the stove by moving the toaster oven there. Good charging station for everyone too. You might slip a short stool under it. Paint the stool to match your island color.

I know, enough with the copper. But, this is so cute...

Here are a few ways in which we designed desk areas for our clients. Perhaps you will get some ideas from these images.

Contemporary Kitchen Remodel · More Info

Kitchen and Desk Project · More Info

White Kitchen · More Info

Thank you! I'm trying to get quotes on getting tile put on the bottom wall to match the rest of the kitchen. I did get a chair. I'll post some updated pictures soon.

looks cute. trying stacking the cookbooks on top of each other for a little variation.

do you have a nice bowl or pottery piece to go below? maybe the milk bottles?

Not sure if this will help, but here is a photo of my kitchen desk area in a home I lived in a few years ago. I always like to have a "control center" in my kitchen where I can keep up with invitations, thank you notes, lists, etc. Good luck fine tuning your space! It's a great area!

I would bring cookbooks down. They will look great against that background. Then put something light (maybe some other copper pieces) inside those cabinets. Some blue and white pieces would look good in those cabinets as well!

Yes bring cookbooks down & put dishes in glass shelves.

Love it, Leslie! I'm inspired by your scrapbook paper, and will do something like that in my china cabinet. Love the copper pitcher, but might be too much with the copper lamp unless you moved some of the cookbooks to the lower shelf as Beth and happyleg suggested. Can we see a pic with the lamp turned off and the milk bottles on the shelf? Maybe another pic with some of the books laying stacked on the second shelf and the copper pitcher on the top right?

The only things I'm missing seeing here are a couple of notebooks or a laptop and a plant. Succulents in glass jars would also look very beautiful. I would also go with a more contemporary looking lamp.

If no one sits there, then the sitting area is currently obsolete.

Most kitchen remodels remove knee drawer then put drawers, or regular base cabinets instead. The bar area with bar fridge is a good idea,too.

I'm not sure why every time I look at your upper cabinets they look like a face--and now with the wallpaper it looks like the eyes (glass doors) have eyebrows. LOL. Thought you would enjoy the chuckle.

Well, then don't put the milk bottles on the lower shelf. They will surely look like teeth! Oh brother, I can't unsee it now...

Kim, LOL about the milk bottles. You are so right, I can't un-see it either. Its funny what the mind picks up on. I am sure in person it's not as noticeable. I was just curious if I am the only one who sees the face.

I think with books beside it, will be fine. Silly :)

If it was mine I'd use the top shelf as a wine cabinet. For the desk, i'd use it as a utiliarian space too, maybe place a corkboard with post it's since you have your phone in it. A lamp would be perfect and some pictures too.

So whatever became of the desk area??

Does this help?

How about a small aquarium instead of the lamp?

leslie, that actually turned out very nice. I have an almost identical desk area next to my kitchen cabinets. If i ever paint, i'll do it like yours!

Leslie, you really have changed some things. You've got new subway tile on the back wall, a wreath on the door near the desk, wallpaper on the cabinet back wall, accessories and books, new lamp, a little greenery and a workstation for your laptop. I'd say that was progress. It looking like you are finding out the purpose of this space. Its trial and error until it works for you. Nice job.

LOL I like the face I see when I look at your cabinet. At least its a benevolent friendly face that looks like he is protecting all who goes there. Reminds me of a puppy dog greeting you. Just makes me smile.

Maybe just embrace the face and have some fun with it. Like, consider putting in two round white ceramic orbs inside upper doors -- adding some large black dots would help with the eye look. Then from time to time you could move them from side to side giving it a new look. Cross-eyed could be fun. Cover the books in white for the teeth. Yes, adding a shelf in the mouth area will probably minimize the face look, but you just may miss him. LOL.

Has anyone else in your household notice the face-like look of the cabinets?

tiffany,,,it's not me.