why not a nice sideboard or buffet?

Do you want style or function. We can’t see the function part of your kitchen . That should be dealt with if something you need is lacking and the space would work . Otherwise I’d put a vintage or other chair there. how about a high back w arms

Excuse the Reno mess in these pics.
Really don’t need any more seating. Looking for design and function...was thinking a book/plant shelf, but don’t want it to get too busy...

That looks like the perfect spot for a dog (or cat) bed.

Why didn’t you take the cabinets to corner? Just curious, but I wouldn’t but anything there.

There is a window on the wall to the left, so we had to stop the cabinets at some point. Natural stopping point was in line with staircase

I like it as it is. It's just enough.

Something shallow though would be good as opposed to nothing. Like a small bookcase ...so handy . Would the stair railing interfere w larger piece or chair?? Maybe so.

Looks like a cozy place to sit & read if it had a comfy chair. I see you don’t need more seating but still.... Maybe just keep your eye out for a piece like Beth H suggests. One day you’ll see the perfect unique piece - better if it’s a vintage something regardless of your style - and you’ll have the perfect spot for it!

How about a cute display cabinet? There are oodles of options, but I have this IKEA version of a vintage medical cabinet. There are double-wide versions as well.

IKEA Fabrikor cabinet

It’s nice as it is, but maybe a bakers rack, it could hold wine, or plant, or “mom central”, or decorative china/pottery, cookbooks?

I like the plant and stool you have in that last picture, or just a plant. I definitely wouldn’t do another piece of furniture, or anything bulky .... having some non-busy breathing room is nice, especially considering the shelves next to it. Keep it simple.

Get a big fiddle leaf plant and a big basket to put it in. You could add a window bench seat with a cushion under that window perpendicular to that wall, what is on the other side of the window? Since you have shelves right there already I wouldn't add anything to clutter it up.

A tall plant setting on the floor, 4 or 5 feet tall. That looks like a window to the left that would give good light.

Take away the little doo-dads on the walls.

I like the big plant there. What about keeping your eye out for an unusual or big colorful planter? The know it when you see it kind of thing.

Thanks all for the suggestions that lead me to this. For now, I’ll just tell the story.
The live ficus and the crock are from my childhood. The framed recipes are handwritten by my mother who I miss dearly. The Thanksgiving cactus is there for us to enjoy as long as she is in bloom. I decorate my home more with feeling than with fad or fancy and this now feels like us!
Love Houzz to help with my indecisiveness!

Looks so pretty, peaceful, and cozy ... and is clearly meaningful. The best kind of decorating. :)

You could remove the stool with the potted plants and, between the existing cabinet to the right and wall to the left beside the window, place a larger (and more eye catching) plant stand there.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/493284965434313945/

Look like you have a green thumb like me. There’s a window nearby? I’d add an etagere for plants. 😊

Just saw the focus photo. Perfect. Can’t have too many happy plants.

Keep the plants that have personal meaning. Much better than yielding to fads.

Your holiday cactus will grow considerably larger in a larger pot. While it is blooming, as was suggested to me by my late mother in law, I touch the blooms of this plant that is indoors as it blooms, one after another, to spread the pollen to mimic natural pollination and doing so seems to yield more growth and blooms.

Once your holiday cactus is done blooming, you could divide it -- if there is more than one plant in the pot -- break off a spring at a a point one section before a fork in the plant and bury the sprig, covering the forked part of it to root it and have another plant.

Side note, I love how you continued your back splash to the wall and went from floor to ceiling! Great idea other than the usual stopping point at the end of the counter top. Nicely done! 👏🏼

Window “wall” is only about 18”, so carrying the counter to the corner would have been odd as well. The tile wall was the solution to avoiding another odd “stopping poin.”