IMO nothing goes there maybe paint that wall a color but I have no idea what color without seeing your whole space I do think your lighting is not adequate or at least not enough for the space . Pot lights in a 17' ceiling are close to useles for lighting a space below. I would get some pendants above the island and change all the bulbs to LED 4000K for sure Everything in that space is dark maybe switch out the stools for something more colorful and when you can replace the black fridge with stainless too

No. That would only compound the mistake of too tall ceilings in a kitchen.

I think decor on top of upper cabinets clutters up the lines. Leave it clean and simple!

i agree; dont put anythjng up there. You could add interest to the wall with texture via shiplap.

Or like the other commenter mentioned, work on keeping interest at eye level; using pendant lights is a good idea. i would also add a bigger piece of furniture and art to the right of the cabinets.

Are you a glutton for punishment? Not only is it outdated, it’s a dust-haven. Placing pieces up there will draw attention to that space, and the sun shining directly on that area from the windows up there is a surefire way to put the dust in the spotlight.

Don’t do it. Unless, of course, you actually *enjoy* dragging out the ladder every week to dust and clean up there.

I hear you all, loud and clear. will return the dust collectors asap. Definetly not a glutton for punishment!

@Patricia Colwell Consulting Lights are 4000K, stools will be changed. If it werent so much work painting that high wall, I would.

What about putting art there?

The white track lighting emphasizes the ceiling height changes. I would get rid of that. A framed large bright print with a white mat to the right of the cabinets (get rid of the small stand) will bring the eye back down from the ceiling. Get rid of the shadows made by the under cabinet lighting. What is to the left? A dark hallway? Dining room? Definitely brighter stools.

Don't light up that area and draw attention to it. Add a big colorful bowl of fresh fruit to the island. You might even run some LED's under the island counter to draw the eye downward. Brighten the stools. Decorate where the people live (below the door frames.) I think the glare from those windows would wash out any art you hung there.

I am not a fan of above cabinet decor, but here some idea from Houzz

Kitchen · More Info

@decoenthusiaste Brighter stools for sure, even thiugh the windows face south. Sunshine is scare around here.

@Celery. Visualization, Rendering images Wow, thank you for the pic. couldnt imagine dusting all that. The bottle grouping is way to busy and cluttered, at least to my eye.

On your counter I see what looks like a nice shade of red, and the vase you put on your upper cabinet, that color is very pretty too, perhaps use those two colors to enhance the lower area, i.e.counterstools, dish towels, etc. Also see what looks like artwork tacked on the refrigerator. If so, I would create a space on the right that is used for displaying more prominently, with a higher decorative table below it. Another idea since you have all that natural light would be to get a nice tall plant such as fiddle leaf fig (mine was 3 ft when purchased and is now 9 ft tall) to add some interest on the right.

You could add a few pieces of art like this:

Chapel Hill Residence · More Info

​I'm the odd girl out; I decorate my cabinet tops with my international ceramics. I don't dust weekly (tsk tsk) just when I go up to change it out.

However I don't have high ceilings like yours. You would have to place a substantial piece of art, ceramic or decor to make it matter invisible from the ground. 

Sotimes you just have to leave it blank and let it live. It'll fade away if you draw the eye down to your Island, others suggested better stools, and decorate eye level rather than taking it up.

I played around with my drawing app. I tried adding in all of the wonderful suggestions for your kitchen.

Just for fun, I wanted to see what it would look like if you bumped out that back wall above the cabinets. It would be like a soffet but go all the way across the room the thickness of the cabinets. Or maybe even slightly passed the cabs to so you could add a few more can lights to brighten up the kitchen isle. Also lights above artwork and slider door area. I am not good at making it look right, but hopefully you get the idea.

Sorry, I know you were only asking about decorating above the cabinets. I just thought I’d throw this out there. I was thinking it would make the kitchen look more intentional for the space as well as help with the lack of lights close enough.

It looks great though just how it is! With the few minor tweak suggested even better. 😀

Hey Honey, can you please get me the cereal and speghetti noodles. 😂

I like an idea with pendants by rebunky

OMG Ya go away for a bit and miracles never cease, thank you all so much.

@jackowskib, awesome ideas, I like the red as well, thank you

@shirlpp Love the art ideas, thank you

@jenk yeah I returned the cabinet decor. Dust up there is too much, way to high. But Art is still an option.

@rebunky I love, love, love what you did. Just wish we put pendants while the kitchen was under renovation. Do you believe there were no ceiling lights whatsoever. Behind the fridge wall is another room, with fireplace, so we could not have changed that area. Love those stools, and your decor ideas are awesome. Yes, a new fridge will be the next step.

Below are a few before pics.

@celery. visualization Agreed, I love what Rebunky did. Oh, how I wish I could put up pendants. But that will send husband into fits. It’s been 20 months since Reno’s started and they are still not quite done.

SIL is our pro electrician and there is no way he has the time to add the electrical needed for pendants. He installed canned lights where there were no lights before.( At the time, I didnt have the heart to ask for pendants.) He has way way too many of his own projects plus family etc.

@rebunky lol! what in the world is they doing up there!!

Thank you all for your auggestions. New stools have brightened up the area.

@rebunky can you tell me where you found the pendants in the mock up, i love them. Thank you

At my age and stage I think I might purchase a super-duper air filter that picks up dust and has an aesthetic look and park it to one side on the top. That will save the work of frequent dusting, and I would probably get someone else to change the filters, too.