This is the perfect area to show off collections! Glass vases, vintage scales, decorative plates that are tongue-in-cheek (like an old commemorative "Dynasty" TV show plate), that kind of stuff. I wouldn't bother trying to use it for storage because it is way inconvenient to get up there unless it's for stuff that is rarely used but you don't want to throw away in which case, why do you still even have it, you know?

Please oh please leave that space alone and don't fill it with dust collectors. If you must, paint it white and extend your collection of clear glass objets. Put your money into changing that fluorescent light fixture and updating the floor, counters, and cabinets instead.

My cat claimed that space a long time ago, she'll push anything else off the edge.

Do you have a kitcheny collection to display? I have a think for pitchers (love them for serving drinks, displaying flowers, etc) so my pitchers are displayed above my cabinets. You could also do bowls, platters, etc.

I say this is perfect for an ikea/wal-mart/target hack! I'd get some of the shelves they sell for shoes in the closet in the "wood grain" finish, or - if you're handy - cutting low bookshelves to size. I agree with you, "stuff" just thrown up there looks like exactly what it is...stuff just thrown up there. But nice open shelving showing off your prettiest glasses and fancy dishes? Nice...and intentional. It will look like you have fancy cabinets!

globes? or u could paint it w/ chalkboard paint and write stuff...

If you know who manufactured the cabinets or can find some that match the door style and finish, I would add a second row of cabinetry above with some crown moulding along the top. Stacked cabinetry is a very classic look and is quite popular these days. Your cabinets would then extend to the ceiling, nearly doubling your storage and giving you a much more custom look.

if nothing else, cover the top of the cabinets with paper/newspaper to save the dust sticking there.
Colour coded/arranged items (like the book thing everyone seems to be doing?) or large letters spelling out "Advertising space for sale" or the like? They could be changable, for leaving messages?
Small children's chairs or bikes - vintage ones?
A collection of globes?
A collection of mirrored disco balls?

What about some oversized word art or some recycled vintage signage? Could showcase great up there and would complement the style of your barstools. Check out three potato four's stock or some such...

Couldn't agree more Evelyn. If you are going to spend money on something spend money on cabinets to fit above them. Those are pretty stock/basic. You could get them from lowes or HD and then stain or paint them all to match. It will make your kitchen look taller. I also agree to match it with crown molding/trim.

A simple fix could be painting that entire wall (above cabinets all the way over to the part of the wall the window is on) with Chalkboard paint. Break up the dark with some colorful curtains. Write a quote or saying above the cabinets. It Draws your eyes up and it looks clean without clutter.

Pottery or art glass bowls, etc.?

More cabinets for more storage?

I'd change the lighting, it would take the kitchen I'm a whole different direction!

If your goal is to avoid dust-collecting -- if you don't *need* the space to house kitchen items you use and don't otherwise have room for -- then don't manufacture some new "collections" to put up there. Instead, cover the tops of the cabinets (which I assure you are uneven) with some plywood, and then frame some colorful art that can lean up against the wall, taking up the available room to the ceiling. You'll have to dust it occasionally, but not incessantly.

I have a similar layout and added metal posters. Because of the material, they're not easily damaged by heat and grease that accumulates in a kitchen and they're not dust collectors. In all honesty, though, your place looks fine even without anything added.

Agree with EvelynW and phil121. How often do you get to double your storage?!

Agree with Evelyn or babyfishmouth - if you could use the space, fill it with matching cabinets; and if you don't need the space, just some simple art. Personally I would vote for more cabinets in a heartbeat, but it looks like you already have more than I do! You don't have to put kitchen stuff in them. Since they are so high up they could be used to store any type of rarely used stuff.

i think you should paint the wall a bold color and put under cabinet lighting.

All collections and items will collect dust and it's a pain to clean up there. God for a long painting, or cool fabric mounted on a long panel hung on the wall above. Or try a long wall decal in a contrasting color, or just a shade darker or lighter than the wall color. Try etsy.com for the decals. I have the same stools you do! Good luck!

Whatever you do, put grease paper on top of the whole length of your cabinets. Tape it down. It's easier to clean after it had collected all those dust and grease.

Anyway, your kitchen is lovely as it is. If you're really tired of how it looks, why don't you just paint your cabinets a bright color like red or something. If it still bores you, put rope lighting on top of it. You wouldn't notice the empty space on top of it.

ahhhh i once hated the top of cabinets, but it's a great place to pull the kitchen theme together.

my kitchen is very tiny but long, if that makes any sense. on one end, i have mason jars of different types of jams i've made. the other end i have empty bottles of my favorite upscale beer. it fits my look and theme, but that could sort of give you an idea...because nobody likes cheap plastic plants!

My vote is for building more cabinets up to the ceiling. Or closing the area in if it's bothering you. If you don't want to do that here are some other ideas.

http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2009/01/above-cabinets.html

http://architecturalantiques.antiques-roadshow.com/furniture/industrial-vintage-metal-pan-channel-letters-eat-sign-ad-268.html

Lighting will go a long way to make whatever you do up there look better and I think less is more considering you'll need to periodically take everything down and clean it.

My boyfriend and I have an ongoing disagreement about empty space like this. I say leave it alone and ignore it and he always wants to fill it with crap! Putting stuff in empty spaces like this which are way up high seems just like so much dusty clutter.

I have a space just like that above my cabinets. Eventually I'd like to extend the cabinets to the ceiling line but for now, I've got into collecting copper molds of various sizes, shapes, (cats, circles, lobsters, etc.). I've spread them out. They are reasonably priced at the Goodwill and other second hand shops. I've now stopped collecting as the space is complete. The space is white also as I have not decided on a color to paint it.

Agree with adding a second row of cabinets and adding some oomph with colour. But I'm wondering why no one has mentioned the seriously disproportional stools/counter height? How can you possibly sit there?

Put in a great light fixture or pendants over the counter and you won't notice the space over the cabinets. I just don't think that's really the best place for a "design moment". Perhaps some curtains on that kitchen window. Definitely a piece of art to the left of the kitchen window and it will pull your eye there and not to the space over the cabinets.

I'd like to see the cab doors removed so it becomes open shelving. Add wood strips to shelf fronts to give them visual weight. Repeat the vertical dividers on the top area so it becomes a unified wall of open shelves. Then, keep stuff stored there well organized and spare.

Silk plants and twinkle lights...

Silk plants and twinkle lights? Norahl, are you my sister in disguise? I agree with crayfish. Space is a wonderful thing, not something that has to be filled. I kinda like the idea of just twinkle lights, though.

I really do mean this in the nicest way possible, but I don't think it's the empty space up there that you are sick of looking at. I think it's just the overall boring-ness of the space. How about some colorful paint in that room? That whole photo is just beige blah. We can't see the rest of the kitchen, but is there a cool backsplash maybe? What color is the counter? You can change the whole look of your kitchen by adding some backsplash tiles in a weekend. Then your eye will be pulled toward the backsplash and away from the top of your cabinets.

I highly recommend extending the cabinets to the ceiling. It looks so much more polished to me.

If that's cost-prohibitive, however, pick one or two objects on which you can't easily see the dust collecting (wood was a good suggestion above), and/or make the wall itself visually interesting.

I vote 'no' on a collection, though. I think it looks tacky.

We put our appliances that we don't use as often up there. Our kitchen is painted turquoise and our appliances are red. It's nice contrast and looks arty, but also is useful.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/abirdinthehandart/sets/72157626138467100/

What about a really fun table runner? That's going to be what i put in a similar type spotin my apartment. Could be cool!

My mom had a similar problem when we first moved into our old house. What she did was put old books horizontal (as stands since the tops of the cabinets went down a bit) and then put the vintage things she had on top of the books so they would stand as tall as the cabinets edge. For instance, we have some old tins, like a Tollhouse Cookie tin from the 60's, and a syrup container and napkin dispenser from the 50's. I thought it really showed off her style, so I'd say go thrifting for things that show off your style! But remember the old book trick if the tops go lower than the edge!

I collect decorative teapots and display my collection in that space. My cousin went to antique stores and bought old small appliances and displays those in her above-cabinet space.

Just leave it alone. Not every horizontal space needs to be covered. A small kitchen is best when everything is edited down to attractive and functional items you actually use!

Here's what I'm doing in my kitchen, moving the kitchen cabinets all the way up to the ceiling (about 2" away from the ceiling), and installing crown molding around the room. Then below the cabinets I'm installing open shelves that will be filled with the items I use most often (cups, bowls, glass canisters with baking basics and cookie cutters). It was the only way I could figure out how to maximize space and make that utterly useless space above the cabinets work for me.

I would tape some wax paper up there in the mean time. Quick clean up when you need to do it. I'd either add extra cabinets someday or leave it be.

a friend of mine filled it up with her Christmas village over the holidays, with lights and all! it was unexpected yet turned out beautiful. as for me, i covered it with a fascia board of the same material as the rest of my cupboards so they do not gather dust!

You might put a second row of cabinets up there painted to match the wall color, or with flush doors having artwork attached or painted on. The doors keep the dust off of long term storage and, if you keep them plain, will get you out of having to do anything "meaningful" up there. Great place to store Christmas stuff!

I like the cabinets you have. Very neatly installed!

How about some antique looking ironwork, with scrolls or a pattern. You could hang it from the ceiling so it meets the top of the cabinets.

You could paint it or let it get a patina, like tarnished brass. It would be a dust trap like vases, glasses, etc.

http://www.stockphotopro.com/photo-thumbs-2/stockphotopro_22154KLY_no_title.jpg

That should be "it WOULDN'T be a dust trap".

Not the snazziest idea, but how about wall decals? They wouldn't collect dust and they'd fill the space visually...

Run rope lights or led lights where they can't be seen from the ground. Put a carefully edited collection of colorful glass objects where the light will make them stand out. Keeping with all one color could be interesting. You would definitely have to dust it sometimes though!

What rucy said!

my husband and i have wooden wine boxes, a large black & white photo of a parisian cafe and my dried wedding bouquet. i couldn't stand the empty space but didn't want too many things up top.

Why is no one commenting on how disgusting this comment is?

"My cat claimed that space a long time ago, she'll push anything else off the edge.

posted by joeshack on February 25th 2011 at 6:05pm "

Who wants a cat hovering on the cabinets overhead while you are in the kitchen cooking!

My kitchen is tiny in comparison to yours (I can't stand on the other side of the kitchen and look at the top of my cabinets-- I can stand on the other side and reach the cabinets!), but it's painted a bright red I really like. My cabinets are white, and I put an extra strand of white Christmas lights I had up there, and plug them in when I want my place to feel welcoming or like I live there.

Anything up there is going to get really dusty so glass and vase collections are going to be really revolting really quickly. We have a collection of tin cans up there... they are filled with things we use all the time so the dust doesn't settle and once a month or so I just "march" along the shelf and wipe each tin - takes at the most ten minutes... so very little maintenance for lots of visual appeal. You can have a look at our tin collection about three photos down this post: http://www.se7en.org.za/2009/01/25/saturday-spot-the-kitchen-tour

@scwilson47: Many many cats occupy that space. Mine do in my kitchen. And I know three friends who have the same thing going on in their household.

But they're not allowed up there when cooking is happening! It's NOT disgusting to let them perch up there when the kitchen isn't in use though!

I have been considering what to do with my above-cabinet space, too... and am considering keeping it empty except for a cake plate that I store up there because I have no other space for it!

I had some nice baskets in my space over the cabinets.

I use mine as extra storage for things I don't mind having on display and I don't use every day. I have some beautiful pots, pottery (bowls, pitchers, etc.), large wooden bowls and serving bowls. It functional and aesthetically pleasing.

My vote goes to "leave that empty space empty, but put some life in your kitchen".

Collections put over there just say "I didn't know where else to put it", and I don't like it.

Painting the walls and maybe adding a decal for fun sound like good ideas.

If you choose to have a collection, it should be cohesive. Blank space looks very clean. It looks a little bland today because of the color (background and cabined wood). Perhaps you may choose to color the cabinets, and wall, and make the cabinet pop, and leave the cabinet top empty. Let the neat and clean cabinet be the star.

You can place very modern cube planters spaced equidistant (chose a color that makes the planter pop, maybe a matte brass, or gold, or pastel. The understanted planter should add to the beauty of the space). Plant some succulents, or violets. Make the decision on color though.

I vote for either putting a double row of cabinets there or leaving the space empty.

Heres a display. It works due to colour co-ordination.

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/before-after/before-after-amanda-bens-dining-room-redesign-139962

One designer I read recommended replacing the top cabinet doors with doors tall enough to continue past the cabinet top and end near the ceiling. It's supposed to look like the cabinet's taller. The concealed top is then used as a closed shelf. I don't see how that could be made to look convincing, though.

Looking at it again, I'd say that if you want to display something fun and creative, the better use of your space would be to do it with open shelving on that blank wall on the other side of the window. That way, you can use it to store things you actually use creatively - like dry goods in mason jars or other colorful canisters, giving you more cabinet space for things you don't want to look at. Or you can collect and display cookbooks, stoneware, colorful pottery, whatever. Then center a good-sized piece of horizontal art or architectural piece that coordinates with your theme above your cabinets. It will be more balanced.

I would paint the cabinets rather than try to match a stain and I would do this:

http://theletteredcottage.net/guest-post-by-mr-lettered-cottage

It's simpler than adding a row of new cabinets, yet gives you that height and crown molding.

It's been said a few times, but I would invest in larger cabinets. Maybe not ones that go all the way to the ceiling, but close enough that there's only a small space between it and them? That way you still have that line of negative space, but the added storage. Or you could try putting up a creative piece of artwork (or creating one of your own?).

To the person who suggested the chalkboard paint- I'm a huge fan of it myself and think it's pretty cool, but I'd try and think about what the space is. Using it high above kitchen cabinets seems extremely inconvenient and would look a little odd with writing...

I store rarely used equipment up there. But whatever you put up there is going to get dusty AND greasy too.

'k Tamara, you asked for creative...and dust free... :)

Dust free leaves you with pictures or prints or wall mural. Not, of course, that frames are dust free...but if you have a swiffer with a long enough handle 5 min would do the dusting trick.

I think something fun and creative would be like an evolution or a story board...it's such a long space but not too high that it could look real cluttered real fast if not careful...and judging by the few things I see you do seem like a modern-ish, anti-clutter person...but you could almost tell a story along there.

You know, run off the standard "evolution of man" lineup...you could go all in one direction all the way up or down, like so:http://www.spreadshirt.com/evolution-of-man-men-s-performance-t-s-C3376A6574898

Make it personal, and have the "end result" be something you love or want to be, like a great dancer, or great chef, or great writer, or great sax player...give it that personal touch. Or make it the evolution of horses, or dogs, or cats, if you're an animal person...and if you ARE and have a pet, you could make the "end result" your pet with a crown or something...

Or make it a love story between you and your partner (you said we, but didn't specify if you have kids or pets...)...and have it be a "story board" of your relationship and have the two of you together in the end, or together with your kids or pets if you have them...some inspirations:http://www.funzu.com/index.php/Crazy-pics/funny-story-board-12022011.html

Or if you ARE a dancer, or have some kind of sport you love...yoga, running, basketball, surfing, skating...whatever...you could do different poses of that same thing...like so:http://www.inmagine.com/inggei/inggei2485-photo

But then just line them up in a row....

Or maybe you could do a line of silhouettes of you and your family (pets too!)...or if i's just you and your partner, do ones of your "growing up" and them meeting or smoochin in the middle :) http://www.incrediblethings.com/home/custom-silhouette-mugs/

Or do a row of silouhettes of just you, and then top each one of wearing a different, crazy colorful hat or hairstyle...http://greydanusdesign.com/identity_pages/personal.html

I would avoid framed pictures, because you already have a lot of squares going on...just paint it right on the wall. If you're scared to do it yourself, shop around for a hungry art student or local struggling artist that may give it a go on the cheap... :)

Cheers!

We have a similar space in our kitchen, and I have a few things stored up there out of sheer necessity.

That being said, don't put anything up there! It's going to get a terrible dusty, greasy film that is a gigantic pain to scrub off. Yuvk.

Leave it clean lined and simple.

NO CLUTTER for clutter's sake.

Wall decals or stencil

Initially, I wanted to remove the fascia above my cabinets to create storage space. Then, I thought about the expense, which might be increased by having to redo electrical wiring. Instead, I reduced the contents of my kitchen to fit the existing storage, and have no regrets.

The space in general is not unique/cohesive. I think addressing what you want out of the space would actually help figure out what to do with the cabinets.

In other words, if you extended the cabinets or put a collection up there, you'd still have a really boring (cookie-cutter) kitchen with extended cabinets or a collection on top of the cabinets of a really boring space.

I'd define your style, get some magazine tears (or apartment therapy print outs) and decide what you want to do with the space. Right now by the looks of it, your kitchen is 2003 contractor pack... I am positive you weren't inspired by anything to get there!

...and some quick suggestion:
- cover the phone jack (or use a blank plate)
- pattern/color on the non-cabinet wall
- legit window treatments

I have the same cabinets with white appliances and I'm very pleased with what I did. I painted the wall behind them a bold color; in my case, dark chocolate, and placed a string of white paper Chinese lanterns across the top. They add a nice glow in the evenings and look beautifully textural against the paint and cabinet. AND the lanterns were cheap at Target.

If you can't be pleased with the ease of dusting such a space, I suggest glass fronted cabinets to fill the space, preferably lit. Then you can display porcelain china or figurines, without fear of dust.

OR, have a china cut placed at the back of the cabinets, and display platters or plates in your good china pattern, the one that is almost never used.

Seriously, I would enjoy the empty space. It keeps the kitchen looking modern and clean.

what lampeam said

I agree that more storage space would be good, but I also agree that more of the cabinets you have currently wouldn't really do anything for the overall look of the kitchen, and they'd cost a lot of money.
I think if I lived there, I'd use the space for storage, but with some kind of great-looking storage bins (with lids) in a uniform color and/or pattern. It would help define the look you're going for, give you more storage for stuff you don't need to get at often--documents, tablecloths, etc.--and fill the space without resorting to some goofy, country-kitchen collection.
Container store has some good bins in cloth and fiberboard.
http://www.containerstore.com/shop/closet/storageBoxes?productId=10026841&green=15830035789

@Rucy - I remember an old post about this. How hard/pricey is it to move cabs up to the top of the wall?

Wow! THANK YOU all for the wonderful suggestions! I really can't wait to start playing around with these ideas. So many more comments then I expected. In the mean time, I will definitely line the top of the cabinets with paper to keep the grease from collecting up there. Didn't even think of that! Don't worry all, that florescent light is going to go, unfortunately we aren't to handy with electrical work so will have to hire someone to help us out with that. Thank you again for your great ideas, I promise to submit a pic when it is all complete. I'm excited ;) - Tamara

Tamara-

I think if you are wanting to decrease your need to dust, just stay away from the idea of collections in general. This will be helpful when it comes to the idea of spending 15 minutes of dreadful dusting while trying to balance on your counter tops!

Seeing how clean and clutter free your kitchen looks in the picture, it would be best to keep with something clean and clutter free on the tops of your cabinets.

I think buying some large wooden letters (measured to the appropriate size for the space) and painting them a fun color would be a great clean filler for that empty space. Having these wooden letters say something fun in large font such as "EAT" or "COOK", maybe even "CREATE" would be a simple solution to your continuous problem.

This is something that would be so simple to change and switch out if you do choose to paint your kitchen. Whether you do paint your kitchen, and even if you don't, the wooden phrase could be kept simply black or white, or used as a bright pop of color for the room.

Anyway, here is a link of somewhere that you can order wooden letters from.
http://www.woodlandmanufacturing.com/wooden-letters.asp

or you could simply go to a Micheal's Arts and Crafts store and see what their options are.
Foam letters would also be a simple and VERY light in weight idea.

Good Luck!

Ideally, I would extend the cabinets as well, but that isn't always an option, so you can use it for more storage. Dishes that you don't often need or cookbooks would be a good as well. Maybe pictures interspersed among the useful items would break up the "storage" look as well.

If it were my kitchen, I would not put anything up there and leave as is. I would paint the walls another color, and upgrade the light fixture and countertops if I had extra money.

I have the same problem. Had it many times. This time I have a tiny kitchen and decided to use the space. I have many baskets and I selected ones of similar size and style with some function I filled them with thing like Christmas cookie cutters in plastic bags so the contents are clean. It could even be non kitchen.....maybe something to hide. Just wrap it in plastic. ...I have a plan for the baskets taped on the inside of a cabinet door......The color is neutral but it provide texture.....I think the space that really needs filling is next to window. An oversize poster from the top of the frame to close to the floor.

My girlfriend and I have a similar situation in our apartment. She is an artist so we have several pieces of art that came from friends and professors. We framed them all in Ikea frames and hung them above the cabinets. We were also able to string some christmas lights up on top of the cabinets (which are recessed a little at the top so the lights sit in that recess and can't be seen). When we turn on the lights it creates a nice glow from the cabinets to the ceiling. I usually climb up there every six months just to dust. It is really easy to do and it looks great. Hope that helps!

Oh no! The suggestions for collections sound like sarcasm to me. They repeat every dang overused fad we see on AT! No collections. Add more shelving above to display kitchenware that you use or leave it alone. Another option is to paint that whole wall a color other than white or, more expensively, tile the whole thing. Any variation on white will warm up the space. Uplighting above the cabinets will help, too. It is OK to have open space.

I have the exact same thing in my house. Except I have two walls of cabinets like this. I've started a collection of green wine bottles that I've removed the labels from. I wiped them down with Goo Gone to remove the label glue but it has also worked to keep dust from sticking to them. I also used it as a place to put up some of my own paintings.

if you need storage, like someplace to keep sweaters in summer, holiday decortaions, or anything else that can be boxed, get storage boxes, paint with gloss paint (easier to clean) and use it as neutral storage. Or, collect branches, paint them white, and add white led fairy lights.

No dust collectors. I have same set-up and what I'm doing is buying poster-board and cutting it to fit the space, painting (plain or a cute pattern, haven't decided) and installing it even with the cabinet front (maybe with "L" brackets) and finishing it off with molding to match another lone cabinet in the kitchen.

This space is screaming for color. Paint color to be exact. That space above the cabinets may bother you because overall there is no color or anthing interesting going on. Use a couple of complimentary colors or various shades of one color. One behind the bar stools, another on the kitchen walls and make the small wall with the clock and the end of the bar another color. Have fun!

I definitely vote for leaving the space open. I think it looks cleaner and gives the eyes a rest that way.... Instead, like many posters above have said, add some color to the room :)

There are so many comments allready, so I'm not sure if some one has suggested this allready, but I'd emphasize the space you have there. I'd add lighting on top of the cabinets, in a way that you cannot see the light source itself and add some lighting under the cabinets also (if there isn't any allready). This way the cabinet could look like it's floating in the air. I think it would look cool.

If it was my kitchen I'd leave the top totally empty or then add an item (large enough) that would be easy to dust. Perhaps something supprising, something that has nothing to do with kitchen or food. Like downhill skies hung from the wall, or something even more weird! :D

Note -- Anything you put up there, prepare to dusty and grimey it weekly unless that's the look you like. So it's better off bare.

A few ideas:
1) on top of cabinets, something along the line of a lighted commercial sign in bold frame, chunky letters, restaurant style
2) or, a collection - large items won't look cluttered - uneven numbered is better - would break the even number theme of cabinet doors and barstools- change the focus and create rythm
3) Replace the actual ceiling light - fluorescent ? - with something softer on the eyes when you look up at the cabinets
4) Create a lower focus point with a row of hanging lights over the bar, again in an unveven number

How about a large print stencil or large piece of art with a few choice glass bottles to "frame it" and give it depth. You don't tend to see the dust on the glass and all you need to do is rinse and dry to get rid of dust on the glass every once in a while.

Soffits!

I like the idea of extending the doors, but I think that only would work for doors with little space between them.