I suggest IKEA low Billy bookcases with solid wood doors. It looks like you'd be able to fit 3 down there and gain a ton of storage.

That shoe rack needs to go.

If you own the place, I'd spring for built-in shelves with cupboard doors. That way you can get exactly what you need. You can use pre-made IKEA cabinet doors to minimize your costs.

I asuume the shoes are for... scale?
I'd second a custom solution. Craigslist is actually a really great rescource for guys w/contruction expirence looking for side work, espcially in winter.

I also think building one in would be the best solution.

I second the built-in look, although I think leaving the middle section as open shelves rather than all of it covered in doors would look great. Then you could use the shelving for display and the cabinets for storage.

I have a really similar space in my apartment, but since we don't own, I had to settle for a bookcase I found at a flea market that (mostly) matched the dimensions. It works, but every time I see it I wish I had built-ins!

if there is a small/local closet/storage solution company in your area, you could try that. buuut, i assume it would cost more than you need to spend for that small of a space.

i know a lot of people think ikea is too cheap sometimes, but they have some really nice storage peices & you can customize almost anything they have. just be creative when looking at their different peices and you can come up with something really nice. AT has had plenty of pics of items like that. HGTV shows have some nicer results with ikea stuff too.

i also suggest the built in's; simple bookcases will look ad hoc. I would suggest either either DIY your own customs ones. (shelves are EASY!) or, use IKEA or Kraftmaid)

Bring in a carpenter to build and install exactly what you need.

A shout out for built ins here too. I had exactly the same problem and wasted money on shelves that did not work out. If you can't pay someone to do it, I bet you could figure out how to do it yourself fairly easily. In terms of doors it would be fairly easy to build a frame for the door and then use screening as a filler.

What you definetly don't want is to have any kind of shelving, built in or otherwise, that extends beyond the counter. I did that and it looked horrible.

that space is screaming for a credenza! mostly i just wanted to use the word credenza. but seriously, a long horizontal sideboard/cabinet/credenza would look good there.

Given the fact that your entrance door is just adjacent to this "unused" space, you definitely need to go custom. Sliding doors might be easier on the eyes as the kitchen cabinet is in the background. as for colour, you probably want to paint the section below the tiles white and go with with custom panels (which is also the cheapest).

Since you already have found you want to put your shoes there, why not try a couple of these clean holders:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90111895

Could have 2 of them at either end of the counter and then build some custom shelves in between for the dvds and such. Would be really easy as a DIY with some pine boards and cut to fit the width perfectly so it looks like one installation.

The ikea link first shows a tall shoe holder, but there is a second size that would fit under the ledge...

I like barrister bookshelves. You can put several in the space. The glass can be clear or opaque or even acyrlic.

http://www.homedecorators.com/P/Amanda_2-Unit_Barrister_Bookcase/820/

The doors make for more neatness and for hiding but especially for keeping out any dust that would gather there.

Considering that your space is 100"W x 8.5"D x 39"H, and that you currently have shoes there, I would suggest Ikea's Trones shoe storage. They are only 7.25"D, so they wouldn't block that doorway on the right. I have a set, and they fit a lot more than just shoes! You can put 2 stacks of magazines or files into one unit, toys, purses, throw blankets, etc.

You could fit up to 10 (2 down, 5 across) in that space, with a ledge on top of 100" x 8.5" x 8" to spare! On that ledge, you can put CDs, DVDs and video games, or it can be a landing strip. You could put any number 10 or less there too of course if you prefer the floating look instead of maximizing the space. I think closed storage would be the way to go in a space that shallow.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30110832

I have a similar bar that my wife and I had seating for 3. We purchased IKEA UPPER kitchen cabinets that were a perfect depth ~ 13" but we hired a carpenter to make a small toe kick @ the bottom to make the top of the cabinet flush with the countertop. It looks great, and gives us added storage for the kitchen electrics.

EDIT to my last post:

I should read the whole post before replying - I am such a noob.

Here's my concern with built-ins- Resale.
If you own the place and plan to stay, then do whatever you want, built in or otherwise.

If you plan on selling in the not-too-distant future, I wouldn't go for built-ins. Most potential buyers would see the bar seating as an asset.

I think it might be nice to leave the open end without shelves. Install a few hooks under the ledge, or on the end of the shelves for umbrallas and the like.

i have the same problem - thanks for so much input!

Go to Chinatown. You can find inexpensive apothocary cabinets that would fit perfectly under the overhang. We have a couple of them, and they hold all sorts of little odds and ends.

I bought very cheap ($40) particleboard bookshelves to try out in that space before I had something built in when I remodel the kitchen. You can see them peeking out here.http://tribecatribal.typepad.com/photos/house/5officekitchen.html The big issue is that these overhangs are very shallow so you may not have the depth for doors if you actually want to put anything onto the shelves.

amazake - can you post pics so we can see how it looks?

The first thing I thought of were Billy bookcases. But if the 11 inches is too deep for you, you could cut them down. You can also leave the backing off and brace using L brackets and T brackets so the wall color can peek through.

whew - i have had a time loggin in! Here is my DIY solution. The Container store has Elfa media shelves that you can install in the space. (white media shelves - http://tinyurl.com/6rjqt8) 8" deep,solid shelves and made for cd, dvd etc. You can customize the entire system to fit the space. then in front, you could install an ikea sliding fabric panel system (a set of four panels) that could slide and cover the shelving. Each panel is 24" W wide so four would fit nicely. Or you can do something fun like hang shiny beads or the mirror strands (West Elm) in front. Totally different approach but I think it would be cool! hope it helps!

Not sure how deep they are, but maybe Ikea's Lack shelves would fit nicely? They'd look nice in white.

Just an FYI the lowest Billy bookcases are 41" high. The low sandnes shoe cabs would work, but only come in birch or oak. I can't tell from the picture if those colors would work for you. Kitchen cabs are 12" deep so they're out too. The Lack shelves are 10" deep, so again they're out. I say go custom, but make it a free standing unit so they can be removed when/if you move or sell. A basic unit of 1x10's p€ainted white would blend nicely and showcase your displays. Good luck

Long, rough cut pine, chunky shelves the length of that bar area for open shelving fastidiously displaying sensible things that are attractive... not shoes. Repeat that shelving motif all over the apartment. Make sure the display items are clean and sharp.

I have exactly the same setup in my condo. I had a carpenter build-in some shelving with doors. Painted the doors the same color as the walls and added some door handles from Ikea. I had toyed with the idea of glass doors and using part of it as a sort of china hutch, but went with wood doors instead. I use it to store all kinds of things...including shoes & handbags. Works great for me.

One suggestion can be an open faced shallow bookcase/magazine rack with a thin rail. Book and mags displayed face out. Since you own this place it makes sense to have a unit inexpensively built with painted pine or MDF.

thank you all for your helpful suggestions! :)