You need wall space to accommodate shelving or upper cabinets, and there just isn't really a lot available - though the kitchen is charming! Would there be room to move the fridge over to the wall where the stove is? This kitchen could also employ a hanging or wall-mounted pot rack, which would probably clear up an entire large cabinet below. Since you want to store small appliances away - consider getting those heavy duty, wire drawers that allow for full extension in the lower cabinets. A trip - in person - to a place like the Container Store will probably fill you with great ideas.

And I save for last - and hesitate even mentioning - but you might be able to do a row of ceiling mounted cabinets over the sink. But this could block off light or break up the room in a way that wouldn't be good. Hard to know without more photos.

Can't wait to see all the posts on this one! Could you put a pegboard wall over the entire door wall, paint it the same as other walls so it wouldn't be a sore thumb and best of all it could cover up those dangling electric cords. You say there is lots of floor space--Enough for a small rolling kitchen storage prep cart? Over the sink area is the only place I can see a hanging pot rack or cabinet/shelves. Please send an after picture. I am loving the window by the way!

For ingredients I'd buy loads of matching glass jars and maximise the way you use the window ledge. Then pegboard the wall near the stove. The wire baskets in the cupboards is a great idea!

I agree with home body and ljgfromof re: a potrack or pegboard rack and also about moving the fridge. It looks like there's some space for shelves on the wall to the left of the door, on the side of the stove. You could buy dish and spice shelves at Ikea. A magnetic knife rack also saves up precious counter space.

Also, I can't tell how much wall space you have on the wall by the countertop to the left of the stove. You could put up a pegboard rack there and store the pots.

Move the fridge to the wall where the door is. If you do this, there'd be a space where the fridge is now. You could put a rolling cart with storage underneath as well. Or you could build something simple and affordable as well for your food storage.

Here's an inspiring kitchen transformation from DesignSponge. It implements a lot of the ideas outlined above.

If you have access to Ikea, I would suggest checking out their stainless steel kitchen shelving. It's inexpensive, easy to install, and looks very polished.

How about installing a shelf across the windows for some dishware? Keeps the airy look but gives you easy access to frequently used items. And it looks like there's room for shelves or a good sized cabinet to the left of the door near the stove.

Another thought - turn the fridge so that it's back is to where the outlet is. Put a counter in the corner on which you can put the microwave (can't be too convenient on top of the fridge), and shelves above.

OH nooo! Shelves in front of a window are clutter to the max and only look good (at least to me), if they are built in and part of the frame. Maybe a finished looking shelf same color as the wall above the window and a stepstool. I really like your window and door as is!

For a visual of leith's suggestion of shelves over windows, check out these pics:
http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/kitchen-design/a-gallery-of-galley-kitchens-142338 -first pic on this page

http://hookedonhouses.net/2010/05/16/gilmore-girls-dragonfly-inn-and-scenes-from-stars-hollow/ ---scroll to the bottom of the pics and look at the shelves across Sukey's kitchen

If you are good with electrical, I'd move the plug further back to the corner of the wall, but not too far back that it is not accessible. That will get rid of the unsightly electrical cords. Do you have electrical on the wall beside the stove - if so, I'd put in a wall shelf and use cafe style brackets (goes with the era of the stove) and put your microwave on it on that side of the room. It would also make the microwave more accessible. This would free up space above your fridge. Then, go to Ikea (or somewhere like it), or, if you are really handy, build a cabinet yourself to encase your fridge that includes cabinets above it taking them right to the ceiling for loads of storage. Then take the other suggestions of a peg board or the metal strips you get at Ikea and use them for your knives, spices and stove utensils to dangle from, include one of those bars with the "s" hooks for that purpose and put it on the wall beside the stove (behind the door). And please, post the outcome. No one ever does that. We take the time to make suggestions and we would equally love to take the time to see the results (and see whose suggestions you took and used).

P.S. I mean for the microwave to go on a shelf above that counter where you have all your utensils now (left of stove) - move the utensils to hanging bar and magnet bar on the wall behind the door and then that frees up that countertop for prep space for cooking.

I'm a handyman with a reputation for getting into ladies' kitchens. Drop me a line and I'll give you some 'tips'.

I agree that you should move the refrigerator to the wall next to the door, covering up the cords. Then put a small kitchen cart in the now-empty corner between the fridge and the counter. Put open shelves both above the refrigerator and the microwave & cart. It doesn't look like you have much room on the other side of the door near the stove, but maybe you can put a short rod there from which you can hang pot holders and utensils, or a magnetic spice rack.

It looks like you have some space to the left of the stove/counter, kind of where you walk in. Maybe a microwave cart for some added storage?

A shelf at the same height as the crossbeam in the window would look all right - check out the third picture on this post:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/roundup/displaying-plate-collections-in-the-kitchen-111118
Great for storage of every day items, and works to keep your kitchen looking nice, too.

Good luck - can't wait to see the "after"!

I have a whole wall dedicated to O'Keefe & Merritt literature. When did they get into the stove making business?

I see tons of space for overhead cabinets:

There's the entire wall above and around the stove - of course the range hood would need to come down and the vent pipe rerouted, but it's entirely do-able - I"d have them extend up all the way to the ceiling...
...and I'd continue the cabinets over the door and over the top of the fridge - even above your window.

While you're at it, you might as well get an electrician in there to add new plugs behind the fridge so that they're not exposed like that - and swap out a new range hood/microwave combo to maximize your use of space.

Is all this a DIY?
Probably not, unless your husband is into learning how to do woodworking - but it's a project that you can work at over time and will add to the value of your home over the long run much more than slapdash open shelves from a big-box store.

I have to agree - to free up some cabinet space, I think there's room over the sink for a nice rack, Jen.

Oh, one more thing. I just love the layout, but have you considered doing something a little more "loft-like"? I'm thinking a bank of sleek white cabinets along one side, and a chandalier or something as a centre piece because, well, why not! Or, is that too corporate/porno?

A few small shelves on each side of the vent hood and a hanging pot rack above the sink area might give you enough room to shuffle things around, but still maintain an open feel. Both of those updates could be done relatively cheaply too ($100-300), but it just depends on how nice you want it all to be and what materials you use.

Have you considered painting the cabinets white? They wouldn't hold more, but it would look great.