I don't want to see all my stuff like this. I have a crock for cooking implements to stay out, and everything else has a place. I want to see the backsplash instead.

Plus, other than over the stove, where exactly would one have space for this? (that shouldn't have been put to work for shelves or cabinets instead, that is...)

Acm, at this point it is mainly a theoretical discussion. I have always liked these systems (the concept of them mainly as I have never used them). I currently keep my utensils for cooking next to the cooktop in a crock as well. But I had to remove an upper cabinet over a peninsula area as well as a former area that housed a desk with uppers and now has a large prep table instead. I may use such a system in these two spots. NOT over the cooktop as pictured or under any existing cabinets.

Since open shelving is popular in a kitchen nowadays, I am just curious if anyone has such a system and their thoughts after actually using it.