Do they have to go up there? Can yo do a bar cart somewhere else and leave the top of the cabinets empty?

Curio cabinet or China cabinet. No one can see what they are up there. And that will get that cleared off. But then you have to deal with them in the house. Maybe make overvthe garage as a man cave and put that curio or china cabinet there.

As you said, a grouping but this time on a 'safe wall' -- but the ones you asked about him wanting the most -- trim the collection!!!

Thank you for all the ideas! I do want to respect my husband by leaving them up there. Life is too short, and he deserves what makes him happy. I don't mind them that much; just looking for a couple ideas to soften the look up there. Thanks!

Thank you, mama goose! I love how it looks (and that you can photo shop! I need to learn that skill and soon!) That look is a lot easier on the eyes... : )

Thanks again, everyone! Now, is there a way to delete this post as I don't want my hubs to know see all of these comments? I can delete all the past emails, but there is no telling what ugly comments might be heading the way of our joint email account. I would not want him to feel bad about his collection on my account. He does for me, I do for him. We've have been very happily married for twenty-five years tomorrow, and have weathered storms that just made our relationship stronger. Love, love, love my hubby!!!

Ha! I see that option, now that you mention it, below in green. Perfect! Thanks!

In case it's too late to delete the thread, I deleted my comment.

Turns out he saw them before I stopped notifications. My bad! I didn't know I'd be receiving notifications. He got a chuckle out of it, and is all for rearranging them. Win, win! Now off to prepare for a day of celebrations! Will post after shot for Mama Goose.

Get a cat, and blame her

Use the height of the area to build in a bar rail shelf with some led lighting to backlight be bottles and use the top of the cabinets to display or use for other stuff. Or maybe a framework to fill the area with niches like a big fancy display box.

It might help it look like the collection it is instead of just bottles spread along the top of the cabinet.

I really like beesneeds idea - assuming the cat/earthquake is not an option, of course.

You are a VERY nice wife. My DH should be so lucky. :)

Grapefruit, my love has its limits. I said no to the moosehead he brought home when we were newly-weds. Before he admitted it was a prank.

i don't think its a terrible thing for him to discover that the Greater Decorating World takes a dim view of his bottle collection. always good to know which way the wind is blowing.

my view is that unless you are selling your home, or trying to impress your least favorite sister in law, how you decorate and what you decorate with is up to the people who live there. i like the grouping idea, that seems to work.

Buy him a BB gun.

Most men would love to have bar of some sort ... or, as suggested, a bar cart. They’re very “in” right now, available in a variety of price ranges, low to high.

I like Mama's arrangement of the bottles, etc. Clusters of them not straight across. The big jugs can be put up there with little bottles around them...the fish can be in front with bottles around him....looks good and hubby will be happy.

Hubby takes a dim view of the Greater Decorating World, and I just dip my toe in its sometimes harsh waters. Thank you all for your opinions! I will honor my hubby with his favorite, albeit dusty things on full, soon-to-be-grouped display. Photo forthcoming! Now off to celebrate 25 years! Love is a two-way street.

Happy anniversary!

Happy anniversary.

One (high, out of the way) shelf is not too much for hubby's hobby.

Unless he likes to dust them himself, however, you might consider suggesting y'all create a display case to set atop the cabinets. Think overhead cabinets with glass doors that will fit that space -- perhaps stock size intended for over the refrigerator.

Happy Anniversary! What a beautiful picture of your important day.