If you like it open, buy the uppers but store them - except you might not be able to tile the wall if you were thinking of that. You could tile, it is just it would make it hard to hang the uppers later. Is there a pantry? I don't know if you would need to worry about paint fading and not matching later. Probably not an issue if the stored cabinet does not go right up against a hung cabinet.

Or, consider removing the small shelves and getting a bigger window and then put the cabinets up. That might also make it feel more open.

That sucks about the flood!

Could you finish the wall and leave the uppers in ie the garage for now? Then later if need be, hang them when you go to sell?

Could you post a floor plan and some pics of the rest of the space. I am not a lover of upper cabinets but storage needs to be addressed.

I also agreed with Beth H - five years IS a long time to live with what you assume someone might want in the distant future. What they want in five years might be a totally new kitchen anyway.

it does not have to be either /or....just install one useful cabinet. You already have open shelves....I wouldn't repeat that. You have two walls you are dealing with. Pick one or the other and put a double door cabinet. Spend some time and find a good unfinished cabinet [perhaps made by a local guy]...get a paint match to your cream color...think about glass front and it will look fabulous , be very durable, look custom and avoid the empty wall problem. It will attract anyone. Leaving it all blank? not sure...and you may as well get some use while you are there. Don't get cabinets and store them in garage or basement...just NO.

Do you have a before picture, as in before the flood?

All but my last two homes were remodeled for "future sale". My thinking was, "Someday I will have things the way I want them". HUGE MISTAKE. Take Beth's advice, have it your way.

Here are a few other shots so you can get an idea of the storage already in the kitchen. The little island will be becoming a matching countertop with legs and one shelf. If I left those down I’d also take down the open shelving and the one cabinet to the right of the sink. It’s just wine glasses anyway and could go in the dining room. I apologize for all the crap on the counters and table, we are trying to dry everything out. I don’t have a picture of what it looked like pre-flood, but it had an L of cabinets, one on one wall, one on the other, and then the same open shelving that’s on the right of the sink was also on the left.

Echoing Felizlady - what you going to do about that big duct In the wall If there’s no upper cabinet?

“People buy homes w/ 80 year old trashed kitchens.”

Just had to say “you said it sister!” My home’s prior owners had some “Issues”, and they had an unusable kitchen - filthy, everything broken, awful. I bought the house anyway cause I could see the potential. Your kitchen, with or without uppers, is attractive.

For the duct we would have to box it out but I would do it in a triangular shape. We have unconventional ceilings in other rooms of the house because of roof lines, so I’d likely model it after that.