My preference would be no decor, aside from what's on the sill. I've seen sconces mounted in that area, but that could be problematic to wire, depending on the framing. Maybe they had shelves and decided against bringing them back with the new cabinets? I might put one shelf on each side, right above the backsplash. That way they'll be easy to reach and clean and put more fresh herbs within reach. If you think the area begs for decor, visit some local art fairs and look at pottery.

For sophisticated, canisters would go in the cabinet and countertops would be clear, except for frequent use items. Your mushroom ones make me smile!

Needs no decor there.

Agree nothing is nicer.

Lea T, do you like your ceiling lighting? We are thinking about that for our kitchen, so just wondering.

The lights are nice in that we get a lot of spots to focus on - more than we would with the 2 or so spot lights we would normally put in the same area. They are also easier to install than cutting in new spot lights, and bulbs are easy to replace. They require dusting once in awhile, though, and make the ceiling look a bit more busy than streamlined spot lights. Overall I am happy we got them though, as our kitchen can be dark and we need the extra light.

Thanks for the info, Lea, appreciate hearing the pros and cons you gave. I really like the way they look in your kitchen. Can you tell me what brand they are?

Yep, leave those spaces clear. I might go for a more interesting wall clock to replace the one you have. Maybe something like the George Nelson design, given your modern slab door cabinetry.

Bari Midcentury Style Clock, Silver and Wood · More Info

Midcentury Modern Ball Wall Clock, Multicolored · More Info