If it's just about aesthetics, then I'd say the more minimal style of the utensil bar is preferable, but you have to cook in this kitchen as well as just admire its style. Those utensil bars only protrude, what, 3" from the wall? If you just want to hang spoons and such that's fine, but if you want hanging storage for skillets and saucepans, the shelf model with angle hooks will allow you that (as well as lids &c on top). Do you want your pans out within arm's reach?

ETA: What's the pot rack look like at night, with that light on above it? Does the rack protrude so far as to cast weird shadows? Because that could be super annoying if that's meant to be your stove-side task lighting.

Neither. IMO, you have a BEAUTIFUL backsplash, hood and light fixtures. The addition of either one seems to me to be superfluous and a distraction from what looks like a fairly expensive and lovely component of your kitchen. Maybe if you tell us what you need to accomplish we could be more helpful.

We are hoping to remove more of the clutter from the countertops. The lady of the house isn't too keen on hanging pots, which is why I initially was looking at the utensil bar. Right now we have everything in a can on the countertop and I was just thinking this would be a way to clean everything up a bit.

When we redid the kitchen, the original plan was to have shelving under those lights, similar to how the bookshelf pot holder would function; we just never got around to doing it!

I like the utensils, and those will probably be used often enough that they won't have a chance to get greasy.

Neither one; dust/grease catchers and not nearly as accessible as your drawers.

Yes, neither. Don’t spoil your beautiful backsplash with utensils.

Agree with neither.

I would hate to have that hanging utensil holder spoil the look of that tile! I mean, just get a larger crock and stick them in that! Plus, while you're cooking, they're easier to access.

too me, you're downgrading the classic look to that of a short order cafe!

as for the shelf, I think a marble shelf with light metal brackets would look nice.

I like the floating wood shelves too, but think in this case they may be too heavy looking.

(or, you could do a marble shelf AND have the utensil holder...something like this

I like the looks of these black oak shelves and metal brackets.

Here's how they would look w/yours. Of course you wouldn't have to jam them full!

floating marble

or, maybe something like ?

I like the look of the first one you posted, but then again, I like the look of a chef's kitchen. I think the utensil bar adds to the look of the area rather than detracts. I love having my utensils within arms reach and wouldn't want to have to dig in a drawer for them. I have my wooden utensils in a crock as pictured above, but my most used metal ones, including graters, are hanging on my utensil rack. Every six months or so, I take them all off and wipe down the rack, but the utensils are used often so they don't get greasy.

Outfit your drawers specifically for utensils right or left of the range.

Hooks on a wall make it cumbersome to remove utensils quickly and efficiently. People like me tend to drop things like that easily leading to messes. Also, keep in mind that not all implements you want regular access to have a hanging hole, much less one the correct size. Purge and keep necessary ones in a container is my suggestion too.