Unless you're enclosing the sides of the shelves, I'd skip the backsplash.

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What sort of design style are you going for?

I agree with @mama goose_gw zn6OH. Get some inspiration images for guidance.

Why is there a lone cabinet sitting there ? IMO a counter depth fridge should have been a first priority and unless the kitchen is finished the backspalsh will need to be decided.IMO if open shelves were part of the deisgn then there should be proper support in the walls for them . BTW faux beams always look faux and I need to see the whole kitchen before I could even begin to answer the wall and the design questions

I would turn this into a pantry..adding more cabinetry to the top ...you could add small curved shelves on each side to make the shape blend into the wall better

Patricia - we are working with what we’ve got, on a budget.

Btydrvn- thanks, we have a pantry on the other side of the fridge. there Is a doorway behind that, so I didn’t want it To seem like we were walking through a tunnel to get into the kitchen

Sharon - the kitchen is mostly modern farmhouse. I just want to make this wall a little more interesting, the opposing wall is open to the dining room

Risaelisabeth - what about some shiplap? If possible, I would do the entire wall with the shiplap (also, is there an opportunity to put up some shiplap elsewhere in the space or connecting room(s)?) and then either some metal shelving or wooden floating shelves to match the flooring/beam? Checkout these photos I found on Houzz:

Please if you are on a tight budget then forget that beam all together and IMO a piece of art will be cheap enough to add interest and I would need to see the whole kitchen before having any idea how this relates to the rest of the space.

Sharon - thank you! That is very much what I was looking for. Love that black shelving (and the windows too!) I also like the ship lap idea. I can carry that look into the dining room as well (it’s all Kind of one big space). do you think it would be too much white? I haven’t chosen a backsplash yet. The countertops are going to be super white quartzite.

Hi Risaelisabeth: no, I don’t think it will be too much white - you can always add colour with accessories and/or shiplap can be painted later if it is too much white for you. Would love to see completion photos!