Do you have enough storage? Closed storage stores more than open storage. My opinion on open shelving is this - it ends up being mostly decorative. Unless you are a super neak freak and like to keep things neat and tidy all the time, open shelving is not the best. If you want to put a small spot for open shelving just for your best peices, that may be a consideration.

Closed storage is better than open. I like my lower cabinets to have a low-edged slide-out shelf on the bottom so reaching the big bowls or rarely-used countertop appliances is easy.

Having a cabinet above the DW is nice for unloading glassware from the DW. If this were my kitchen, I might replace the single large cabinet you have between the two windows with two wall cabinets; and then, reconsider the door swing for the left cabinet, so that it opens towards the sink (hinged on right). IMO that cabinet above the DW is the best location for glassware. It will make unloading the DW easier and it will be more efficient when grabbing a glass out of that cabinet to get a drink of water. For the same reason, I would change the door swing on the cabinet to the left of the sink--that cabinet should also open towards the sink. In my kitchen, I made the cabinet to the left of sink a medicine cabinet, which is convenient to the sink--your needs may differ. And I would add more drawer base cabinets.

I would either keep your upper cabinets or get rid of upper storage entirely for a nice open feel and skip the shelving idea. It sounds like you have plenty of storage with the lowers and the cabinets on the other side of your kitchen. Open shelves are a messy, dusty way to store things. If you want to do a shelf or two for decoration, great, but I wouldn't keep dishes or glass on them. I have seen a lot more photos on Houzz where there are no uppers and no open shelves. I like the look.

It sounds like you have a lot of storage, I would keep the uppers on the fridge wall and leave the rest without upper cabinets. It would not block light b/w windows. I see open shelf or some plants or even an art there.

If you have the storage space and like the look, I’d say go with open shelves.

I’ve had my open shelving in my kitchen for 13 years, and I love it. I’m actually sad I don’t have the room or really the opportunity to have some in the new kitchen we’re doing in a new house.

I have three substantial shelves over the countertop that includes the dishwasher, and I keep everyday things on the two bottom shelves. The top is pretty much decorative and rarely used stuff. I have my everyday glasses right there, some bowls and plates, and I find it incredibly convenient. Dishwasher to shelf.

Everything on the shelves is either clear glass or off-white and it looks lovely.

I have a dog and a cat, and while I’m not a neat freak I do keep my kitchen in pretty good shape. Maybe because it’s stuff that I use all the time, but I never have a problem with dust or fur or anything else on my open shelving. Obviously when I take stuff from the top shelves they require a rinse.

Thank you! I am going to consider my options. We have plenty of storage with or without the upper shelves between the windows so its more of the aesthetic / openness that we have to decide if we want to go with.

Don’t know what stage you are at but will you have a pantry?..a big open pantry with shelves instead of cabinets is much handier …easier access than a bunch of upper cabinets with doors..best ever is an arrangement where pantry doesn’t have a door either

Never cross in front of a range to go from fridge to sink so first address that then open shelving IMO adds a whole new level of cleaning and often they just look messy unless you have lovely dishes to be displayed IMO in the space you show no uppers at all would be my advice just the hood. BTW all drawers for lowers you can even do drawers below the sink with the right cabinets I have drawers for my dishes glass ware and pots pans and even my baking supplies the only lower cabinets I have are under my 2 back to back sinks with trash there too, All drwaers and honestly I much prefer true pullout pantries to walk ins too.

@btydrvn We are converting the laundry area to a pantry (yep laundry area was in the kitchen in this lovely older home haha). We're going to have part of it house appliances (like the microwave) and then the other half will be for food.

thank you, @Patricia Colwell Consulting. Unfortunately we are not moving appliances in this reno. I appreciate the advice on the drawers! Right now the cabinet next to the dishwasher is our trashcan cabinet. I will be updating the current 4-drawer section to be a secondary 3 drawer (so 2 3-drawers next to each other). I'll consider replacing the last cabinet on the far right with more drawers based on your recommendation. Thank you!

I like the idea of open shelving in between windows. I did that in my kitchen and love it. I have coffee mugs, bowls, big and small plates there, which we use every single day - no time to get dirty! On the top shelf, I keep wooden salad bowls that are both decorative and useful. I think the open shelving between windows allows the kitchen to feel more airy. I would keep the closed storage in the corner, but maybe ditch the cupboard closest to the window?

Thank you, @Shawna. that's what we're thinking!