I received an email from a reader a couple of weeks ago asking me for inspiration pictures for how to accessorize above her kitchen cabinets. So, since she asked, here's my two cents worth. . . .Clear the clutter! You and I both know ivy wouldn't grow up there naturally because you wouldn't climb up there to water it :)
Wm. F. Holland/Architect via Houzz
I used to shove every piece of greenery and ceramic rooster I could get my hands on up above my kitchen cabinets, but I have since converted to the clean, (mostly) accessory-free cabinet top movement. This could have something to do with how much I really dislike climbing up on people's counter tops, shoving things up there, hopping back down to look at it, deciding it didn't look right, climbing back up, etc. . . . . I distinctly remember climbing up a ladder at a client's house while was 8 months pregnant and hoisting huge ceramic vases over my head. Yeah, don't do that.
So, do I think there is an exception to this "rule"? Yes, I do.
I am not opposed to smart, well-placed pieces above the cabinets. In fact, I love these wire baskets that Camila used in her kitchen for extra storage:
The best way to achieve a clean-not-crowded look is to keep things simple and use collections or groupings of similar items:
I was amazed when searching for images for this post how few great examples I found. Have one to share? I'd love to see it. What's your take on accessorizing atop kitchen cabinets?
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Great idea! I use to decorate on top of my cabinets but now my cabinets touch the ceiling so those days are over. But I used to have so much fun with that!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE that kitchen with the birds on the top of the cabinets.....that's going in my dream files!
ReplyDeleteI think it is Lindsay of The Pleated Poppy blog that has a bunch of colorful globes in various sizes in the (tall) space above her cabinets....a great way to incorporate some fun color into a neutral space.
Emily you are such a comedian the comment about the ivy and rooster is so true. I've seen time and again the ole dusty ivy and the high gloss rooster :) I love the kitchen with the birds! Thanks for sharing the post.
ReplyDeleteMine are bare and it drives my mother nuts, hahaha! I'm loving the set of birds though and totally saved it to my kitchen file :D
ReplyDeleteShelley
www.westermanfam.blogspot.com
This is such an important topic because many kitchen have bare space above the cabinets. Working on a client's project right now that had a sea of space to fill...and not with ivy (lol)! Great post and examples!
ReplyDelete~Jenna, SAS Interiors
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ReplyDeleteHaha. Love it. Not sure if there is anything more foul than fake ivy swaggering on top of a cabinet. Thanks for the post.
ReplyDeletelebaroninteriors.blogspot.com
I was laughing when I read this because I just had a client ask me what to put above her cabinets and I said nothing! She wanted to stuff ivy up there! HAHA!
ReplyDeleteI prefer cabinets that go to the ceiling but if you do have space and clean lines things like the birds look awesome. Event he birds wouldn't look right in her kitchen. Thanks for this post, you did change my thoughts that some very spartan things can work like the birds....Great post!
http://lisamendedesign.blogspot.com/
great ideas. I agree, bare is best, but love the examples you provided. Less is more in this case.
ReplyDeleteAll wonderful ideas especially the one with the birds on top of the cabinets!
ReplyDeleteJessie
www.mixandchic.com
I am in love with the kitchen with the birds. We are talking of replacing our kitchen (cabinets & all) and that one I saved to my dream file :)
ReplyDeleteI have to agree--clear the clutter! However, I do love those little birds.
ReplyDeleteGreat ideas! Thanks Emily! I love the baskets. Abby
ReplyDeleteI find this so hard to do and only have a few things on mine. I love the last picture you shared and the little bird one. And I was laughing about the ivy-so true!
ReplyDeleteThose birds do make such a statement on their own perched up there! I too have lots of space above my cabinets so have put a few large baskets from World Market and filled them with holiday dishes that I rarely use. I keep them covered inside the basket with linens so no dusting required!! I was desperate for storage and they look awesome.
ReplyDeleteThose birds do make such a statement on their own perched up there! I too have lots of space above my cabinets so have put a few large baskets from World Market and filled them with holiday dishes that I rarely use. I keep them covered inside the basket with linens so no dusting required!! I was desperate for storage and they look awesome.
ReplyDeleteIn my old house I had really low cabinets (it was an old bungalow) and I used large serving pieces of clear glass so that it added some texture without really being 'seen' - but I am like you, I tend to lean towards clean and clear =) great post! xoxo shelli
ReplyDeletetimely post, as this is exactly what I've been thinking -- let's take down the decor items above my kitchen cabinets but I'm liking the idea of large baskets up there, something with texture.
ReplyDeleteOh Emily, I wrote about this topic once and I was surprised at how near and dear to some hearts Top O'Cabinet decor was! It was one of the most "controversial" discussions we've had at my place. http://www.thenester.com/2010/02/over-the-cabinet-decorating.html if you are bored with nothing else to do.
ReplyDeleteThanks for putting your opinion out there!
What smart ideas. Thank you for the suggestions.
ReplyDeleteThe less is more look is my favorite. I do love what my MIL did in her kitchen though. She used groupings of glossy white pottery in small doses, it really brightens the space, but isn't at all cluttered.
ReplyDeleteThis is great. Can I just tell you that when we moved in our house the cabinets were covered in ivy (fake, imagine that!) and I absolutely hated it. BUT I spent 6 months explaining to everyone that came in my house that I did not put it there, that it was the previous owner's bad taste. Ummm hey lazy! Take it down! Naaah.
ReplyDeleteMy husband put you up to this post, didn't he? When we had our kitchen remodeled last year, he begged me not to put anything on top of the cabinets....but what am I supposed to do with my perfectly good fake palms?! ;) The gap above my cabinets is about 2 feet, so I was trying to make it appear taller...is there ever an exception to the fake greenery, or do I need to ditch it?
ReplyDeletetell me obi-wan!
oh the dreaded ivy and rooster decor!! LOL been there and unfortunately done that! but thank the Lord my current home has cabinets that go all the way to the ceiling! I hate it when a client ask about decorating their upper cabs- b/c honestly there are very few ways to make them look good. Your examples are about as good as I've seen! I'll bookmark this for future reference for sure! Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteMe no likey...but I think you showed some good exceptions to the rule here. Sometimes the eye just needs a place to rest.....
ReplyDeleteI'm struggling with a similar place... the open space on top of a coat closet in our two-story foyer. What can I do with that space, other than collect dust? It's clearly visible from the upstairs landing.
ReplyDeleteMaybe books? You could even wrap them all in the same solid fabric or paper. That would provide texture without too much visual chaos.
DeleteIvy & Rooster! ha!ha! I think I still see that..but I definitely agree with u..repetition above kitchen cabinets is a no-fail design idea!
ReplyDeleteI battled this problem in our first house. Everything we put up there just wound up covered with dust anyway.
ReplyDeleteWhen we built our current house, we had the builders close that space in. The drywaller couldn't believe it. I remember him saying, "But people like to put plants and stuff up there!" Not this girl!
I love my closed soffits. We just redecorated our kitchen and hung a collection of antique cast iron trivets up there. It looks great!
Great post! I am a big fan of the clean look. One idea that you didn't mention is using over cabinet lighting on top of the kitchen cabinets. I suppose this is not technically "accessorizing", but it's really a neat look that can visually expand your ceiling.
ReplyDeleteHere's a DIY blog post about it with photos:
http://blog.pegasuslighting.com/2010/07/new-home-project-over-cabinet-lighting/
Great post! I love those little birdies!
ReplyDeleteIm with Cassie.. I have AT LEAST 2 feet above my cabinets... and its a LOT of wall to be looking at. I dont have anything up there yet.. but I was going to put greenery! My kitchen looks nothing like the pictures you posted.. so its hard to imagine mine with any of the suggestions! I have dark wood, and Dark granite... =( Whats a girl to do.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it's a dated look. But if you HAVE to do it, keep in monocramatic... milk glass, hotel silver, etc. Fake ivy=NEVER!
ReplyDeleteI have kept mine clear only because the thought of one more thing to dust sends me into a tailspin. I do put lit garland up there at Christmas just for a couple of weeks.
ReplyDeleteYou couldn't have said it any better. Great examples of how to do it well. I am crazy in love with that last photo. Whoever is responsible for styling that room is a complete pro.
ReplyDeleteExtremely timely post! You're too funny about ivy & roosters, lol!
ReplyDeleteI too am loving the simplicity of the birds.
I wish we had our cabinets go straight to the the ceiling when we built the house but oh well. I like the idea someone posted about putting holiday dishes covered by linens in a basket up there-clever.
Really like what The Handmade Home did in her kitchen redo. http://www.thehandmadehome.net/2011/03/the-kitchen-is-finally-done/
Great post!! Kitchen cabinets are tough! We live in a 1970s Colonial with minimal storage space. I love my serving pieces, so I use my cabinet tops to display/store them. One side of the kitchen has all my white pieces (soup tureen, pitchers, tiered cake stand, empty creamer) and the other side houses my clear glass stuff (cake dome, trifle bowl, punch bowl, etc.)
ReplyDeleteI spaced things out so they don't look too cluttered, but it really is a fine line. I have to keep myself from "acquiring" new pieces, as much as I love them...b/c there is no space! :)
Totally know what you mean about climbing up and down and up and down again. I got so fed up with it that I took everything down and left it be. I really enjoy the clutter free look as well. Those I LOVE those cabinets with the three birds on top, that looks fantastic!
ReplyDeletehttp://repurposedlifedesigns.blogspot.com/
Great advice, Emily! And so true- definitely used to decorate up there, but found it's just a dust collector! Simple and clean is my new moto. Great pictures!
ReplyDeleteThe timing of this is SO PERFECT for me! I had a client last night ask me what to put above her cabs. I said NOTHING, but she wants something. I love the black sculptures and the silver urns.....Thank you!!!!
ReplyDeleteStacy
I love the clean look. Im not into having any object above my cabinets. When designing kitchens for my clients I have the cabinets go to the ceiling.
ReplyDeleteluxecoutureinteriors.blogspot.com
Love this post! The tops of our cupboards are only filled with dust. We have neighbors (with the same house) with the ivy/rooster combo. I'm not a fan at all. I might have to find some baskets though b/c we're in serious need of storage. . . .
ReplyDeleteHow embarrassing!!?? I am the queen of fake greenery - it's everywhere in my house and would probably be above my kitchen cabinets, if they were open! Is fake greenery ever ok or do I need to avoid that part of Hobby Lobby?
ReplyDeleteAfter I read this I took down the clutter above my cabinets and it looks so much better.
ReplyDeleteI always thought you had to fill those spaces up. At least I got rid of the fake ivy a few years ago!
I would generally vote to keep it clean , but hey design rules are made to be broken, right?
ReplyDeleteI did it once with one simple object:
http://www.lynninteriors.com/default3.asp
Lynn from Decor Arts Now
Great post, Emily. Couldn't agree w/you more. Also, thanks so much for your kind comment today!! :)
ReplyDelete"You and I both know ivy wouldn't grow up there naturally because you wouldn't climb up there to water it :)"
ReplyDeleteI had a roommate who continually put fake plants atop any tall surface in our apartment. I think we had more fake ivy than any one house. You are hilarious, this made me think of my never ending battle with the fake plants!
Love the silver pitchers...would never think of doing that!
ReplyDeleteWonderful post! I was actually playing the "up-down, up-down" game on the ladder tonite. I now feel inspired to rake all that stuff in the floor and start with a clean start!
ReplyDeleteIn my last home, I used an assortment of colored glass vases to display on top of my cabinets. An idea I stole from a display I saw at Nordstrom years ago. Here is a link to my pic. You have some great ideas!
ReplyDeletehttp://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OCWsO4DMsMM/TbTp0yS5ikI/AAAAAAAAB-g/7JPB_drVzjQ/s1600/DSC_0013.jpg
So apropos! I've been looking at inspiration pictures for the tops of cabinets in case I decide to go that route. I love the picture with the blue and white pottery -- so collected and refined looking. Here one that I like:
ReplyDeletehttp://pinterest.com/pin/22154259/
we have a very small kitchen and although I DO NOT like things above the cabinets, I have a couple of things that I don't use very often at all -- some platters and a tray in plate stands, and then some cookbooks sandwiched between glass apothecary jars filled with corks. Not the best, but MUCH better than dread ivy. eeek.
ReplyDeleteI don't like things above the cabinets, either. All that stuff gets so dusty. The birds look great, tho... simple and clean.
ReplyDeleteI love the shelf idea in the first picture. I think I'll incorporate that into my kitchen and put one behind the stove for oil bottles, the pepper mill, etc.
I have to say... the fact that the kitchen in the first picture has soffets above the cabinets on the left and none above the cabinets on the right bugs me. I like symmetry, so that one set of cabinets being up higher than the other would drive me nuts. LOL
I reaaly hate fake ivy above the cabinets too! makes your kitchen look so dated. I prefer a clean look but have to admit that the birds look really amazing.
ReplyDeletehttp://houseonashwelllane.blogspot.com/
I am with you, an advocate for no clutter. I don't like anything up there most of the time, but I do like those birdies! A lot. Kind of surprised myself there.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite thing to put above kitchen cabinets is another row of shortie cabs. ;o) In the kitchen in the first home we built, I had them all the way across the long wall (16'!), with glass-inset doors. They functioned like a china cabinet for all of my pretty, but not everyday-use, items. I loved that kitchen. Sigh . . . how I miss that room.
ReplyDeletejob well done on these elegant kitchen cabinets! i like these ideas from you! thanks a lot!
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Current house is the first time I've ever put anything above the cabinets because there is so much space between the cabinet and the ceiling. I did 4 mini vignettes using some large decorative plates that I picked up at Marshall's and TJ Maxx. While the vignettes still look good, after 7 years, I've actually grown tired of the look and am thinking of trying something else as I tweak the look of the kitchen. I do love the example with the birds.
ReplyDelete