How to Build Open Shelving Above Cabinets for a Custom Kitchen

When we moved into our house this is what the kitchen looked like. I wasn’t in love with the space above the cabinets, but I tried to make it work by decorating with vintage Mason Jars.

I felt like the Mason jars just collected dust. So when we installed the bigger window I removed the apron and shelf above the sink and I boarded up the opening above the cabinet. I wasn’t a fan of that either.

So when I painted the cabinets white I took the flat board down, leaving an old exposed duct and a space that I didn’t particularly love.

Then one night while perusing Pinterest I came across this image and just knew what I had to do!

Immediately I went and tore off the crown molding above the cabinet, damaging my fresh paint job.

Then I built an enclosure in the garage using a board for the back, a board for the top and sides, with finishing boards on the front and top.

Once I had it in place the hardest part was cutting the proper angles on the crown molding to fit in there perfectly.

This tutorial and these guides were super helpful in figuring out how to cut the crown. That and some caulk to hide the imperfections!

Then I sanded where I had damaged my paint job, and primed and painted it the same way that I had painted my cabinets.

Then I staged it with tons of my favorite things! I think that the way it goes to the ceiling gives it such a modern and custom feel!
I’m sure it will be a rotating display space, but for now I think I’m pretty content with my treasures that I put up there!

Our kitchen to-do list is slowly getting knocked out, our next big projects are cabinets, a backsplash, and flooring! I’d also love a matching stainless oven, but have also become pretty attached to my double oven, so finding an affordable stainless double oven is my current Craigslist goal!
In our last house I REALLY wanted to tear out the soffits above the cabinets, but I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to repair the drywall well enough to cover it up. If I would have thought of this alternative then I think that this would even work in place of existing soffits! It really opens up a world of new options doesn’t it?