Window shelves

[airsides]

Hello y'all! My husband and I are installing shelves over my windows that are painted the same as the window trim. They are only 5 inches wide, as long as the windows are (4 feet X 2 windows), and only about a foot away from the ceiling. My question is what should I put on them? They are too small for baskets or tins or even plants. I was maybe thinking of salt and pepper shakers or something along those lines. I need to start a collection anyways in my kitchen, I think it's too sparse.....

Here's a pic of the windows, the shelves aren't up yet.
Thank you!

[neverfinished]

Hi... first let me say what a GREAT kitchen you have! I love it! and shelves are such a good idea...
S &P shakers would be fun! Do you like vintage kitchen "stuff".. so much to choose from out there. What about some old pottery? creamers, planters... CA pottery has some really cool colors and you can usually find those cheap at garage sales etc. I love fiesta however I only have the new stuff right now. You could do some of that, mini pitchers, s & p... the colors are fantastic!
Ok, there's my 2 cents! :D I can't wait to see what you decide!

[memmey]

Airsides,
I think I would start collecting colored glass items. Cobalt blue would be gorgeous, the sun would come through them. Red glass, green depression glass or amber for that matter. Just gradually acquire it. You can place a few pieces and take your time adding as you find it. Amber is still afforable now, the sun shining throught that would be so so nice. Just an idea.:)

[yarborough house]

How about old kitchen utensils...or I have a friend who collects the old insulators from old phone lines. They are glass and come in many colors and are very cool. Post a picture when you decide.

[chyna]

I would go with glass things too, with solid stuff you'd be blocking so much of your light and making the kitchen darker. I do love the idea of colored or even clear glass bowls, s/p shakers, that sort of thing.:)

[Breezy]

airsides ~ Everyone posted cool ideas. My only suggestion would be to use things you really love. Maybe you already have things you could put up there ~ things that make you smile when you look at them. It doesn't have to be a collection it can be anything that tickles your fancy so to speak.:)

[cheapdiva]

I'm confused . . .
the shelves will be above the windows, not in front of the glass, correct?
'Cause if that is the case, it won't matter if you have solid things on the shelf as opposed to clear glass items.

Start a collection! I have ironstone in the dining room on the hutch and have just bought a few more (very inexpensive) pieces on ebay. paid more for the shipping than the pieces!!!
I have "discovered" a trick to ebay - bid in the middle of the night right before an auction is suppose to end. I ended up with 4 pieces doing that last weekend. All great bargains. :)

How about candlesticks, old plates & platters & saucers, old cooking utensils, various frames and pictures of a favorite item - like flowers, fruits & veggies, landmarks, pressed flowers, old silver - which can be found for a song. SO MANY things you can do!

[airsides]

Thank you for the great ideas!
Here's a pic cheapdiva of similar shelves.
I think I'll go with clear glass... like apocathary jars. I have a huge herb garden right outside the windows so it will "go" I think!
Thank you aagin ladies.

[cheapdiva]

They look so fresh! I think I am going to "steal" this idea when we get the kitchen done and put my roosters and chicks up there!

[chyna]

Cheapdiva, you're right she did say over the window trim not over the glass window. Good thing you were paying attention more than me! :o:D Well now I can answer a little more intelligently since I put a shelf over the window in my kitchen recently myself. I have a bit more room above mine than you do but I just put things I liked up there that went with the color of the walls and theme. Loads of cups/saucers, some copper pots, tea pots and a couple trays. In front of the glass of the windows themselves I have my antique glass s/p shakers and some other colored glass things.

Does that help? :p

[cheapdiva]

Chyna - where are YOUR photos?????:p

[chyna]

I'm still adding shelves and painting that room. My next great idea is to paint the vinyl "wood" floor in there. We've had a couple of paint oops' and a few cast iron skillets left on the floor that rusted and left rust marks on the floor. :rolleyes: And I hate that floor to begin with. :p:o

[Zuzu's Garden]

I thought we'd be putting in shelves over windows in the Tiny House, but the wood stove puts out so much dust that I need to limit horizontal surfaces. :( I had planned on putting a combo of plates, pictures, glass, and small plants, like trailing ivy, on it. It would be fun to add seasonal decorations there too.

Z