Has anyone ever added open shelving ABOVE existing kitchen cabinets?

I haven't however maybe you will find some ideas here. https://www.pinteresy.com/djeverett/decorate-vaulted-ceiling-ledge-shelf/

Yes, 3 houses ago, as we had vaulted ceilings too. But, my hubby and his buddy constructed them and I was at work so unfortunately I have no clue what they did but it survived several earthquakes and is still in place. I would also Google - and check your local building codes. Sorry I can't be of better help, but at least you know it is a possibility.

I would create boxes from wood that would fill in the space uniformly. Then I would add some molding to the top to finish them off.

How about moving your existing cabinets up until the one on the far right touches the ceiling? It looks like your cabinets are only about 7 feet high so you can probably move them up at least a foot. Then add a shelf under the cabinets for a mix of decorative items and things you use every day like mugs, spices, and cereal bowls.

If your goal is to "fill" that space above the cabinets, you might add beams that go diagonally from left to right and meet in the visual center of the roof line. Alternatively, you could paint the wall to match the cabinets and attach some large plates, platters and or landscape paintings for decoration.

It really depends on your goal - decoration or more storage.

Smiles from Carol

How about hanging shelves from the sloped ceiling? They could be really pretty and it would be easy to get them aligned.

Depending on how large it is. I would recommend removing it, then if it's in good shape use it above the boxes. Otherwise, get some mdf molding from the hardware store, install and paint it all out the same color.

Those items are just placed on the cabinet if you look you can see the. Plate holder, I thought you wanted floating shelves. So basically you just want to add some pretty it seems on top of cabinets that's all. If you add floating shelves then remember that you have to dust them and do you want to deal with that minimum once a month? Do you need more space if not just buy a large piece of art work at a tjmaxx and put it up to pretty up the space.

What I might do is use an old/antique-like outside door - the kind with about 8 panels of glass in it - to be mounted horizontally on the wall above the cabinets. I would find a mural wallpaper (or Wallie removable wallpaper) scene with sky and trees to mount behind the door so that the door resembles a window with beautiful scenery outside. Or, you might create a wood frame for the back of the window to permit the placement of a bare light fixture or a string of LED lights, put frosted contact on the glass panels, and you have a night light.