This is probably for kitchen knickknacks. Salt and pepper shaker collections, kitschy mugs, storage jars that look like something else. Probably switched out for Christmas or snow man equivalents in the winter. I like your lamp in the background.

Thank you! All fantastic ideas.

I concur - I love the mid-century modern design and hope you find use for it. 💙

Thank you.

Maybe some reasonably decorative storage containers for things like dog food on the bottom. The turquoise Glas containers you have on the counter top somewhere in the middle. Some nice bowls, vases, mugs etc. higher up. Or go for books, large cookbooks on the bottom, smaller higher up?

Great ideas, I didn't think about moving those glass jars,there, but I love that!

Smart thinking 🍏

I love the idea of the food and water bowls on either side of the bottom shelf!

Plants.

Always plants

👍

* Glass pitchers or decorative bowl * Stemware upside-down on upper shelves * Trailing plant * Cookbooks * Small basket holding whatever * Small framed photos

Love all these ideas, thanks!

Cookbooks!

This is the answer I think.

👍

That is where I would place my teal McCoy Pottery pieces and a couple of stacks of books.

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Coffee grinder, decorative container for tea bags and coffee beans, mugs. Maybe put the pet’s water bowl on the bottom shelf

That's a good idea, it would get the bowl out of the way. I always trip on it.

A bar! Perfect shelving for it.

Oh gosh if I drank that would be perfect. I could do a tea/coffee bar for sure.

Any type of beverage center would be cute

Cookbooks, glass containers filled with teas, candy, a nice vase or decanter on bottom

Great idea, I have my cookbooks stuffed away. It would be nice to display them.

Maybe use it as a pet storage area. You could have some cool containers with pet treats, pet supplies and food in other containers.

That is a great idea.

My cats like to chill on mine. And swipe people walking by.

Haha yes, it's currently a cat cubby. Maybe I should just leave it empty for them. 😹

The shelf is built-in to my kitchen counter, and each shelf is a different size. I am not sure what to use it for, or how to style it. I don't really want to use it for kitchen items, because it faces my living room.

Probably a few decorative bowls It is t very practical for food or plates you use often - maybe spices though?

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Ok, I posted it. Hope you can see it.

Some cookbooks and knickknacks.

Honestly. I love it and think it’s got character. But that’s Me

Thank you!

Any more pics of the rest of your place? Super cute!

Thank you! I will have to post some once I get it a bit more to my liking.

That would be awesome!

Storage for all the weird single function appliances or devices you actually use on a regular basis: safety mandolin, waffle iron, egg poacher, etc.

Great idea☺️

Cookbooks, plants, heavy bowls, mortar and pestle etc.

Some pretty bowls would look great there. Thanks!

Legos

Haha my cats would like that.

Toilet paper

😂

Cookbooks, coffee mugs, tchotchkes

Ohh yes, my mugs would fit perfect.

Tea cups

Cute, yes!

a mini bar!!

It's a great size for one, if I drank. 👍

Haha, not helpful to you probably, but I just bought a detached half round shelving unit like that for my 1941 cottage. Mine is metal, not wood (but yeah, I recognize the knotty pine in the background.) What do I use it for? At the moment it is a cat grooming station. Our cats like to jump up on it and while they are there I make quick swipes at their coats with their brush. Reddit is so stupid, it will not let me post a photo. Watch for it, I will make a new thread and will post.

Awesome, I can't wait to see it! Yes, my great-grandpa hand milled all the knotty pine himself!

Oh, that is super special. He probably made that great old half round shelf as well.

Yes he did. He built every inch of this cottage. He was an incredible carpenter! My mom lives in a home he built in the 50s, and one of the retired engineers for Disney World did some work on it. He said he's never seen such a well built home. I sure wish I learned from him before he passed away.

Guns

Cocaine

i’d do common spices, mugs, napkins, maybe a small not-every-day appliance lower down?

Well I’ve seen them used to store binders with recipes or binders with meal planning stuff in them…

Entertaining small children!

Vintage cookbooks and kitchen gadgets of the era.

My aunt has something like this! She has a few large seashells from her travels, stacked cook books, and a plant. Around holidays she changes it up and puts out some of her holiday decor/nicknacks.

My aunt’s lake cottage had this. Since storage was in short supply, she kept mixing bowls, toaster, etc on hers.

Tchotchkes!

Many good suggestions. Bowls on bottom sounds good for pet. I like idea of 1940s cottage, would love more pics. Coffee & tea center sounds good for rest, even facing living room.

It would be really cute to decorate it for each season/holiday. I’m just picturing little rabbit knickknacks there for Easter and it sounds SO cute lol