Open shelves can add so much detail and interest to a space, not to mention they provide excellent storage and functionality, and they also can be used to create architectural detail. In a former home, I had these shelves built in a den and it added a great deal of book storage, but it also created an architectural focal point in the room. Before these were built it was an empty space, and I love looking for nooks and crannies in a house to build in interesting features like this.
And in the kitchen I added open shelves that went floor to ceiling. Again, lots of great storage, but it provided an excellent space to display some of my favourite items too.
And in this kitchen I added open shelves in two areas - one space a column of floor to ceiling shelves - great for extra display of dishes or cookbooks. When you have a space to add shelves, you have a chance to really customize the area to fit the open space, and decide on width, depth and thickness of shelves.
And in the same kitchen some floating shelves above the sink add visual interest with lots of pretty items.
