It sounds charming to me, but I guess I have a lot of "it depends" questions. Could you possibly post a picture from the kitchen side looking towards the doorways you want to span?

Hard to advise without knowing how much space is between the top of the arch and the ceiling or crown moulding (if there is moulding).

ML

Thanks, Phone Lady. I'll post more photos when I'm at the desktop.

MaddieLee; The house is old, as in old and tired, not old and elegant! It was built in 1952 and is very small. I suppose it's a "ranch."

The ceilings are 8 ft only, there will be crown molding. We've been slowly trying to finish small updates, but I finally decided we had to make it at least decently live-able or buy new house before winter.

I'll post more tomorrow.

A horizontal shelf above an arched doorway is a very bad idea, in every possible way. Your teapots and pitchers will look better somewhere else!

I'm not feeling it...I think, esp with 8' ceilings it will looked cramped. And I would think a shelf above a doorway would not feel good...like walking under a ladder.