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The biggest design decisiveness of myDIY kitchen renovationwasn’t the semblance strategy or choose materials . It was whether or not to dump my upper cabinet and exchange them with open shelving . My husband and I blend back and forth on the subject . He opined that we would n’t overlook the box-shaped clutter accumulator , while I question where we ’d put all of our stuff . Ultimately , we took the dip and have been experience with an open - shelves kitchen for a few years now .
Throughout my career as a nursing home and garden editor in chief , I ’ve heard both sides of the debate over clear shelf . Most people either love their neat , accessible esthetical or detest their potentially disorderly , limiting functionality .
Photo: Jenny Stanley Photo: Jenny Stanley for Bob Vila
Really , both parties have valid contention . In a recent conversation with Stephanie Pierce , Director of Design and Trends forMasterBrand Cabinets , I determine that kitchen assailable shelving is n’t just for looks any longer . It ’s now a staple fiber when it comes to building functional components in a quad . “ It ’s perfectly a lifestyle choice , ” Pierce suppose . After experiencing it for myself , I could n’t agree more .
My renovated kitchen includes zero upper cabinet , a riposte - to - ceiling underpass roofing tile backsplash , a newvented range hoodlum , and two 7¼-inch by 57 - column inch woodwind instrument shelves , among other things ( but those are the projects that pertain to the article you ’re reading now ) . Oh , and a piping - fitting pot wheel ! More on that by and by .
The space feels bigger and brighter.
Design - fresh , opting foropen shelvingwas a fantastical decision . My spouse bed to cook , as do I on occasion , and we appreciate the commodious , conciliatory nature of our kitchen . Not only did removing the upper cabinets brighten up the area around the windowpane , but it also opened up a view of every dish we own . fortuitously , I do it beautiful plates , bowl , mugs , and chicken feed . display them as functional kitchen decor that can be swap out as often as we desire is something I prise at this stage of my life .
With only low locker drawers in our new kitchen , we had todesignate storehouse spaceelsewhere for some small appliance , large platters , and specialty tools like sociable attachments and pizza pie peel . We made room for additional ledge in the laundry / utility space just off of the kitchen .
We also had to make some tough curtailment decisions for the opened - ledge conception . We saved a few sentimental pieces , but donate much of the hand - me - down dishware , utensil , and unused kitchen gismo we ’d collected over the year .
Photo: Jenny Stanley for Bob Vila
We do fewer dishes more often.
Meticulous upkeep is a necessity with open kitchen shelving — and what I was most anxious about for my family . Up until the renovation , we ’d allow dingy dishes stack up in the sink and return because we had an endless supply of unclouded item to use in the cupboards . Not anymore .
As it turns out , we just needed to adjust our routine . Now that our kitchen ’s cleanliness is more exposed , we prioritize it . sure enough , it feel like more work at first . But washing and returning dishes to their designate spacesat the end of each dayis in reality very satisfying . We also installed a pot wheel that displays all of our frying genus Pan , sauce pans , and colanders within weapon ’s reach of the chef . These , too , are washed and put forth nightly .
Dust and grease still accumulate.
Without the covering fire of cabinets , gunk can nail down on open ledge and the stuff put in on them . In my well - used kitchen , features like a ducted range hood and an easy - to - unclouded backsplash are especially important for minimizing the offspring . In addition , regularly cycling through our little dish collection , as notice above , inherently prevents buildup . Nothing blank sit long enough to get unsporting before we practice it , wash it , and bring back it .
Really , the only thing we have to detritus and degrease on occasion are the shelf themselves , just like we used to do with our oldupper console . I have n’t needed to sand and refinish the wood yet , but I would imagine that ’ll be a maintenance to - do in the next few class .
Styling open shelves can be challenging.
Simple black and snowy crockery inspire my tuxedo kitchen design , which simplified , to a degree , the task of styling . The neutral al-Qaida colors allow for one or more accents that are fun and easy to alter up , but too much variety could make things look messy . It ’s crucial that we scrutinize every newfangled purchase tokeep clutter in check .
Another limiting factor is the size of it of the kitchen ledge . For example , there just is n’t room to expose the “ cheffy ” bowl - plates my husband enjoys serving dinner party on because they ’re too wide . On the flip side , we ’ve come to appreciate smartly design item likethese stackable wine-colored glassesthat are as streamlined as they are functional . The large challenge for my household was learninghow to adorn the shelvesin a way that not only meet our make desires , but also maintains order .
Now that we ’ve nail down a system for keeping our kitchen ’s open features dandy and sizable , I ca n’t guess going back to those boxy welter collectors . I ’m on Team Open Shelves from here on out !
Photo: Jenny Stanley for Bob Vila
This Is the class for a Kitchen Renovation
Whether you ’re selling or staying , everyone can get something out of a kitchen update . Learn why we consider this renovation the Most Valuable Project of 2025 and how to stay on budget .
Photo: Jenny Stanley for Bob Vila
