An Honest and Open Discussion
As professional remodelers, Craig Russell and The English Contractor team also dabble as counselors and life coaches when it comes to home improvement. Marie Kondo is now living in Los Angeles and The Home Edit team is busy with their Netflix series. And Dr. Phil is so 2005. So we’re happy to step in and give some guidance for those making some big life choices when it comes to a new kitchen. There are a lot of important questions to ask, though, when getting ready for a kitchen remodel. Namely: How are you currently using this space? How do you want to use this space? And, where’s all of your stuff going to go? And there are a lot of design implications that fall under these questions, if you think about it. But one topic we’re constantly talking about is open shelving.
Are you on the fence about whether you want upper cabinetry or open shelving in your kitchen? Open shelving is a trend, but not one that is going away any time soon according to our sources. So as you are soul searching about your life choices and kitchen design selections, here are some items to keep in mind.
Access
Will open shelves work in your space? Will they be a useful addition or a high-maintenance add on?
Photo Credit: Ross Van Pelt
Designer: Evolo Design
When planning their kitchen remodel, these homeowners instinctively knew that it was a great space for kitchen shelving. This large window had been flanked by upper cabinetry, which actually didn’t add that much storage, and also blocked a lot of the natural light. We removed two upper cabinets, leaving space between an appliance garage on one side and the double wall ovens on the other, which instantly made the entire kitchen seem so much bigger and brighter. These satin brass and glass shelves are suspended from the ceiling and so, in theory, they could easy be removed if and when an update is needed. The glass shelves were a great choice for this space, adding to the open and airy feeling in this kitchen. Even for the tidiest homeowner, though, kitchens catch their fair share of dirt and grime, so the items on open shelves need to be cleaned regularly. These homeowners chose to use their shelves for coffee mugs on one side and drinking glasses on the other. Items that are used daily are a great use of space, since they are regularly being washed anyway. Another plus is that this kitchen has a ton of storage in other places, so these shelves are home to a minimal, uniform looking items, keeping everything looking crisp and clean.
Function
How are you going to use the space? Will they make your space work better or just add in clutter?
Photo Credit: Ross Van Pelt
Architect: drawing dept
The English Contractor team always recommends that our homeowners take a good inventory of their kitchens before we start a renovation. What are the must haves in the space? What appliances, tools and bric-a-brac are just taking up space. After all, a cluttered kitchen is not going to be easy to work in, no matter what type of renovation. These open shelves were custom made for a narrow space, also surrounding a window, that would have been too small for an upper cabinet. Plus, as in the other kitchen, even the narrowest of cabinets would have obstructed a ton of light. These shelves gave some extra storage right where it’s needed. This kitchen nook contains a dishwasher, sink and refrigerator, making this the perfect place for every day items like drinking glasses. If these homeowners were purely looking for a place to add decor items, these shelves could have looked cluttered or unnecessary. However, using them to hold every day items at the ready maximizes this small corner and makes them a perfect addition. You can tell that these homeowners gave these shelves some thought. While they does contain some decor items, it mixes them in with a collection of glassware, too, for a functional/decorative look.
Aesthetic
Will open shelves work better than cabinetry in your space?
When you see a picture like this, even the open shelf naysayers out there will agree that sometimes, they really are the best option. This home underwent a large transformation, changing a closed in kitchen to an integral part of an open layout. Upper cabinetry would have made the kitchen feel claustrophobic. There are enough shelves here to give the homeowners options to both store every day items for easy access and decorative items to add some style to the space. In a space like this, it is likely that cabinetry would have cost more than open shelving, so budget can be another reason to vote for team open shelving.
Collections
Will your space be used for storage or display?
Photo Credit: Ross Van Pelt
Architect: drawing dept
Sometimes you don’t have to make the choice between open shelving and cabinetry. This creative homeowner gave their kitchen window two important tasks: to let in the merry sunshine and to act as a creative display area. Without a cabinet door to hide behind, interior design experts recommend using open shelves to carefully display collections, whether they are every day items or decor elements. Once again, this space is pulling double duty. It holds a collection of rose colored glasses that make for a beautiful display. But they are useful as well for a real win win.
Are you opening up? Or closing the doors?
Some people love them. And some people just don’t. While your therapist may be able to help you figure out if you want to keep your stuff in the wide open or hide it all behind closed doors, as kitchen counselors, we have other questions to ask you while you’re on our renovation therapy couch. Will they work in your space as a substitution for upper cabinetry? Do you have a nook where a shelf will add some extra pizzaz and storage? Are you up for a little extra cleaning and dusting? Do you have a collection that you want to put on display? We don’t have all the answers, but we can guide you through the soul searching that will inevitably lead to your dream kitchen.