Open shelves in kitchens - a good idea?
Emmeline Westin
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Open shelves can look fab in an industrial or laidback country style kitchen, but are they convenient?
Do you have open shelves in your kitchen? How do you keep clutter at bay? Feel free to upload photos and show off your kitchens!
Do you have open shelves in your kitchen? How do you keep clutter at bay? Feel free to upload photos and show off your kitchens!
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rinked
10 years agoRelated Discussions
Is this a good idea for my kitchen?
Comments (9)Hi Jasper, I think this looks like it'll work (and lovely sketch btw) - as you say, the key is going to get coordination between kitchen installer and main contractor. The former will need tolerance to get the units in, if the nib walls/boxing safe built first -so you'll probably end up with some scribe pieces (narrow colour matched timber pieces) either side, and a plinth at the bottom, and some kind of flat cornice at the top. If the boxings are built after the kitchen is installed, make sure the kitchen is well protected from scratches and plaster etc! Another - possibly easier - alternative is to use standard colour matched end panels for your tall units at either end, and then just do the 'boxing' at the top of the run of cabinets?...See MoreUsing corridor space for bigger kitchen good or bad idea?
Comments (17)I agree completely with OnePlan. There are lots of ways this house could be altered to suit you and your family and I presented just one option. A design professional would help you think about what you need out of the house and what parts bother you most and need addressing. They would also consider sunlight, regulations improving the flow, sight lines, aesthetics and correct sizes. Getting the design right is so important and most people don’t. They either make changes organically (make a small change then see what they want to do next) which never works, or make plans based on their budget concerns but don’t really know what things cost (By this I mean that they plan lots of little changes thinking that they are managing the budget or preferring to pay for lots of little jobs rather than one big one). In my opinion the best route is to get a great home is to get together a plan and to stick to it even if you can’t do everything all at once....See MoreOpen shelving design in kitchen
Comments (5)Have a look at this one, a combo of open but not entirely open shelving. Have a look at this open shelving compromise, I think it looks great. I would go for either metal or thin wood shelving. If you go for wood, steer clear of chunky ones, they will "weight" the kitchen down. In terms of size, if you're not installing a cooker hood then go the full width of the wall, an option is for the top shelf to be shorter as per picture below to avoid a "solid" feel. In your wall 2 shelves would look great (3 might look busy and it will be harder to keep a clean tidy look daily). great kitchen btw...See MoreOvens in kitchen island good or bad idea?
Comments (7)I have Neff hide & slide ovens and I wouldn’t want to use them low down. The reason is that the door slides itself away automatically when you open it. So if you take out a tray to baste/turn stuff on the hob, the oven door will disappear and your legs will be in front of the open hot oven. You’ll find yourself having to pull the door out and close it the whole time which defeats the point of hide & slide and also means you‘d actually be better off with non hide & slide where you can just flip the door up easily. Personally I would go for a raised oven every time but if you do go for low down consider carefully whether you want the hide &slide......See More
feeny
10 years agoEmmeline Westin
10 years ago
charleee
10 years ago
PRODytecture
10 years agocharleee
10 years ago
PROPatricia Colwell Consulting
10 years ago
PROLinda Mayo
10 years agolast modified: 10 years ago
PROArtworks
10 years ago
Snaggy
10 years agolast modified: 10 years agosally78
10 years ago
summilux
10 years agoIf you build your own, shelves are easier than cabinets. We also have a small kitchen (by US standards) and shelves in the upper areas make small areas feel larger. We demolished the only area that had upper cabinets (which came with the house) and will replace c a shelf that extends the lower border of the new hood. We began the remodel in late March and won't have the kitchen completed until early summer. Thus the photos of a work in progress. The stuff that's on shelves is used often w/o dust being an issue. The cutting board replaceda cooktop with a downdraft vent. Even with that wimpy vent system, grease and splatter did not seem to be a problem, but then DW is compulsive about a clean kitchen.
Emmeline Westin
10 years ago
designideas4me
10 years ago
shakerjaebs
10 years agoOur kitchen has open shelving. We bought it like this about a year and a half ago. I like the open feel it gives, but I think I'd rather have cabinets with glass fronts to provide the open feel. The shelves do get dusty, but it's not a big deal.
Emmeline Westin thanked shakerjaebscharleee
10 years ago
PROSustainable Dwellings
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Momof5x
10 years agoUser
10 years agofeeny
10 years agolast modified: 10 years agoYes, if they are right over or next to the stove. Otherwise, if you have good enough hood ventilation, open shelves in other areas just get dusty, not greasy. I have a small open shelf behind the range which gets wiped down weekly. But it is very handy for having things available when I'm cooking.
Our kitchen renovation · More Info- PRO
Linda Mayo
10 years agoI really like the bottom shelving open for easy reach, often used items.
Beverly Place - Kitchen · More Info A P
10 years ago
PROFurnished Up Fine Furniture and Home Decor
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Molly Cairns
9 years ago
PROtest
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9 years ago
charleee