Design Notes
The kitchen is the center of the home, which means it should be given good consideration when planning its layout. This is especially true when it comes to cabinet design. Closed, glass front, and open shelving are the options available for kitchen cabinets. Open shelving has become a popular choice with homeowners and designers alike due to the elegance and style it brings to the kitchen. Let’s talk about the benefits it can bring to your home and some helpful design tips.
What Is Open Shelving?
Standard kitchens have cabinets with doors, but open shelving eliminates cabinets completely. It can be used in lieu of upper cabinets entirely or pair perfectly with standard cabinets. Open shelving is an option that blends with multiple styles and sizes.
What Are The Benefits Of Open Shelving?
Not only are they a beautiful option in the kitchen, but open shelving comes with several benefits that make it a viable choice when planning your renovation. Some of them include:
- Increased Storage
- Fits awkward layouts
- Small looks bigger
- Easy maintenance
- Budget friendly
Opening shelving increases storage because, while cabinets can store items, they can also tend to be messy and disorganized. Include glass jars and even baskets that will look good on the shelf, keep everything in its place, and give you the needed storage. Sometimes a kitchen layout can be awkward, making it difficult to maximize space, but shelving can help accomplish this goal. They can go in places cabinets cannot, such as above sinks and narrow areas. Open shelving brings an added benefit to smaller spaces because it gives the illusion of being bigger. Closed cabinets can make an area feel cramped, but shelves allow more of the kitchen to be seen, making the area feel larger.
If you need to clean out the cabinets, you know it means taking everything out and wiping the inside and outside of them, but shelves are super easy. Just a simple swipe takes care of it all. Opening shelving is considered budget-friendly since it uses less material, helping you to get the kitchen you need on the budget you set. Learn a few more of the reasons this option brings to you here. The benefits of open shelving are many and can be a great choice for your new kitchen design.
Design Tips For Open Shelving
Open shelving is a unique design style and one that requires different planning than standard cabinets. Careful thought should be applied when designing the layout and shelving. Here are a few things to consider when starting your renovation.
- Varying lengths: By choosing to have shelves of different lengths, you can create visual interest in your kitchen. This also allows the shelves to fit into small or tighter areas of the kitchen and accommodate a variety of items.
- Contrast: Two-toned is a popular design element in kitchens. It can be carried into open shelving by having it painted or stained a contrasting color to the rest of the kitchen.
- Artwork: Open shelving is not only functional but also a great way to add art to your kitchen. Consider using a live edge for the shelf or a bold color.
- Depth: By making them thicker, they can stand out more
- Pairing: Open shelving works well as a complement to standard cabinets or can stand alone in place of upper cabinets altogether.
- Backsplash: Since backsplashes are placed against the wall, it is important to consider what will be there, such as a nice wall color or backsplash that goes from counter to ceiling. The results are always stunning.
Open shelving can add a fresh look to your kitchen and help it stand apart from other designs. Our designers are experienced and able to help you create a layout and design that reflects your style and suits your unique needs. Grab a few more design tips here.
When To Not Have Open Shelving
While it is a popular design trend for many homeowners, there are times when open shelving may not be the best option for your kitchen. Here are a few reasons:
- Everyone can see: Open shelving makes an area feel more airy and allows all your items to be seen. If you have a lot of mismatched dishes or you would prefer for your friends to see every dish you own, you might want to at least limit the open shelves you have. You can always include some floating shelves instead.
- Keeping it clean: When it comes to open shelving, you can’t just stuff it and forget it. This choice requires you to keep things a bit tidier. While boxes and canisters can help, if you don’t want to always have to make sure it looks presentable, you might want to opt out of this choice.
- Clutter: Open shelving makes things accessible, but it also means that there is a tendency to place more than is necessary on a shelf, which can make the space look cluttered.
The decision is up to you; we encourage you to look at inspiration boards, consider your needs in the kitchen, and what will work best for your space.
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Walker WoodworkingWhile there are multiple standard door styles to choose from, opting for a custom look can add that special wow factor to your home that you’ve been looking for. We have been manufacturing custom pieces for over twenty years and love seeing the look of surprise and delight on our clients’ faces when they see their cabinet for the first time. Here are four unique door styles that we’ve created for our clients, which we’re particularly proud of.
Walker WoodworkingMany homeowners want the familiar touches of suburban life while enjoying the benefits that urban life has to offer. This results in a need for design to alter and adjust in order to provide exactly what is required to make someone feel perfectly at home. Let’s discuss some of the ways you can blend urban with suburban and create a style that says welcome home to you.
Walker WoodworkingOne of the best features of any bedroom is the closet. This is the place where not just your clothes go, but a myriad of other objects as well. As it is considered one of the more functional areas in the room, this means it has certain obligations to meet, including sufficient space and storage capacity. Few things frustrate a homeowner as much as a dysfunctional closet that is a hazard every time the door is opened. Having one that is designed according to your needs, with ways to keep everything organized and in its proper place, is a dream come true. Of course, while closets need to be functional, they can also be stylish and ever personalized to your particular needs. Let’s talk about what goes into designing the perfect walk-in closet.
Finishing a basement or renovating it completely can also increase the value of your home. There is also the possibility of gaining additional income by renting out the basement. A basement is a blank canvas waiting to be transformed into a useful and functional space for you and your family.
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