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.
Greenbrook Design While cabinet hardware is essential for functionality, it’s also a key element in the overall look and feel of your space. When selecting hardware, there’s more to consider than just appearance. How do you want your cabinets to open? Do you prefer knobs, pulls, or a combination of both? Should you go with cup pulls for a traditional touch or sleek bar pulls for a modern edge?
These decisions may seem small, but they can have a significant impact on both the usability and aesthetic of your cabinetry. Hardware serves as the finishing touch—bringing together the design while also making everyday tasks more comfortable and intuitive.
Walker Woodworking You are ready to begin your renovation, but you are unsure whether you want to go with custom or semi-custom cabinets. While custom cabinets will provide you with the exact fit you need for your space, they are at the higher end of the price range. Semi-custom cabinets tend to be a more budget-friendly alternative while still giving you the style and function needed for your space. Many homeowners are discovering the benefits of choosing semi-custom cabinets and are learning that they can still get the look they want while staying within their budget. Let’s talk more about what semi-custom cabinets are, the benefits they bring to your project, and some of the options we offer here at Greenbrook Design.
We use it every day but hardly pay any attention to it, yet it can impact the overall design of the home. We are, of course, referring to your flooring, and its importance should not be overlooked or underestimated. It is the largest design element in the home, which means it tends to serve as the foundation of the look and feel in the room. It has the ability to make or break your space and is subconsciously the first thing we notice in a room. Since it is used consistently, it must be durable and functional for the particular area, whether slip-resistant or waterproof. Flooring should also complement the overall design style you choose and be carefully considered before finalizing your choice. Here are some aspects to remember when making your selection.
The kitchen backsplash tends to be overlooked during the planning session for a renovation, but it has a big impact on the overall look of the design, and it should not be underestimated. To many, it may seem like such a small element, but it has the power to bring style, class, and protection to the heart of the home. When walking through a model home or flipping pages in an interior design magazine, the kitchen always has a backsplash that often draws our eye. Coming in multiple sizes, styles, and shades, the kitchen backsplash has come a long way from being a simple surface to creating a glamorous highlight that immediately draws the eye.
Walker WoodworkingThis deficiency has led to a readjustment of space, a call to renovate the home, and to provide a more functional design for everyone. There are also other reasons motivating homeowners to reevaluate their current living situation, such as greater flexibility at home, an open concept, personal space, and plenty of storage. While kitchens and bathrooms are still among the most renovated areas in the home, new emphasis is being placed on four additional sections in the home, which we want to highlight today.
Walker Woodworking 