FLOATING SHELVES AND OPEN CABINETS

Dominating recent kitchen designs, floating shelves are today’s version of the open cabinet design of years gone by. Still popular in every design style from cozy to contemporary, both upper cabinets without doors and sleek floating shelves offer design flexibility for display and functional storage.

IS IT RIGHT FOR YOU?

PROS

Open shelving offers increased storage options, allowing decorative pots, plates and glassware to sit in their full glory. With open cabinets, you can easily transform your existing kitchen by simply removing the doors and applying putty to the screw holes. Easy to organize and clean, removing upper cabinet boxes creates a more open expanse in the kitchen. This also gives way to adding decorative elements with backsplash tile or paint.

CONS

Sometimes too much isn’t a good thing. When you remove the ability to close cabinet doors, you can easily tell when things get dirty or disorganized. When not done properly, whether the thickness and finish of floating shelves, or the condition and finishing of open cabinets, these elements can go from being favorably cost-effective to cheap looking.

HOW FAR DO YOU GO?

JUST A LITTLE BIT

Just because you want open shelving doesn’t mean that you have to commit to keeping your entire kitchen neat and organized at all times. Strategically placed shelving or open cabinets can truly set off your kitchen design.

A single shelf located above the sink, or multiple shelves flanking the stove can draw attention and offer a way to ease into the concept. Open cabinets or shelves in a small nook or at the end of a run of cabinets can be transformed into a makeshift mini-bar, coffee nook, or butler’s pantry.

ALL OR NOTHING

If you’re the kind to go all-in, a kitchen with all open shelving will fill up the negative space above your countertops and give an expansive appeal. Eye catching without becoming cluttered, you can incorporate organizational elements to further the design. Adding dividers or bins can designate spaces and help to keep the space organized.

WHAT’S YOUR MULTI-FUNCTION?

STORAGE

When organizing floating shelves, depth is important. Since everything is in view, you want to keep the depth more shallow than your lower cabinets to ensure that things are easily accessible and you don’t risk items falling. Be practical about the location of items, with frequently used items like coffee cups, everyday plates and glassware on lower shelves. A striking stain amid a painted kitchen, or a contrasted paint color draws attention to the shelves and adds a decorative element to the design.

DISPLAY

Allowing you to show off your collection of bowls, plates, stemware and more, floating shelving and open cabinets make it easy to navigate your kitchen, locating items with a quick glance rather than rummaging through cabinet after cabinet. The design of your shelving or cabinets themselves can add to the display factor.

Incorporate industrial pipe supports for a rustic bar feel, or add a pop of color to the back of open cabinets to contrast with the contents.

BEYOND THE KITCHEN

IF THERE’S A WALL, THERE’S A WAY

Going beyond kitchen design, floating shelves have more practical applications that a more traditional cabinet without doors to obtain an open and airy storage and display option. In bathrooms, floating shelves can help to fill out the space when your sink is shifted to one side of a long vanity or when you have a wide expanse between double bowl vanities. In living rooms, floating shelves, especially when installed above lower built-in cabinets, can set off the fireplace with an upgraded entertainment center design that begs for personalization.

At Classic Cupboards, our designers will collaborate with you to incorporate open storage into a functional design for your home. Give us a call today to schedule your appointment!