Partly Open Shelving: The Case for Doorless Cabinets
Build in some display areas, create a colorful design feature and make better use of awkward spaces with open shelves
Jennifer Ott
February 27, 2017
San Francisco-based architectural color specialist and design writer. Jennifer's work has been featured in many print and online publications. Her recently-published book, "1000 Ideas for Color Schemes," is a beautifully illustrated and easy-to-navigate guide that takes the guesswork out of selecting the perfect color palette for your home or special event. For more information on Jennifer Ott Design, visit http://jenottdesign.com/.
San Francisco-based architectural color specialist and design writer. Jennifer's... More
Open shelving remains a hot trend for kitchens, and it’s easy to understand why. Not only does it give a kitchen a more expansive, opened-up vibe, but it also allows homeowners and their guests to more easily view and grab needed items.
Many homeowners also want an option for displaying decorative dishes, glassware or other items they collect. Leaving a section of cabinetry open offers a display space right there in the kitchen that you can curate and change out based on the seasons or cycle through to show off your various collections.
Of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention a couple of the downsides of doorless kitchen cabinets. For those of us residing in earthquake country, open shelves are a no-no unless precautions are taken to prevent the contents from tumbling out during a temblor.
Of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention a couple of the downsides of doorless kitchen cabinets. For those of us residing in earthquake country, open shelves are a no-no unless precautions are taken to prevent the contents from tumbling out during a temblor.
And then there’s the issue of grease and dust buildup on items left exposed. I have had good luck keeping grease accumulation at bay by installing (and using) an appropriately powered, high-quality exterior-venting hood over the range.
And If you’d rather not spend your free time frequently cleaning or dusting items on open shelves, think about limiting the items left out to those that get used daily, as they likely won’t sit out unused long enough to get grimy. You’ll still have to occasionally wipe off the shelf itself, but at least you won’t have to also dust or clean the items atop the shelf.
Read more about selecting and installing the right vent hood
And If you’d rather not spend your free time frequently cleaning or dusting items on open shelves, think about limiting the items left out to those that get used daily, as they likely won’t sit out unused long enough to get grimy. You’ll still have to occasionally wipe off the shelf itself, but at least you won’t have to also dust or clean the items atop the shelf.
Read more about selecting and installing the right vent hood
The homeowner of the kitchen shown here wanted an entire wall of open upper cabinets so she could display her unique and colorful dishes. She also entertains frequently and likes that her guests can grab a glass or plate without having to hunt around the kitchen opening all of her cabinets in the process. The ventilation hood does a great job of sucking up and out any grease coming off the range while cooking.
Here’s another kitchen with a generous helping of open-wall cabinetry that allows easy viewing of and access to a variety of kitchen items such as cookbooks and serving dishes.
Of course, not everyone wants an entire wall of open cabinets. The two photos here illustrate how a small chunk of open shelves integrated into a larger section of traditional door-clad cabinets works well. It’s a great option for those who have concerns about keeping a full wall of open cabinets and their contents clean.
Whether you reserve this small area for cookbooks, for small items you use regularly or strictly for display, it’s a nice addition that helps to visually break up large expanses of cabinet doors.
Whether you reserve this small area for cookbooks, for small items you use regularly or strictly for display, it’s a nice addition that helps to visually break up large expanses of cabinet doors.
As an ardent fan of fun dashes of color, I like the possibilities for little peeks of color that are revealed when you leave the doors off your wall cabinets.
The kitchen pictured here features a beautiful watery blue hue inside the cabinets, which helps to accentuate the delightful detail on the cabinet frame.
The kitchen pictured here features a beautiful watery blue hue inside the cabinets, which helps to accentuate the delightful detail on the cabinet frame.
The mostly neutral kitchen here gets a fantastic hit of vibrant color via the fresh spring green hue on the wall behind the open cabinets.
With all the attention open wall cabinets are bound to get, be sure to go with good quality cabinets. Both the kitchens shown here feature attractive wood interiors for the open sections of the wall cabinetry.
If the interiors of your cabinets could use some work, consider patching, sanding and painting to achieve a more fetching finish. It’s a bit of extra work but worth it if you plan to make it a focal point in your kitchen.
If the interiors of your cabinets could use some work, consider patching, sanding and painting to achieve a more fetching finish. It’s a bit of extra work but worth it if you plan to make it a focal point in your kitchen.
Going doorless is not just about good looks, though. It’s also a great way to use a potentially awkward or challenging space to the fullest. It would be difficult and probably look a bit odd to try to outfit all the triangular sections of these wall cabinets with doors. Not only are you saving a bit of money by not covering these up with custom doors, but you also open up possibilities for interesting storage.
I have a running joke with my kitchen design clients that in the event we end up with small areas of unused space — whether due to an unusually shaped kitchen or noncustom cabinets — they have two choices to fill the leftover space: open spice rack or wine rack.
But in all seriousness, I like to see kitchen designs that wring as much useful storage out of a space as possible, keeping it all looking good, of course. Which is why I love these little triangular wine nooks to the left of the refrigerator. I assume this is to accommodate a staircase above. It’s a brilliant way to squeeze in a bit more storage. And, again, it looks best left doorless.
Your turn: Are you open to doorless cabinets? Or do you prefer to keep things covered up in the kitchen? Tell us in the Comments section below.
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But in all seriousness, I like to see kitchen designs that wring as much useful storage out of a space as possible, keeping it all looking good, of course. Which is why I love these little triangular wine nooks to the left of the refrigerator. I assume this is to accommodate a staircase above. It’s a brilliant way to squeeze in a bit more storage. And, again, it looks best left doorless.
Your turn: Are you open to doorless cabinets? Or do you prefer to keep things covered up in the kitchen? Tell us in the Comments section below.
More
Houzz TV: Turn a Junk Drawer Into an Organized Space for Spices
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Save the open shelf concept for office book shelf's. Only very limited for kitchen, a kitchen is a working space not for show. Unless you dont cook.
Great advice! I've decided to have some open shelves in my (enclosed!) pantry to satisfy my desire behind closed doors!
Patricia: It is amazing how good you get at being tidy. Do your open shelves, and your mismatched dishes will add to the homeyness of your kitchen. It also tends to give so much character, warmth and fun to normally blank multiple flat doors. Open shelves are easy to maintain, clean and use when cooking or serving. Not for 'show' at all, and have you ever seen how messy open office shelves are......totally ugly and lacking in imagination. Do the open ones, even my pantry is open, and so colourful and lively. Kitchens are made these days to live in not look at. Do your own thing, a kitchen is a great place for open shelves, unlike an office.