New kitchen floor plan… (thinking about forgoing upper cabinets.)
Seeing as how I’m going to have an L-shape kitchen, I’d like to be on record that I’m AGAINST IT.
L is arguably the most boring letter.
In both the categories of upper AND lower case.
But I guess that’s what we are doing now: boring things we hate.
DEATH TO PIZZAZZ.
In case you are thinking I forgot about upper cabinets… I didn’t. I just hate all of them.
They fill me with antipathy.
And gout.
So unpleasant.
These images are blindingly hideous and I apologize for searing your eyeballs with the FUNDAMENTAL AND OBVIOUS KITCHEN-NESS.
No magic.
No orphaned forest creatures.
No items of delicate antiquity and bejeweled human remains.
I AM AN UTTER FAILURE AT LIFE.
Our kitchen island is a repurposed antique grand piano… but my skills at “photoshopping” it into these mockups is literally cut and paste; so my additions of windows, mirror, piano are just eyeball, not to scale!
Here is the antique mirror, shown above.
Here is THE FINISHED PIANO!
Here are the theoretical DIY slate countertops.
Now: important details.
When looking at these 3D layouts, you have to remember that our kitchen doorway is actually on an angle– the above floorplans don’t make that obvious.
The cabinets meet the wall, not the doorway.
So when you enter the kitchen, the interior wall of cabinetry will be sort of behind you/to your left.
Next.
For the entire century of my kitchen non-remodel, I have been working in some basic parameters; including the assumption that we’d do glass-front upper cabinets.
A light/bright base— white cabinets, glass uppers, LOTS of chunky white molding.
As kitchens go, I don’t hate this… and for a long time, it’s what I had in mind.
Groundbreaking, I know.
The detail that most makes this a good “inspiration” picture for me is the window they have in the corner.
The above photo is our exact layout option: L-shape perimeter, with an island… centering either the range (or the sink) on either wall… (but not with a gas range— we’re doing an induction cooktop and wall oven.)
BUT… from our existing kitchen, we have slowly removed upper cabinet after upper cabinet after upper cabinet… until I’ve been living with nothing but open shelving for the last year and a half…and…
… BRACE YOURSELVES…
I think it’s fantastic.
AND I LIKE IT WAY BETTER THAN CABINETS.
And I don’t think I want to go back.
NOT frou-frou open shelving with pitchers and cake plates and fake succulents… REAL open shelving that I actually use.
The sight of lentils does not offend me.
This is a new development for me… so I’m not sure what the shelf-amalgamation looks like yet.
Also!! don’t worry! I fully understand that lots of people REALLY HATE open shelving… and please! feel free to foam at the mouth and leave comments about HOW OPEN SHELVING IS A VIOLATION OF HUMAN DECENCY GERMS FILTH GREMLINS!
You should also know that I will not have a window over my kitchen sink.
I understand and certify here, on this day of April, in the year of endtimes, that I am making a giant, crushing, mistake-of-hideous-proportions, and I should go and throw myself directly into the river.
I proceed otherwise at my own risk.
Hereby signed, VEB
ps- several of you endorsed microfiber drying mats as an alternative to my bulky wire dish rack with mungy-grungy plastic tray WHICH DOES NOT FIT IN THE DISHWASHER EVEN THOUGH I HAVE TRIED 500 WAYS.
You have revolutionized my countertop. MY SHREDS OF SANITY THANK YOU.
pps- some of you put the dishrack into the sink, which does make sense! Maybe if we were doing a bigger sink? Our sink is only 30″… and I already bought it, so getting a bigger/different sink is not an option for us.
Sam
April 17, 2018 @ 2:20 pm
I’d really would prefer upper cabinet actually. The amount of gunk from cooking and frying would make any pretty and fancy things put on the shelf to have a sad gunk-y look on them. Also, CATS! I am afraid your fur baby could think the shelves is another place for them to play (not to mention the cat hairs that
Kate
April 17, 2018 @ 3:24 pm
Just . . . don’t put the open shelves too close to your cooktop; induction or not, there will be steam and grease and grossness, and as I recall, you’ve elected not to have a range hood. I speak, not as an internet-authority on kitchen-appropriateness, but as someone who has a range without a range hood and open shelving on the same wall. It is a combination I deeply regret. I didn’t know true tedium until I had to constantly rewash already “clean” dishes and canisters because they’re all coated in stale grease. It’s awful and will detract greatly from the general fanciness of your kitchen.
Stacey B
April 17, 2018 @ 3:34 pm
Unless you are using the dishes and therefore washing them frequently, I would imagine that anything that sits in the open is going to collect everything floating around in the air such as spittle, dust, dead skin, hair, grease, cat hair, pollen and whatever the hell else flitters around as we move about. I like doors to protect these types of things from collecting on my glasses, plates and bowls though they are probably all consumed inadvertently anyway.
Sue Fiorentini
April 17, 2018 @ 4:07 pm
I kind of have open shelving……….didn’t like the glass choice from Home Depot Kitchens so went without until I can buy what I like but can’t afford. Have to say the glassware gets nasty with dust and an occasion dead fly.
fixitchick
April 17, 2018 @ 5:14 pm
Drawers for lowers? maybe even cool old dressers instead of box store cabinetry? Yes!
no uppers, nice open and clean? If you have enough storage? Yes!
an armoire or china cabinet built in, maybe a barristers bookcase? YES!
open shelving, nononononono. you cook every day and open shelves just get covered in sticky, nasty goo.
Cassie
April 17, 2018 @ 5:46 pm
Quirkiness rules! Fancy, pretty, repurposed…go with what you like. I LOVE the look of a long line of glass cabinet uppers, with closed lowers…with a ladder on a rail. Always wanted one. But…streamlined, practical sometimes does the trick. I don’t lime dusting or organizing shelves, so I don’t use open shelving. Love the piano island, btw
Shirley
April 17, 2018 @ 6:11 pm
I was going to suggest open shelving, myself. Lowes sells a lovely shelf bracket that’s very antiquie looking. OR, you now have a reason to go looking for great fabulous things. But yeah, open shelves.
Robin Heintz
April 17, 2018 @ 6:33 pm
Please don’t hate me, but the two windows are what throw it out of whack for me. They don’t align in any way… they aren’t the same size, or on the same level (top OR bottom). I think they would drive me a little crazy, but I’m cuckoo for symmetry. I suggest putting some sort of window covering AT the height of the corner window, and ABOVE the height of the other, to visually draw a parallel. But hey… it’s your kitchen. I’m just the odd woman in Ohio that is fascinated by your process.
Patricia Taylor
April 17, 2018 @ 10:02 pm
What!!?? All that anguish and not ONE kitten photo? Must I unsubscribe … ????
Mary
April 17, 2018 @ 10:43 pm
I put my dishes in the dishwasher to dry……
Kat
April 17, 2018 @ 11:45 pm
I prefer a mix of open and closed shelving. You can’t have everything out on display all the time without having to remove/clean dust, oil splatter etc.
Marilyn Strode
April 18, 2018 @ 12:23 am
Disclaimer: I am not of the beauty and fancy group that you are. I believe that practical trumps all but should be as nice looking as possible. Think hard before going to open shelving. If you want real storage don’t do it. If you want to use it as wall art, go for open shelving.
Rachel Symes
April 18, 2018 @ 5:43 am
Hi Victoria,
I’m sure you know all about the dust and crud that can accumulate on open shelves, and am confident you’ll be completely on top of it. I love stuff (as much as you love fanciness I think), but was completely defeated by it in the industrial open shelves in my last kitchen. Current kitchen has upper cabinets to the ceiling with no moulding/fanciness (other than gal brick pattern tin moulding for the backsplash) and I’ve been known to caress their satin smoothness.
Your layout looks good (though questions: where’s the bin? where do you keep brooms, mops and other cleaning stuff? Is it a thought to swap your stove with the dishwasher and turn your gorgeous island so it’s lengthwise (I say that because I put my sink/dishwasher on the small bit of the L – and the stove and fridge on the long bit of the L (I spend more time going between the the stove and fridge when cooking than the sink and fridge or stove and sink).
I reckon your cabinets will be balanced by the fancy things on the other wall and your precision shelving 😉
Zoe
April 18, 2018 @ 8:27 am
I love open shelving. Cabinets (and closets, incidentally) are just dark holes items to get shoved in, banged up and for grunge and creepy crawlies to enjoy. And while glass front cabinets can only help with that till they are obscured with little finger and handprints. Maybe that’s just because I have kids. But I love open shelves with pretty bins, baskets, jars, and canisters, each of which can be easily removed and emptied for cleaning.
pamela
April 18, 2018 @ 8:41 am
LOVE the glorious mirror! You truly have amazing grit…and style. I’ve always wanted to have a kitchen sans upper cabinets. It feels anti-claustrophobic and grand. our new house has a windowless kitchen sink and I’m already used to it, surprisingly. Our daughter keeps a dish drainer out all the time and ask for a prettier one for Christmas. I ended up getting her a small antique-looking 3 tiered bottle dryer which suits her needs perfectly along with an attractive mat.
Doris
April 18, 2018 @ 10:15 am
I can’t say I’m a fan of open shelving. Dust, cat hair and that gooey-sticky kitchen gunk that seems to collect over time just isn’t for me. I love my glass fronts with reed glass. A combination of shelves and cabinets would work. Add a mirror over the sink too since there’s no window. Can’t have too many pretty mirrors!
Paola44
April 18, 2018 @ 10:38 am
I don’t like upper cabinets either, they look like… kitchen! Open shelving is ok, but not too much of it. Free walls with giant mirrors or/and impressive art with bold colors let you think you are in another room than in a kitchen, and I think that’s what you want.
Shirley
April 18, 2018 @ 3:04 pm
Dearest VEB, I’m still waiting for you to veer away from regular cabinetry toward a more eclectic unfitted look. Please tell me you are considering incorporating furniture pieces.
Suzanne
April 18, 2018 @ 3:47 pm
We got rid of our upper cabinets in our diy remodel, and haven’t looked back. The kitchen looks ten times larger, and there’s PLENTY of space without them. We do have two ten-foot shelves for plates, bowls, glasses, etc. but haven’t filled them up. Only have the upper shelf because it looked unbalanced with just one.
Nancy
April 18, 2018 @ 4:10 pm
LOVE LOVE LOVE the open shelves!