Fancy kitchen inspiration: open shelving.
I have been spending an unholy amount of time on the internet, scrolling for sparks— those IDEAS that jump out of nowhere.
I’m trying to figure out our sink wall/open shelving/backsplash amalgamation.
What kind of shelves?
Thin? Thick? Floating?
Wood corbels? Brass brackets?
Fancy? Trick question.
Before I start: some posts refuse to be coherent.
this is one of them.
my brain is refusing to function.
Probably because I really need 14′ ceilings.
Confining my greatness to hovel-sized 9′ is limiting and oppressive.
I cannot believe I would choose floating shelves and pass up fancy hardware… but considering the time it took to find three PERFECT handles to finish the piano island drawers… I assume it will be the rest of my life to find a set of brackets enough for an ENTIRE WALL, and I should plan for floating and if I ever find hardware, it will be purely decorative we will rip it all out and start again.
I am not into reproduction because I’m an idiot who likes to waste her life on irrelevant details.
Also, I’m still going back and forth on the lady head mirror… Paul has been away, but I’m hoping when he gets home he can make a temporary support so I can actually SEE it on that wall.
I love it, but I am having a new love affair: how PRACTICAL this kitchen will be for me… and excited at the possibilities of making the practicality also be fancy… the lady is going to take up space I could otherwise use for open shelving.
The theme appears to be:
Brass.
Marble.
A bit of dark something… wood? navy accent?
Subway tile.
I get comments now and again informing me that subway tile is GROSS BECAUSE SUBWAY.
But for me, TILE is NOT what makes the subway gross… that would be the OTHER HUMANS.
Victorian houses and subway tile are a classic pairing.
Also, it happens to be a look I really like.
If I were a different person, I’d do BIG subway… maybe marble subway? Oversized marble subway?
Why go small, if you can go BIG?
Also less grout.
Solid marble? To the ceiling? Half and half?
Wall sconces? Hanging ceiling lights?
It is a puzzle to find all the right pieces to fit together… liking them individually is surprisingly unhelpful.
At some point, I even had a wallpaper aneurysm.
No lie.
I HATE wallpaper.
And yet.
I was SEIZED by a vision of vintage kimono fabric, turned into wall hangings, with gilt bronze STUFFWITHMORESTUFF.
Do you NOT just ADORE an UNEXPECTED CRANE?
The problem with inviting ideas is that Self becomes overexcited.
Art Deco?
The Greenbrier?
Diana Vreeland’s living room?
Life-sized Ganesh figure?
WHY ARE WE NOT DOING AN OLD CIRCULAR SINK THAT DOES NOT CONFINE WATER?
Once Self loads the idea cannon, it’s a very long day.
LOOK AT THIS THING WE COULD THING WITH SOME OTHER THINGS AND ADD THESE THINGS HERE WITH ALSO SOME OF THOSE THINGS TOO AND LOOK AT THESE THINGS THAT WOULD BE GENIUS FRUIT BOWLS THAT DO NOT TAKE UP COUNTER SPACE.
This time was particularly arduous because for some reason I was required to look at ALL of the vintage dress patterns on etsy.
While also googling antique brass industrial faucets which rear-ended right into TRAIN RACKS ALL THE TRAIN RACKS COVER THE ENTIRE WALL IN NOTHING BUT TRAIN RACKS OH MY GODFREY CAN YOU IMAGINE SUCH A GLORIOUS OH LOOK OVER HERE.
While also continuing my search for an antique general store counter that might work in place of base kitchen cabinets. Also, obviously, I’m going to need a library ladder. Or seventeen here is the dress pattern I bought; obvs having seamstress swap out skirt for full circle.
THE END.
June 8, 2018 @ 2:47 am
I love your theme … Brass.Marble.A bit of dark something… wood? navy accent? Subway tile. I only want to add …. light grout on the subway tile ( not dark ) and no to floating shelves ( they look too modern ). Oh and I love the crane wallpaper , but maybe not in the kitchen .
June 8, 2018 @ 9:20 am
Have you seen mirrored subway tile? It is Very Fancy…….
June 8, 2018 @ 9:50 am
That was my thought looking at all those beautiful pictures of open shelves….grease-attracted dust on everything. Somehow I don’t see you enjoying cleaning (not just dusting but washing with grease-busting stuff) fancy things on shelves when you could be out looking for more fancy things.
June 8, 2018 @ 12:26 pm
SUBWAY!! YES! BECAUSE HELLOOOO, IT’S SUBWAY. Who are the cretins who disparage classics?? I don’t want to know them. But I add my intense HATRED of dark grout. ick, are these people trying to hide dirt? ugh. As always, given the choice between reading your blog post and watching bad wedding dance videos (which I have to admit are weirdly entertaining) I choose YOU. Thanks for the laughs, the heartfelt, the dizzy, the informative… unashamedly fangirl that I am…..Love the blog. Your friend ever after!
June 8, 2018 @ 3:00 pm
I am apparently going to be the only commenter who recommends dark grout with subway tiles! To me it’s just so much more graphic. But I generally LIKE business, no need for a calm place for the eye to rest over here.
A friend of mine did dark grout several years ago in her kitchen (with white subway tiles) and it looks great.
Thanks for all your posts; you are spreading love, joy, and fanciness throughout the world via this blog and you DO make a difference. Keep on keepin’ on.
June 8, 2018 @ 6:22 pm
“The theme appears to be:
Brass.
Marble.
A bit of dark something… wood? navy accent?
Subway tile.”
YES.
And I’m having the same conundrums of liking all these things….but how to use them, how BIG to go….*sigh* It’s a fine line we walk.
June 8, 2018 @ 6:26 pm
Open shelves are for people who LOVE to dust & remove grease and cobwebs. If you really MUST show what’s on those shelves, use glass doors/windows.
June 8, 2018 @ 8:02 pm
Oh. My. Goodness. *SLIGHTLY embarrassed* Ignore the email. I need GLASSES. If it matters, big fan of subway, doing marble 3×6. Lovely sitting on the counter right now. Can’t wait for them to actually be on the wall.
June 9, 2018 @ 10:25 am
I can’t believe what I am reading… Subway tiles? In Veb’s kitchen? Like everyone? Like at the butcher’s? How does this match with the lady mirror? Subway tiles… so boring, so banal, impossible! An extravagant wallpaper and the mirror, that would be the right thing in my opinion. No open shelves, or maybe just two thin ones made of glass with lovely stuff on them, on each side of the mirror.
June 10, 2018 @ 8:16 am
Just a suggestion, in regards to hardware for shelves, why not just choose a basic theme, brass for instance, and find all the fancy new or vintage ones you like. That way you don’t have to choose or find a particular amount. Then keep your shelves as minimalistic as you can. Bonus if they complement the mirror. 😀
June 10, 2018 @ 8:57 am
Just put kittens on the shelves and you won’t care about hardware! Also, if you go half subway and half super fancy removable wallpaper you can change the wallpaper anytime you want. Wallpaper isn’t bad, removing it is bad and the new stuff for apartments just peels off.
June 11, 2018 @ 11:23 am
Love the crowded English looking shelves. Not sure if I could style it but love the more is more look. And subway tile is always good !
June 14, 2018 @ 4:59 pm
Victoria, have you considered Delft tile (or rather imitations because real Delft will cost a small fortune). It is a classic look that is unlikely to go out of style and it looks so cozy! My fantasy for my kitchen ( not happening in the foreseeable future).
https://www.theglampad.com/2018/06/delft-tile-in-the-kitchen.html
https://www.atticmag.com/2010/08/delft-tile-ceiling-kitchen/
June 21, 2018 @ 5:42 am
I need that large old circular sink in m life. My rental’s kitchen if 10’x3′. But I need that sink, please.
June 28, 2018 @ 1:32 pm
I immediately needed that sink as well.
June 28, 2018 @ 1:30 pm
Victoria, marble to the ceiling has the look of a dingy old (unrestored) post office.Subway will soothe your tortured inner designer psyche.I know this. Now my brain is on fire, and I must move on to accomplish something useful. However, permit me to suggest some kind of invisible kitchen fan/exhaust system so the food smell does not carry throughout the home. Ugh. But not a vent hood.Invisible.
June 28, 2018 @ 1:46 pm
Also, Some bits of Ann Saks “beau monde” swoony tiles applied within the confines of a subway tile backsplash might be divine. Moroccan backsplash tiles might also be a sub for the subway tile. Has such lovely curves.
April 23, 2020 @ 12:29 pm
Hello Victoria,
Love your humor, I am laughing the whole time Im reading, you have a way of putting things. Now about the kithen, we built our home 6yrs ago , I love my choices but I do wish I would have chosen the marble tile instead of the bone white subway, I did go with a slight grey grout(you can barely tell) but it gives just a hint of color also I have the marble counter tops with the grey/black streaks so it pairs beautifully. I choose dark walnut lower cabinets and upper are off white and instead of one corner for cabinets I went with open shevles(matching my upper cabinets) its very cute. I chose to put things that I want to display instead of everyday use. Well anyway it sounds like its going to be beautiful whatever your choice is. Thank you for writting I thoroughly enjoyed it!
September 23, 2020 @ 11:48 am
That’s not a round sink. That’s a Victorian shower basin or shower pan for the bathroom!
Also just wanna say I love your blog, and your posts!