We love the look of neatly organized open storage, but it seems like it would be hard to keep things uncluttered and clean. Perhaps the fact that it's all open is motivation enough to keep shelves straightened and neat!
Michael's question yesterday about wall-mounted storage for flatware made us want to revisit this post and add a few more ideas for open storage. Take a look at some inspiration for open storage from past Apartment Therapy house tours.
• Small Cool 2008 Entry Northwest #11: John's Mission Melange - Another shot from this kitchen, which you and we and everyone else flipped over in our unofficial kitchen vote earlier this week. Look at the milk jars, and the way that he fits so much into one cabinet. There is a LOT of food there, but it adds to the visual appeal of the kitchen in those glass jars.
• Small Cool 2008 Entry Midwest #18: Lacey's Comfortingly Eclectic - The classic pegboard approach. If it was good enough for Julia Child... We also like the Three Potato Four tea towels framed over the stove!
• Small Cool 2008 Entry Northwest #8: Maggie's Bombshelter - Another pegboard, and a well-edited set of pans.
• Small Cool 2008 Entry Southwest #17: Matthew's Cartoonist Corner - And for something completely different - a bicycle stored in the kitchen! What do you think about this?
• House Tour: Dan & Eszter's Eclectic Mid-Century Modern Home - Even as renters Dan and Eszter are able to infuse their kitchen with some character. We like this open shelf over the stove, using what would otherwise be a dead spot. They have quite a lot of essential cooking utensils and ingredients here - not to mention some great visual accents.
• House Tour: Paola & John's Converted Switch House - These gorgeous industrial cupboards are open (or glass-front). We like the semi-closed look a lot.
• Xing's Eclectic Bellevue Home - Another semi-closed option. It makes the kitchen feel a little lighter, a little more open while still hiding stuff.
• Sharon and Spencer's Danish & Dogs Domicile - OK, this one isn't really storage - but that cupboard over the sink for display is so lovely! We can picture it filled with spices and small kitchen tools, too. Great use of another potential dead spot in the kitchen.
• House Tour: Stuart Masters Modern Glamour - A before and after! Stuart's previous kitchen was tiny and yet still made a good use of open storage. We like how the pans hang over the pantry; this doubles up on space and keeps the clutter all in one area.
His new kitchen has open shelving with dishes on top and canisters lined up below.
Have you seen a particularly good implementation of open storage lately?
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No bikes in the kitchen! I would totally hit my head on that thing! Not to mention stuff falling from the tires into your soup! :-)
Some of the pantry posts and pics have inspired me to save more of my jars (from peanut butter and the like) and re-use them to store my bulk items (instead of keeping them in plastic baggies.
Yeah, no bikes in the kitchen. I know there's some controversy on AT about whether or not folks are overly scared of germs (the coffee pot in the bathroom debate), but even if he only uses the front burners, the kind of particles that would collect in a tire wouldn't necessarily fall straight down.
His apartments is awesome, though.
I still lust for John's kitchen.
My pantry looks like a spastic version of that top one. I collect every container that can be reused and store my dried goods in it. It's not the easiest to organize, but it keeps out critters, and keeps things fresh.
I'm really not scared of germs or dirt. However, having a bike tire hanging that low over my stove burners seems not only unsafe, but kind of gross. While I might not keep things sterile, I also wouldn't cook under something that's main function is to ride through dirt, grime, and regular road grossness.
I never thought about using a peg board. I have a large metal shelving unit that holds my bulk dry goods in glass containers and my small appliances and I love it. I even used some s hooks to hang up coffee mugs and pot holders on it.
I had a peg board in my former house and loved it. Don't have a lot of free wall space in my current kitchen, but the entire room is slated for demolition, and a peg board is definitely under consideration. And like Renata, I absolutely lust for John's kitchen.
These kitchens are so organized!
I really like that open shelf unit above from Ikea.
Wait a minute--did I comment on the right post? It's the white kitchen with the suspended white open shelf.
I love the way open shelving looks, but times I have had it I always end up with greasy-dusty containers. Of course, you fix this by cleaning your exposed stuff frequently. But I, uh, don't clean that thoroughly that often, so...know thyself before taking the doors off your cupboards. Cupboard doors are quick and easy to clean.
I LOVE that first picture! I can't wait to get a nice big kitchen and keep all my spices in jars like some ancient apothecary! :D
I don't like the bike in the kitchen either. I also don't like it when the stove and oven are attached.
Hey! What about my open shelves:
http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/small-cool-2007-entries/smallest-coolest-kitchen-2007-entry-9-franks-colorful-collection-021510
It's not hard at all to keep it up as is, but it does need sporadic 'spring cleanings" when I take down the contents or an entire shelf and wash everything. Dust collects awfully fast in NYC!
I wonder why glass cabinet doors aren't more popular. You get the benefit of being able to see everything on your shelves & they'll protect your shelves from kitchen grease and dust.
I live an old apartment with tall cabinets and glass doors. I love them.
seriously, can sheeva lose her commenting privileges? Every single one of his/her comments is used for advertising some obscure shady site.
I'm also looking to source some ceiling mounted open shelves like the ones in the last two pics.
http://www.workingwondersus.com/shoppers/show-item.cgi?itemId=991&groupId=
Hi...we have a new site and carry some different options for kitchen storage. I like the Mobos line for small kitchens that want to add some splashes of color. The recycled metal is easy to clean the cooking "splatters" off of too!
This post is great inspiration. I have a kitchen the size of a shoebox and the fact that I love to cook means that I'm always looking for ways to maximize storage in ways that look great too. However, one issue I have with some of the above photos are the ones showing people storing spices on top of thier stoves. You really should keep spices away from sunlight and away from heat. Even though it might seem like a great spot to use for storage, you might want to store other small items there.
Okay, the kitchen with the commercial sized Viking and whole wall of glass doored refrigeration units is NOT a small kitchen (it's bigger than my first two apartments combined).
That said, I am soooo jealous!
Not so much a new years resolution as a new years hope, I really really really want to do some work in my kitchen this year. It's a combination of birch veneer, mint green laminate and granite effect laminate worktops!!! I can't afford to get a new kitchen, but I'd love to paint the birch white and perhaps tile the worktops with white mosaic tiles... anyone have experience and advice on this?
http://notyourgoddess.blogspot.com/
Kudos for using the often overlooked backsplash area for storage. However, I suggest avoiding those above a range or cooktop. (There's usually plenty of space near by.) Also, spices don't do well in direct heat, so I suggest backsplash storage near, but not over, the range.
Here are some more ideas for often overlooked storage:
http://jgkitchens.blogspot.com/2008/07/multi-taskers-that-add-function-and_22.html
http://jgkitchens.blogspot.com/2008/09/s-is-for-septembers-smart-stylish.html
I'm so happy about this post.
I have a very small kitchen and do not want to eat out in the living room every single night. I'm totally going to get a small garden table like that to put in the corner by my window.
I sooooo very much wish I could replace my cabinets with glass... I've got the ugliest tall ones that would be stunning if redone.
I would trade in my closed cabinets for open shelves any day. Even though I live in a new condo, the cabinets are too shallow to fit my dinnerware! Thanks for the variety of organizational options.
i'm taking the plunge with a new open shelf in my kitchen. i'm very anti-clutter so it's a little scary for me but i think it's a way to display pieces that are beautiful to look at and functional rather than hiding them away.
thanks for the cool examples.
For aesthetics, reserve open storage for decorative pieces:
Store a set of decorative dishes and glasses on upper narrow wall-shelving.
Stand the dishes vertically = stand all or some of the dishes up.
Add a picture, vase, sea shell, clock or favorite knick knack.
Utility items are not very decorative:
Store stackable pans, dry goods and a utensil basket in a single cupboard.