I'm a sap for open shelving in a kitchen. I love the way it shows off your dinnerware and serving pieces and all the colors that make up your collection. Then once you add my other favorite, chalkboard paint, I'm sold.
What's so great about this kitchen is how the open shelving is framed against the dark wall, ultimately allowing the ceramic wares to be the pops of color in the space. Instead of hiding your wares away, behind dense cabinetry where clutter breeds, it's a great idea to open the space and show off what you have. Then add the playful quality of a chalkboard backsplash and, again, I'm sold.
What about you, do you love the combination of open shelving and chalkboard paint?
Related: Kitchen Spotlight: Open Storage in Small Kitchens
(Image: Country Living)
Elizabeth Apron fro...

Can just say wow,...
This makes no sense to me. Is this a showcase kitchen or a functional one? What about grease & food splatters on the chalkboard? How does it hold up to the steam from cooking a pot of pasta? Does it clean easily? What about chalk dust on your food and dishes? I'm not a fan of open shelving -- especially around the cooktop -- as it is difficult to keep everything clean in a working kitchen. As for the notion that closed cabinetry allows clutter to breed, I think I'd rather let my clutter breed in private. I guess I just don't get it.
I have open shelving above my stove and I love it. Everything is reachable and I simply throw stuff in the dishwasher once in a while and wash the shelf like I would anything else and because it is in full sight I keep it clutter free. The chalkboard idea is amazing.
i painted my fridge in chalkboard paint, and it sits next to my stove. no problems so far! chalkboard paint cleans so easy too!
see it here:
http://twopeasteenypod.blogspot.com/2011/10/sunday-funday.html
Nice kitchen. But I really just want to know where that black and white striped pitcher is from. I wants.
i actually have that same striped pitcher, it's from pottery barn a few years ago.
I like the look of the shelves but think I would prefer to have a vent hood over the stove instead.
Can we please get over this silly chalkboard paint on everything trend?
This is obviously not a well thought out functional kitchen. It totally ignores the need for a vent and a real backsplash. It's a perfect setup for people that only eat takeout. Imagine the grease spot stains on that chalkboard wall. If you want that look, just paint the wall a dark grey and please save the chalkboard paint for areas where it's not ridiculous to play with chalk, like perhaps not over a stove-top.