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Open Shelves to the Max

0317_shelving1.jpg

This wall of floor-to-ceiling open shelves really spoke to us. It looks like it might be in a ceramics studio instead of a kitchen, but it's difficult to tell from this single shot. A few of our favorite things about this look...

 
 
  • It's fairly monochromatic. The light wood of the shelves, island, tabletop, floor and ceiling with the muted whites of the dishes and countertop make for a soft and comforting atmosphere.
  • The high open shelves and ladder, while exposing all those dishes to dust and grime, also speak to utility and spareness. We like it even though we wouldn't want to dust all those dishes...
  • The natural light. There's a clear direction of light here, and the room just seems to bask in it. The room is not overlit with tons of finicky fixtures but is well-lit by the sun.
  • Who wouldn't love that faucet? The height and interesting shape of this commercial style faucet helps make the space.

So what exactly would we take away from this inspirational photograph? Well, we're certainly not installing floor-to-ceiling open shelves in the kitchen anytime soon. But it does have us thinking about softening the harsh whites in our kitchen (from the walls to the dishes) and editing down to a utilitarian simplicity. Funny how a beautiful photograph of hundreds of stacked dishes can inspire spareness! Via: Pink Wallpaper

Tags

inspiration, Kitchen, Montreal, open shelving

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Comments (9)

ceramics studio: my thoughts exactly. but it certainly is striking in the photo.

posted by foodefafa on March 17th 2009 at 3:11pm
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Anyone know the source for the faucet? I am looking for one with that kind of height that is an all in one.

Love the look of the shelves. Bet I could find what I was looking for in this room...

eleisa

posted by eleisa on March 17th 2009 at 3:29pm
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Who has that many dishes? Maybe this is Martha Stewart's basement!

posted by jooly on March 17th 2009 at 4:19pm
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Holy cow--you would have to buy SO many dishes!

Ashley
rainycitystyle.blogspot.com

posted by RainyCityStyle on March 17th 2009 at 5:05pm
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They'd never be unprepared for a dinner party, that's for sure!

posted by triedthistwice on March 17th 2009 at 7:15pm
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I would probably look for a tap like that in a hospitality industry supply shop. It looks like a beautiful kitchen, I'm going to put shelves like those in the house that I buy in ten years time...

posted by saturday on March 18th 2009 at 6:27am
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IKEA has a version of that faucet:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90060551

posted by wally3 on March 18th 2009 at 8:10am
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looks like a kitchen to me ... and my sister does have more dishes than that. :-D

i love open shelves, and my kitchen does have them - sadly, i think i am not tidy enough to keep so many of them in this condition. so i have to go with an amount where i can keep up with the cleaning without stressing myself, or embarassing myself.

posted by maike on March 18th 2009 at 2:09pm
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I loved the sink counter.

posted by SillyBug on March 19th 2009 at 10:43am
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