You know, I tried the open shelf look when I was renting an apartment a few years back. The cabinet faces were pretty ugly; and since I was renting, I wasn't too motivated to paint. Long story short, I accidentally dented one of the hinges, and then ended up taking all the cabinet faces off and storing them in the garage. Initially, I really liked the look: It looked more carefree, easily accessible; and besides, hadn't Ione Skye done the same thing in her kitchen according to Domino magazine?
A few weeks went by, and I have to admit that for me, the look wasn't all that great: I didn't exactly have the prettiest set of dishes (more utilitarian, all white dishes picked from Crate and Barrel along with various selections from Ikea and Target), and I certainly didn't have enough dishes or glasses in rotation to keep the shelves from looking a bit sparse.
Anyway, the lesson I learned was that as cool and great as open shelving may look in Ione Skye's kitchen, it certainly didn't translate well into my home. But the next time I am gunning for a "sleek, modern kitchen" look, I'll certainly weigh this option (especially good for those awkward, empty area usually located above kitchen cabinets): Long shelves with a frosted glass door hinged at the top. The frosted glass gives the cabinets a softer look than trendy glossy (not to mention, easier to keep clean from smudgy fingerprints), and the top hinge is a cool nod to those old-fashioned barrister bookshelves.
(Images: Bo Bedre)
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I went with the frosted doors for the top cabinets over the sink and I love the look. With the light on inside the cabinet, you get a hint of shadow of the dishes inside without having to worry about how they look, or if they are lined up properly, etc. They are easy to keep clean and look very sleek. Of course this would look better with a backsplash to compliment the cabinets, but that's covered under another post.....
we have these in our kitchen and I find them to be completely inefficient. One of the hinges has broken (obviously, because its Ikea) and so now you have to use two hands--one for holding the door up, the other to put away your dishes--every time we unload the dishwasher. Add a baby on your arm, and its completely non-functional.
Agreed--I think the open shelf trend needs to go the way of "hey, I have a good idea, let's put GROUT in the kitchen" trend. Both are a realistic nightmare.
I took the doors off of my kitchen cabinets about 6 years ago- I love it. I have fiesta dishes and the colors pop in my all white kitchen, I love the access, and they don't get greasy or dirty- even though they are by the stove. Once you have a set up for your dishes that work it's a breeze to put them away and keep it neat.
To me, that top photo looks more like the cabinets in some office cubicle....
My mum has cabinets like these. They look great, but it's painful to open and close them. Because of their mechanism, they tend to pop when you open them.
I don't think you necessarily need the flip top to make the frosted glass work. It seems to me that the glass is probably a great way to lighten up standard kitchen cabinet doors too. The flip top is cool, yes, but if it's not super functional, I say just go with the glass inserts. They're cool too.
the open shelving in my kitchen is still one of my favorite and most functional elements after four years.
I also have top-hinged frosted glass cabinets. They're not very practical unless you are very tall or the cabinets are mounted low.
The contents of most of my kitchen cabinets are not nearly organized or attractive enough to display. Keepin' those doors on!
On the other hand -- I would love to have open shelving to store my spices, beans, rice, pastas, sauces...I think those things would look great on display, plus they all get greasy anyway from my hands so that's not a worry.
i don't like the look of upper cabinets...i prefer a few shelves mixed with vintage kitchen furniture like the hoosier or one great craftsman cabinet for spices & such. For storing the stuff i don't use on a daily basis I'd love to have a pantry! The way i use my kitchen has really changed since i got the the vita mix blender and eat mostly raw.
I have the Ikea ones from CL, and replaced the broken hinges. Not a big job.
I have a combination of open shelves and enclosed cabinets in my kitchen - Sure the open shelves look great from 10 feet away but must be dusted and cleaned every few weeks: They're a royal pain to live with - so much so that I'm considering getting some aluminum tracks and frosted plexi to enclose the open shelves when I repaint the kitchen later this spring.
@eskelcoon--
Have you considered simply replacing the broken hinge?
Your life would be alot easier if you did.
I think the frosted glass reminds me of a receptionist's desk at a doctor's office. I love modern looks/ideas, but I could never get behind this one.
bepsf: was going to suggest the same thing. Out of 6 cabinets that I got from Ikea, one had one broken hinge - they replaced it without an interrogation (though I think I broke it at installation by over-adjusting).
We've got some open shelving and I love it - but it really only houses our glassware (which we have far too much of, so it never looks sparse), and nice big jars of pasta/rice/cookies/etc. Looks great! Our kitchen is a lean-to addition, and one wall has a seriously slanting ceiling, so traditional cabinets didn't work, and open shelving definitely does.
As for the frosted glass... I've never been a big fan. I'd just go for the solid door if I did the pull up cabinets.
My problem with open shelving is that dust collects quickly. I don't even like my books to be shelved "in the open," so I have the Billy bookcase from Ikea with glass doors. I can still see my books (which I like), but I don't have to dust them.
I love the look of open shelving but it can be impractical, so when I redid my kitchen, I went with a single open shelf along the backsplash, below the upper cabinets. It is great for frequently used items like glasses and cups. It looks great and nothing stays on it long enough to get dusty.
That's my china. The china in the photo is Wedgwood Edme. It was made for a 100 years, recently retired, and is their most inexpensive pattern. I fell in love with a mug with a curving lip, and now have so many pieces, thanks to ebay, it should be against the law. It's great for everyday use.