Kitchen Reno--No Upper Cabinets
I love the look of kitchens with no upper or overhead cabinetry. Just seems lighter and less invasive to me…especially in an open plan living scenario. We are about to embark on our parlor floor kitchen reno and was curious if any other Brownstoners made this choice in their homes? How have you found it?…
I love the look of kitchens with no upper or overhead cabinetry. Just seems lighter and less invasive to me…especially in an open plan living scenario. We are about to embark on our parlor floor kitchen reno and was curious if any other Brownstoners made this choice in their homes? How have you found it? Do you regret the decision? Also, my husband was afraid it might detract in terms of resale value, as your average buyer likely wants the traditional layout. Any thoughts are appreciated!
We have no standard upper cabinets, just some open shelving and one cool glass and steel custom cabinet-piece. I LOVE the look of no uppers, but I’ll tell you this: I hate the open shelving. If you are any kind of serious cook, it is just foolish. The dishes and shelves get a light coating of grease, dust, whatever, way too quickly for my tastes. If you have a weekly housecleaner who will wipe down and will wash all the dishes or whatever is on them, or if you keep things clean very well yourself, then great. But every two weeks is even too long… On the ohter hand, the custom cabinet-piece is great. (Well, except that it is glass, and it too is a pain to clean! What is nice is that it doesn’t make the wall look heavy. It is only about 5′ x 15″ x 15″ or so, and the steel and glass effect makes it feel somehow more airy. It is almost more like a painting than a traditional cabinet, in that you see the wall (brick in my case) around the whole thing and it looks very cool, not just functional. My point is that it is possible to have an upper cabinet that isn’t the same, heavy look as the standard. They don’t have to match the lower cabinets.
Antidope is right. I think this would only work in a bronwstone kitchen if you have the space for a walk in pantry off the kitchen and storage elsewhere. I have seen some layouts that could faciltiate this, but it really depends on how everythin is laid out already.
Otherwise you end up with the upper open shelving (which I don’t like personally).
Plus you do need to think about having enough work space. I like the look in the link that space design posted, but I think I would like to have a lot more work space available.
beautiful kitchen, but what if you don’t have that type of width? how much counter space can you actually have without an island, unless the appliances are fully integrated? i do like space designs, but she doesn’t have parlor doors to obstruct, which makes it perfect. also, seems as if she doesn’t have a family which makes a huge difference.
This is a lovey kitchen, very pretty, perfect for people who live on take out. Where’s the dishes? Where do you put the stuff? No way would that work for me. I actually use my kitchen.
i think the question was upper cabinetry or not. not upper cabinets vs open shelves so this thread seems to have veered off topic.
no uppers look sleek in my preferred brownstone layout: kitchen in rear on open parlor floor with deck off back, but you do lose space. have to deal with that, for sure.
open shelves: i wouldnt go there: a) it is not really attractive, b) potentially dirtier and c) it kills the look you gained by excising the cabs.
If you don’t have windows in your kitchen (like the photo), perhaps you can compromise- upper cabinets at the top row and a second lower row of open shelves? Just think it’s more functional to have some type of cabinets in the same area of where you will be cooking and prepping- although I like the look of open shelves myself.
I have open shelves on one side of my victorian kitchen. It looks great but I constantly have to clean and reclean everything wtored on them. The kitchen is narrow and it really opens up the space, though.
bklynrosie:
are you going to use the same contractor you recommended in another post?
Like i said …i’m in the same boat looking to do the same kind of kitchen…i have lots of
open shelf reference/inspiration photos if you want some 🙂
it seems that the photo was included to show the look of open shelves as that’s what the post is about…not that kitchen’s layout, chairs, stove location etc.