Kitchens with open shelving

I love open shelving in kitchens. ALOT. Only thing is the dirt/grime that can collect on your kitchenware. Not a fan of that. Regardless, I think every kitchen should have some open shelving, even if it's just one shelf (this is all I've got) to display some of your favourite dishes or glasses or anything really. Anyone out there not a fan of open shelving in kitchens? (I might convert those folks once they see the photos below).

e-architekt	This Ain't No Disco (it's where we work)
Apartment Therapy	Aqua Vitae Design
Ellen McDermott	House Beautiful
The New York Times	Katie Sellers
Graham Atkins-Hughes	Sköna hem

Design*Sponge

Design*Sponge

Colin Streater

Country Home

Hartslane

Loftlife Magazine

Moris Moreno

Western Interiors

Domino

House To Home

Marie Claire Maison

Marie Claire Maison

Bolig Magasinet

Design*Sponge

Comments

[Marc]

Gorgeous! I think my favorites are probably the Aqua Vitae Design or the Hartslane Design but it's hard to choose!

[red.neck chic]

I think my favorite is the MarieClaire...but all of them are gorgeous! I just pulled my cabinet out of my dining area in lieu of open shelving...I'm in denial about the dirt, grime and dust still...

PERFECT pictures!!!

[Blue Muse]

Oh I love open shelving in kitchens - especially the industrial/restaurant look mixed with antiques. That's what I'm working on right now.
Love the Marie Claire Maison and if you mixed the Western Interiors shot and the Moris Moreno shot together into one kitchen, I'd be in heaven.
xo Isa

[The Flying Quiche]

Growing up in the South of France, my parent's kitchen was completely devoid of cupboards, so they lined the one empty wall with about 4 sets of Metro Shelving- very much like the picture from Skona hem!
But ours did not look this chic- looked a lot more like a grocery store... We loved em anyway

[juniperberry]

love the look of open shelving, but hate the thought of greasy dust buildup! I see this trend falling to the wayside as more people actually LIVE in these kitchens... I plan to incorporate some glass fronted cabinets into our new kitchen, combined with some open shelving in the adjoining dining area (far enough away from the stovetop!).

[thriftylittleblog]

I love them too, especially with crisp white dishes.

[Helena]

I love to see the kitchens with open shelves, but I always wonder how they keep the dishes, cups and china so clean ...

But for sure they look very nice !

[leni]

stunning!

[Robin]

Really nice. I would probably keep enough out for 4 and then put the extra's in cabinets. I actually keep my cupboards neat so open would work for me. I like the idea of seeing everything I use.

[Yansy]

I love them all. The MarieClaire is my favorite. I love this concept so much that I plan to use it when I move again.

[ale]

hola!!! l enjoy very much looking this kitchens...they are so diferent and so personal each one...a party for our eyes and inspirations!!!from bs as...bye!!

[style odyssey]

beautiful.
speaking practically, i'm not a fan of open shelves. i live in an open-air, seaside environment where inside and outside mingle (good old caribbean living)...i have 2 open shelves, and it's a gooey mess i'm constantly trying to keep on top of.

[Jeremy and Kathleen]

I love how utilitarian it is.

[Molly Jean]

such a perfect way to display pretty dishes/china!

[Jenn]

If you do have open shelves, you would have to consider how to display them in a way so that is doesn't look cluttered. Other than that, I really love the idea, very funky :)

[avant garde]

no way, i love that idea. there is something very sculptural about displaying all of your treasured, plates, tea cups etc. it makes for a wall treatment really. and useful, just grab and go! :)

[midcenturyjo]

Perfect timing Kim. I'm looking for open shelf kitchen inspiration for the next house :)

[Maggie]

I had open shelving when I lived alone in a little Albuquerque adobe and loved it - I only had the dishes I needed (not many since it was just me) and I loved the brightness of my dishes displayed in a cheery kitchen.

Now, though - I think I'd be overwhelmed with open shelving for all my goodies. But for the time and place, it was perfect.

[Candied Fabrics]

I LOVE open shelving in a kitchen and you've done a fabulous job of collecting all these awesome photos in one place. One problem: earthquakes. :-( Here in S. Ca it seems like too big a risk to put much on open shelving, and as it would mean me removing cabinets in the kitchen, my husband says NO!!! Thoughts? Am I doomed to dream of open shelving in the kitchen (til we move...)

[pretty*pink*rat]

I think I prefer glass front cabinets, to be honest. Some of these are gorgeous, I love the green kitchen image from Design*sponge, but its just too easy to get too cluttered, too fast. I have to have everything neat, so a cluttered look would drive me crazy!

[the polish chick]

i'm with juniperberry: not at all practical. sure it looks gorgeous on the photos, but photos are NOT real life and in real life i cook. a lot.

this concept is right up there with shelving books by colour: nice visual for a photo op, not that great in real life.

[Buttonchief7]

We left a corner for butcher-block shelves to sit on black cast iron brackets. It's filled with coffee mugs, a spooner and the makings for coffee and hot chocolate. Really handy besides looking very colorful.

[Jeni]

I LOVE open shelving, it is a really great way to show off pretty dishes.

[Tami]

It will work for me. I'm working on decluttering my life so I don't want or need a lot of dishes I don't use anyway. I love them all.

[Livinia Redlips]

Love those stainless cabinets!