Kitchen Redesign Adventure: Worth the Hype or Not?

I ended up putting mostly stuff I never used on display just to avoid rewashing everything.

- Totally relate to this. I thought open shelves would make my kitchen feel bigger, but honestly, the dust is no joke. I started out displaying my “nice” mugs and bowls, but after a month, they were just for show because I got tired of rinsing them every time.

- About mixing storage: I actually did a combo in my reno - kept the original lower cabinets (closed) and added a couple of open shelves up top. It’s been a decent balance. Everyday stuff stays behind doors, and only a few decorative things go on the shelves. Makes cleaning way less of a hassle.

- Agree with you on brass patina. Matte black looked amazing in photos, but fingerprints drove me nuts. Brass has that lived-in vibe and doesn’t show every little mark.

- If you’re still deciding, I’d say don’t ditch all your closed storage. Open shelves look cool but aren’t super practical for daily use unless you’re really into dusting... or have a housekeeper (which I definitely don’t).

- One thing I wish I’d done differently: more drawers instead of doors for lower cabinets. Way easier to organize and reach stuff in the back.

Hope that helps if you’re still weighing your options.

Totally get the struggle with open shelves. They look so good on Pinterest, but in real life? It’s like a daily dust collection experiment. I tried to be “that person” who keeps everything minimal and Instagram-worthy, but after the third time rinsing glasses before I could use them, I gave up and stashed my everyday stuff back behind closed doors. Now the open shelves are basically just a home for my random thrifted vases and a plant that’s somehow still alive.

Mixing storage types is such a solid move. I kept my lower cabinets too, but swapped out a couple of the doors for deep drawers - seriously, game changer. No more crawling around on the floor trying to reach that one pot in the back. If I had to do it over, I’d probably go all-in on drawers down low and save myself some knee pain.

On hardware, I was all about matte black at first (it’s everywhere right now), but you’re totally right - it’s a fingerprint magnet. Brass has this nice way of looking “used” without looking dirty. Plus, it ages well and feels less trendy than some of the other finishes out there.

One thing I did differently was reusing as much of my old cabinetry as possible instead of ripping everything out. Saved a bit of money, and honestly, it felt better not sending perfectly good wood to the landfill. Just slapped on some new fronts and hardware and called it a day.

If you’re thinking about open shelves for practicality... ehh, maybe just one or two for display or plants. Unless you really love cleaning (and if you do, can you come over?). Otherwise, drawers + closed cabinets are where it’s at - way easier to keep things tidy and actually usable.

Redesigns always seem so simple until you’re living with the choices every day. Funny how quickly “looks cool” turns into “why did I do this?”

Redesigns always seem so simple until you’re living with the choices every day. Funny how quickly “looks cool” turns into “why did I do this?”

That rings so true. I thought open shelving would help my 1920s kitchen feel lighter, but it just made me anxious about dust and clutter. Deep drawers really are a revelation - makes me wonder why cabinets ever became the default. And reusing cabinetry is such a smart move, both for budget and for keeping some character. Sometimes the best choices are the ones that don’t show up in the glossy photos.

Deep drawers changed the game for me too. I used to think upper cabinets were non-negotiable, but after living with a wall of them, I realized I was just storing stuff I never used. When I finally ripped them out and went with a mix of drawers and a few open shelves, it felt like I could breathe again - until the dust settled, literally. I underestimated how much time I'd spend wiping everything down. Still, I wouldn't go back to the old setup.

Funny thing, I tried to save some of the original cabinet doors for a DIY project and ended up using them as makeshift workbench surfaces in the garage. Not glamorous, but it felt good not to toss them. Sometimes the best parts of a remodel are the weird little solutions you stumble into along the way... not just the stuff you see in the after photos.

Deep drawers are a total game changer, right? I used to have to get on my knees and dig through the back of those old lower cabinets, like I was searching for buried treasure. Now I just pull out a drawer and everything’s right there - no more mystery Tupperware lids lurking in the shadows.

I hear you on the open shelves, though. They look great in photos, but man, the dust is relentless. I swear, I wipe them down and five minutes later it’s like I live in a flour mill. Still, I’d take that over the “cabinet of forgotten mugs” any day.

Sometimes the best parts of a remodel are the weird little solutions you stumble into along the way... not just the stuff you see in the after photos.

Couldn’t agree more. I ended up turning an old cabinet door into a cat perch by the window. The cat loves it, and I get to pretend I’m handy. Win-win, sort of. Funny how the stuff you improvise ends up being the most useful.

Deep drawers are a total game changer, right?

I get the hype around deep drawers, but I’ll be honest - sometimes they turn into bottomless pits for me. I swear, I’ve lost more spatulas in there than I ever did in my old cabinets. And about open shelves, yeah, they look cool, but unless you’re running a dusting marathon every week, it’s just not practical. Give me a good old-fashioned closed cabinet any day. At least my mugs stay out of sight and out of mind.

Deep drawers are awesome for pots and pans, but yeah... it’s easy for stuff to disappear in there if you’re not careful. I always suggest drawer organizers or dividers - makes a huge difference. As for open shelves, I hear you. They look great in photos, but in real life? More dusting and less hiding clutter. Closed cabinets definitely have their perks, especially if you’re not into constant tidying.

Title: Kitchen Redesign Adventure: Worth the Hype or Not?

Deep drawers are great for heavy cookware, but I’ve seen a lot of folks end up stacking too much and then forgetting what’s at the bottom. Drawer organizers help, but sometimes a simple pegboard system inside the drawer works even better for keeping things upright and visible. Open shelves - yeah, they look sharp in magazines, but in real homes, dust and grease build up fast, especially near the stove. Closed cabinets might not be as trendy, but they’re way more practical for most people. Curious - has anyone tried mixing both open and closed storage? Wondering if that’s the sweet spot or just more hassle.

I actually went for a mix of open shelves and closed cabinets in my kitchen redo last year. Here’s how it played out: I put open shelves for stuff I use daily - plates, mugs, a couple of plants. Everything else went behind doors. Honestly, the open shelves do get dusty, especially near the stove, just like you said:

“Open shelves - yeah, they look sharp in magazines, but in real homes, dust and grease build up fast, especially near the stove.”

If I had to do it again, I’d keep open shelves away from the cooking zone. Closed cabinets are just easier to keep clean. The combo looks nice, but it’s a bit more upkeep than I expected.

Funny timing - I just wrapped up a kitchen flip last month and wrestled with the same open vs. closed debate. I’ll admit, I got sucked in by all those Pinterest-perfect shelves, but reality hit fast. I put a couple of floating shelves above the coffee station, thinking it’d be a cute spot for mugs and a few cookbooks. Looked great for about a week... then the dust and random splatters started showing up. I swear, even with a vent hood, grease finds a way.

I hear you on the upkeep. I’m not the tidiest person, so I started regretting the open shelves near the stove almost immediately. Ended up moving the cookbooks to a closed cabinet and just kept the mugs out. Now, I wipe those shelves down every few days, but it’s still more work than I bargained for.

One thing I did like, though, was how open shelves made the space feel bigger. My kitchen’s not huge, so having a few open spots broke up the wall of cabinets and made it less boxy. But if I’m being honest, if I ever do another kitchen, I’ll probably stick to open shelves only in spots far from the cooking action - maybe just for display stuff or things that don’t get used much.

It’s wild how different the “magazine look” is from real life. Those stylists must have someone dusting every hour. If you’re thinking about a redo, I’d say go for a mix, but be strategic about where you put the open shelves. And maybe keep a microfiber cloth handy...

Yeah, I got lured in by those picture-perfect open shelves too - looked amazing for about five minutes. Once I realized how much extra cleaning they needed, I started questioning my life choices. I ended up using reclaimed wood for mine, thinking I’d feel better about the maintenance since it was eco-friendly, but honestly, dust doesn’t care if your shelf is sustainable or not. I agree - open shelves are best for stuff you barely touch. Anything near the stove is just asking for a sticky mess. The “lived-in” look is real, and it’s not as cute as Instagram makes it seem.

I get where you’re coming from - open shelves can definitely be high-maintenance, especially around the stove. But I’ve found that if you’re strategic about placement and what goes on them, they’re not always a disaster. For example, I keep my open shelves mostly above my coffee station and away from the main cooking zone. Stuff like mugs, cookbooks, or decorative bowls don’t seem to collect as much grime. Also, a quick dusting every few days (I use a microfiber cloth) keeps things manageable. Not saying they’re for everyone, but with some planning, they can work without driving you nuts.

I get why people worry about open shelves being a dust magnet, but honestly, I’ve flipped a few kitchens where they totally changed the vibe for the better. You’re right - location matters. I usually avoid putting them near the stove or sink for exactly that reason. One tip: go for thicker shelves and fewer items. Makes the space look curated, not cluttered, and it’s way easier to keep clean. A little styling goes a long way.

- Totally agree on shelf placement - keeping them away from the stove is key.
- I’ve found matte finishes help hide dust a bit better than glossy ones.
- Mixing in a few closed cabinets can balance things out if you’re worried about clutter.
- Honestly, I love how open shelves let you show off cool dishes or plants... just gotta be realistic about maintenance.

Matte finishes are a total game changer - had a client who insisted on glossy, and every fingerprint drove her nuts. I’m with you on mixing closed cabinets in. Open shelves look amazing in photos, but in real life? Unless you’re super tidy, it’s easy for things to look messy fast. I do like using a few for cookbooks or plants, though. Just gotta be honest about how much “display” stuff you actually want to dust every week...

Totally get what you mean about open shelves - mine looked cute for about a week, then turned into a clutter magnet. If you’re on a budget, I found that just swapping out a couple of upper cabinets for shelves (instead of going all-in) keeps things feeling open but not chaotic. Plus, less to dust. Matte finishes are way more forgiving, especially if you’ve got kids or pets. I’d say, pick your “display” spots carefully and keep the rest closed up tight.

Kitchen Redesign Adventure: Worth the Hype or Not?

Yeah, I’ve seen open shelving get hyped up a lot, but in rentals or flips, it’s honestly a mixed bag. Buyers love the look in photos, but I’ve had people walk through and immediately ask, “Where do I hide my mismatched mugs?” I do think a combo works best - one or two shelves for show, rest closed storage. Also, curious if you’ve noticed matte finishes holding up over time? I’ve had a few kitchens where fingerprints still showed, just less than gloss. Maybe it’s the color choice?

“Where do I hide my mismatched mugs?”

Haha, that’s exactly my problem. Open shelves look great on Instagram, but I’ve got a collection of chipped mugs that aren’t exactly display-worthy. As for matte finishes, I went with a darker gray and fingerprints still show, just a bit less obvious. Maybe lighter colors help? Still, I’m constantly wiping things down...

The Mismatched Mug Dilemma: A Historic Home Perspective

If only my kitchen could talk, it’d probably ask why I keep stashing oddball mugs behind the flour canister. My house is from 1892, so “open shelving” here means whatever the previous owner cobbled together with pine boards and a prayer. I tried the whole “display your prettiest dishes” thing for about a week. Turns out, my prettiest mugs are also the ones that have survived three generations of butterfingers - so, not exactly Instagram material.

I’ve got a whole shelf in the corner cabinet dedicated to mugs that don’t match anything except maybe my socks on laundry day. The chipped ones? I tell myself they’re “vintage,” but really, they’re just survivors of the Great Dishwasher Incident of 2017. Hiding them is an art form. If you have a deep drawer, that’s prime real estate. Otherwise, I’ve found that stacking them behind mixing bowls works surprisingly well... until you need a mixing bowl.

On the topic of matte finishes, I’m with you. I went with a pale sage green thinking it’d hide everything. Nope. Every smudge, every greasy fingerprint from late-night snacking - front and center. I swear, the more “modern” the finish, the more it shows real life. Sometimes I think my old wood cabinets were onto something; at least dust blends in with the patina.

Maybe that’s the real secret of historic homes: nothing matches, everything’s a little worn, and somehow it all feels intentional. Or at least that’s what I tell myself when someone opens the wrong cabinet and gets a face full of mismatched mugs.

Maybe that’s the real secret of historic homes: nothing matches, everything’s a little worn, and somehow it all feels intentional.

Honestly, that's the charm, but if you're weighing a kitchen redesign, here's my take. First, inventory what you actually use - no sense in building storage for mugs you never touch. Next, consider closed cabinets with adjustable shelves. They hide the chaos and let you keep the “vintage” survivors without the daily mug avalanche. Open shelving looks great in photos but, like you said, it’s not always practical (especially with matte finishes - those things show every fingerprint). I’ve seen folks regret going too trendy and losing that lived-in feel. Sometimes a light refresh - new hardware, maybe a coat of paint on the cabinets - goes further than gutting everything. Keeps the history, skips the headache.