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.
