Lane Swaniawski
Before we get into how to create more kitchen storage and install open shelving above the sink, I want to offer my apologies for the fact there are most definitely crumbs on the countertop next to the toaster in these photos. So, when we moved into our place last year, while I was content with the amount of storage, I knew that it wasn’t 100% ideal. For our dishes and kitchen appliances (okay, with the exception of the air fryer), we have plenty of storage.
Thankfully, we have a big walk in coat/storage closet next to our kitchen that is the perfect spot for pantry shelving, BUT I missed having some of the items we grab for constantly (almonds, peanuts, etc.)
Plus, I had a few pretty kitchen items that felt like they were hidden away behind closed doors. DECOR DETAILS: WEST ELM LINEAR WOOD INTERCHANGEABLE SHELVES IN BURNT WAX/ WEST ELM PRISM BRACKET / BIALETTI ESPRESSO MAKER / VINTAGE MILK GLASS CREAM AND SUGAR SET (I picked these up a few years ago at an antique shop in Frederick, MD, but found the exact set on Etsy!)
For almost a year, I simply hung a painting I did on that wall, just to have something catching the eye on an otherwise dull spot. We knew that we wanted to go with an open shelving above the sink option, but it took us months to find the right ones stylistically.
I’m actually working on a sponsored post with a company that makes wood shelves and they sent me some to use, but they were all wrong for this space. They were the right length, but too visually heavy (they’re perfect in the place we decided to install them instead — stay tuned!). Thankfully, we found the burnt wax Linear Wood Interchangeable Shelves from West Elm with the Prism Bracket and they were exactly what we were looking for: sleek, geometric, modern. And, they would fit perfectly in the random wall space above our sink (like, why wasn’t a cabinet installed there to begin with?!
While I loved the gold support option for these interchangeable shelves, I knew Adam might be reaching a breaking point with all the gold in our home and the black prism bracket pulled in the hardware on our cabinets. Well, that’s not ideal when you’re using a power drill and installing shelves and someone who isn’t quite so lax when it comes to home improvement is involved. We then confirmed those draft positions with a laser level because you should never trust measurements based on a ceiling or baseboard in any home, but particularly an old one.
I’ve actually blogged about this before — we were lucky enough to have open shelving in our apartment kitchen on H Street.
I think of it just as I would if I were styling a normal bookcase, but using pieces that are practical and that I may reach for on a more regular basis, if not every day.
