Open Shelves in your Kitchen

Open shelves in your kitchen - do you love it or hate it?
The trend for kitchens is getting rid of upper cabinets and having open shelves for dishes, pots, pans and any kitchen gadget you have. 

 Looking on the web for pictures, I have found that all these kitchens are "staged" very well and the open shelves look Great!  How would these shelves look in the real life of a kitchen?  Most people do not have perfect coordinating dishes, pots and pans.  Would you have the time to make sure the shelves look good each and every day?  What happens to these dishes out in the open with dust, kitchen grease or any other airborne particle?  

Here are some pictures I found on Google.

PERFECT COORDINATION WITH THESE SHELVES

SOME OPEN SHELVES CAN APPEAR MESSY

There is a place for open shelves in a kitchen, I am just not sure if they should replace all your upper cabinetry.

A GOOD BALANCE BETWEEN OPEN SHELVES AND UPPER CABINETRY

CUSTOM WOOD DOOR

Our CPA had a dilemma with one of their small offices in their space.  This office had a metal security door that had to stay, but looked terrible in the space. 

Our solution:  We put a solid wood panel on the interior side of the door.  This panel matchs the style and color of the cabinetry in the office.  We used black metal decorative brackets to attach the wood the metal door.  We also built a matching wood panel to cover the metal service panel in the space.  

Now this office has the security of metal door with the look of a wood door.  Very happy client.

                            OUTSIDE VIEW OF DOOR

                              VIEW LOOKING INSIDE

             INSIDE VIEW OF DOOR AND SERVICE PANEL

CUSTOM PICTURE FRAME

I had purchased this great photo from Esty that would look perfect above my fireplace.  When I hung it up the scale was Wayyy off, but I was determined to find a solution.  Quick answer - build a frame.  

I wanted a simple frame in rustic wood.  When constructing this frame, we made sure to include the knots in the wood. Once completed, the picture looks even better and in the proper scale.

BEFORE THE FRAME

PICTURE WITH FRAME

KITCHEN REMODEL - SOUTH ROCKWOOD

In this kitchen, cabinetry was mixed light and dark.  This created interest that would otherwise be too "light" or too "dark".  White kitchens have been the norm for some time, but it is time to bring back the stained cabinets.  The counters are also two different colors.  Kitchens do not have to be "matchy-matchy".  Go ahead and mix it up.

Overall View of Kitchen

Glass cabinets with interior lights to display dishes

Farm-style sink, glass drawer fronts 

 

  Added wainscoting and shelf supports to dress up back of island

  

 Pot filler for convenience, white subway tile with a metal deco strip to add interest.

Kitchen Remodel - Brighton

The function of this kitchen worked for our client, but it was in desperate need of a remodel.  We took out the soffits, "Lots" of wall paper and gutted the entire space.
The cabinetry heights are standard, but we added a 6" wood soffit along with crown moulding painted the same as the cabinetry.  This creates the illusion of height using stock cabinets.  All new fixtures and finishes gave this couple a kitchen that fits their life style.

Products used were "Merillat" Cabinetry - Spring Valley Maple Cabinets painted in Chiffon with Tuscan Accent.  Counters are Quartz in Dakota Color.  "Delta" Leland Faucet in Stainless Steel and 4" x 4" travertine tile with glass accents.

 

The Added Details:  We added wood to give back of cabinets a recessed panel appearance

Under cabinet lighting always a must in a kitchen

Mixing up the tile to add interest over the range top

 

Added a wood 6" wood soffit and crown moulding - both painted to match cabinetry

Ann Arbor Kitchen

Our client did not want a full kitchen remodel, but she did want to change the layout of her space.  She currently had light maple cabinetry and instead of trying to match; we installed Merillat dark maple cabinetry.    We created a pantry with cabinetry and dressed it up by putting glass doors on the top.  A pennisula was taken out and installed an island with a butcher block counter.  New wood flooring and interior doors were installed through out the home along with painting all rooms.

No major construction was done, but when all was completed, she had a "new" home.

Pantry created with cabinetry.  New island with butcher block top

Glass doors dress up cabintry along with crown moulding

Don't forget the trim details - New Flooring

Saline Bath Remodel

Our client wanted to remodel her bathroom in a contemporary style.  After looking at many cabinetry options, she could not find exactly what she wanted; SOLUTION -
MHI Interiors designed and constructed a vanity cabinet to fit her needs.  Finding a mirror was another obstacle she had, but MHI Interiors was able to design and build her a mirror frame to compliment the vanity.

We installed quartz counters, 12" x 24" floor tile along with 12" x 24" gloss white wall tile in the shower.  To dress up the wall tile, we added a deco strip.

She is very happy with the finish product and loves the overall contemporary feel of her bathroom.