Dear Alice, I have a tiny kitchen, and sometimes it feels like the cabinets are not helping. Even though I need storage, would open shelving be better than cabinets? What would I do with all the stuff that isn't pretty to look at? Thanks, Jill ~ somewhere in Oregon
Olivet via H&H
Dear Jill, I think open shelving would be a great solution to a small space! One the first things I did to my last kitchen was to take out all the upper cabinets. It made the whole room feel so much bigger. I put up a few shelves for items that I used on a daily basis, like dishes and coffee makers, etc. The rest I stored below or in some cabinets that were just off the kitchen in the mudroom. Since I like to take things apart, I did all the work myself. This may not be the best choice for everyone though. I chose Ikea shelves, because they were inexpensive, but there are so many options out there, you are sure to find something that fits your style!
via apartment therapy
via apartment therapy
When removing a cabinet, be careful! There will be bits of debris flying around and tools endangering your fingers the whole time. Basically a cabinet is a box, nailed to the wall and into some studs. In older cabinets, these nails are hard to find, and many times the cabinet was built in stages piece by piece into kitchen. {like stick building a house} In these cases the best method {for me} is to just take it out with a hammer. Just beat it apart. You can also try using a Sawzall fitted with a metal blade to cut apart the seams and slice through the nails holding the wood together. Should you be able to locate the nails holding your cabinet up, you can try to use a drill to screw several holes around each nail head. When you pull the cabinets off the wall, they will come away and leave the nail heads stuck to the wall in a little wood chunk. You can then remove the nails with hammer or prybar with less effort and damage.
via extreme how to
If your cabinets are newer than say, 1960 or so, the whole process should be much less destructive. New{ish} cabinets are usually hung on the wall with visible fasteners on the back panel. If you can locate these and remove them, the whole thing should just come off the wall, with little to no damage. If there are layers of paint gluing it in place, run a razor around the perimeter of the cabinet to separate it from the wall.
via remuddling
After the cabinets are down, you will need to repair the wall because there will be holes in it, and possibly dents from a pry bar or hammer. To do this you will at least need some joint compound. Spread it on in thin layers, sanding between coats until each area is smooth and flat. It the holes are really big, you can cut a patch of drywall and fit it in the hole, using small strips of drywall {or wood} across the back to secure it in place. There is a good tutorial here. There are also ready made patches that use a piece of drywall with extra paper around the edge, like a drywall band aid. It just kind of sticks in place with joint compound. If it is fist sized or less, you can just use mesh tape over the hole, and layer the joint compound over it until the tape doesn't show. If it is finger sized or smaller, just use spackle, then joint compound for the top layer.Now that the patches are done, prime and paint the walls! This may be a good time to paint the whole kitchen a new color as well.
Marie Claire via A Lovely Escape
Next, pick out shelves! When you are hanging the shelves, make sure you are securing them to a stud. There are no wall anchors strong enough to withstand the weight of dishes and pans every day. Get a stud finder. They cost like $15 for the basic battery operated kind. {there are little magnet ones, but I don't trust them. Also, you will want a level. If you are looking for inspiration, browse Pinterest for kitchens with open shelves for ideas on placement, spacing and quantity.
via apartment therapy
The best part of open shelves is the opportunity to asses what you actually want to have in your kitchen, or what you really use. Try cutting back on your dishes, pots and pans to just your very favorites, and see how it goes for a week or two. Small appliances and other things can be placed on a fitted tray in one of your lower cabinets for easy sliding in and out. If you are totally out of storage room, see if you can find a cool wardrobe or set of lockers or something like that to place close by the kitchen, for easy access to pantry items and cooking gear. Depending on the number of shelves you end up with, there may be room for canisters or baskets filled with high use items such as napkins, towels, cereal, coffee, etc. Make sure you like to look at everything you put on your shelves...you will see them all the time.
via Laura Powers
***If you are a renter, please don't do any of these things without consulting your landlord and getting written approval. {this is from painful personal experience} You can usually just remove your cabinet doors without permission, if they are stored carefully with all the hardware. Just re-install them when you leave and no one will be the wiser. If you want a damage free cabinet backing idea, try liquid starch and fabric on the backs of the now open shelves. Just soak the fabric in starch, and press it up along the back panel, adding more starch if you need it, and smoothing out the bubbles. When it dries, it will just look like you have a fun cabinet. If you want to take it down, just spray some water on it and it will peel off. The cabinet will look like nothing happened!***
via Little Green Notebook
Another thing to consider when creating more 'felt' space in a small space are the windows. Do you have curtains? Blinds? Take them down. Unless you do a lot of naked cooking, you don't really need privacy in your kitchen. Being able to see farther makes it seem like there's more room. Brain space. If you have to have the option of closing off your windows, choose something low profile like a roller shade.
Making my bed, Alice
p.s. check this kitchen out- its extra tiny!
p.p.s. Smitten Kitchen has some great tips on how to make the most of what you've got.
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