Early in my diary editing times, I read an interview with a local designer I’ve never forgotten. Asked about the latest kitchen trends, the designer insisted that homeowners had moved beyond such outdated practices as storing canisters and utensil crocks directly on the countertop. I was taken aback when I see that, and nearly 15 years later, I disagree with her.

Many people only lack space to transplant their equipment behind cupboard doors, especially those with tiny kitchens or enthusiastic cooks who have each gadget on the market. Practical considerations aside, however, I feel a kitchen with no visible resources or sundries looks flat and soulless. We cling to kitchens because we all crave a visceral sense of heat and sustenance, and an empty kitchen strips that sense away. Convenience counts too; personally, I’d rather not run to the pantry each time that I want a teaspoon of salt or reach into a drawer to locate just the correct spatula.

If you decide pretty containers and keep them neatly organized, they could add to rather than detract from your kitchen decor. Even in case you don’t cook, you can fill canisters with wine corks, candies or sugar cubes for coffee, or collect a collection of pretty olive oil spoons or sleek wire whisks in a pitcher.

What is your take? Is storing kitchen supplies from the open a do or a do not, in case you’ve got the decision? Leave a comment and tell us!

Layers of canisters, jars, dishware, trivets and other resources infuse this accumulated kitchen with a sense of comfort and cheer. At first glance you’ll be able to tell it’s a working kitchen, and the visual feast holds the promise of delicious meals and conviviality.

How to keep open shelves under control

tumbleweed and dandelion.com

It’s easy to overlook that banks of cabinetry are a relatively new addition into the kitchen landscape — a few generations before, you were more likely to come across open shelving along with a sturdy worktable. Even though this kitchen were big enough to store dry products in, it wouldn’t radiate such old-fashioned heat when the counters and shelves were bare.

Likewise, the medley of cosmetic and functional items with this kitchen counter tops the cabin flavor.

Sethbennphoto

Vintage canisters echo the antique stove within this space. My favorite touch is the colander, hung on the wall as you may mount a clock or a decorative object.

Hann Builders

Old-world kitchens, particularly in rural regions, had lots of things in common with our country and cabin kitchens — open storage included. Cleared of clutter, the counters and shelves within this space would seem all wrong.

Lucy Interior Design

Straightforward glass jars in a pleasing array of peaks help to fill some of the blank space between the upper and lower cabinets within this kitchen. Without the counter flotsam, the space would seem bare and cold.

Kitchen bric-a-brac does not have to be more extensive to heat up the space. Inside this space, a couple of well-chosen necessities do the job without detracting in the minimalist aesthetic.

Schwartz and Architecture

This miniature kitchen elevates canister displays to an art form. Massing them on the shelves in various heights, with these stunning rows of reddish jars and copper pots, blends form and function in the best way.

Bunker Workshop

A lone line of containers nestled into the top of a cabinetry wall provides only enough homeyness to take away the glow of this minimalist kitchen.

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