In any size kitchen, there is one ingredient that will maximize space and make it look exceptional – good storage. Actress Anne Hathaway's kitchen, designed by Pamela Shamshiri of Studio Shamshiri, is the perfect example of a space that beautifully blends design-led open shelving with practical and useful closed kitchen cabinet storage.
With the kitchen coming under increasing pressure to perform a variety of crucial roles, such as family dining, working, relaxing and entertaining, a good layout and adequate storage are more important than ever. High-capacity, well-sited storage is essential to keep everything tidy, providing space that's free of clutter and a pleasure to use.
In Anne Hathaway's modern rustic kitchen, a combination of clever kitchen storage is key to the balance of this room. But where to start?
When designing a kitchen, start with an audit of kitchenware. ‘Working out which items you use every day and those that are for special occasions will help determine how much and what type of storage you need,’ says Dave Young, founder, of Husk. Cull any redundant items first and foremost.
If it’s easy to find ingredients and equipment, cooking will be more enjoyable, while good kitchen storage ideas can make the room feel less cluttered and more spacious.
‘It is important to strike a balance between functionality and style,’ says interior designer Irene Gunter, founder of Gunter & Co. ‘For example, incorporating open shelves for displaying objects and cookbooks can provide storage as well as create a visually appealing space.’
She also advises paying attention to the choice of color to add interest. In this space, Shamshiri painted Hathaway's cabinetry in a single standout duck egg shade. Storage is always so much more than just storage. It can be a design feature in its own right. Quite often, decorative pieces and color are all it takes.
However, using open kitchen shelving for decorative moments comes with caution, but done right and kept clutter-free, they can add so much individual style and personality to a kitchen.
Be they decorated with ceramics, vintage glassware, plants or recipe books, shelves can be used to add individual style to a kitchen, as Mike Fetherston, design director of Hetherington Newman, explains.
‘As kitchens are increasingly central to the home and where families come together for meals and to socialize, areas for display are important to personalize the space and add interest, giving a more relaxed and welcoming feel.’
Choose from floating shelves (without visible supports) to those with stylish brackets and vintage-inspired options with decorative details, similar to Hathaway's. If you have something worth putting on display, why not make a feature out of your storage? My advice: Anything you don't want on display, hide it within closed kitchen cabinets.
Shop the look
If you have open display shelves in your kitchen, you'll want to make sure that your plates and crockery are beautiful. This delightfully on-trend set is a guaranteed crowd pleaser. This colorway will never date, and you'll get maximum usage from them. Trust me, this color looks good with everything.
This attention-grabbing shade has been used in our interiors for centuries, and it is gradually garnering more popularity. If you want to add a dash of color to another pale or subtle neutral color palette, teal is my color of choice. This color will uplift and calm in equal measure.
Use open shelving to add delightful decorative moments to your kitchen. The simplest – and most effective – way to do so is with beautiful ceramic jugs and planters. This set ticks all the boxes in one fell swoop.
