Nine years ago, Martha Stewart launched a series of wall cabinets for The Home Depot. In true Martha style, her advice (and cabinet style) has aged like a fine wine. In the footage below, Martha took viewers around her 'small' kitchen, showing how best to utilize 'dead' space you never knew you had, but arguably, nothing nails this quite like her glass-fronted cabinets.
'Every kitchen can be beautiful and functional, no matter what the size. When designing for a small space like this, take every inch into consideration,' Martha says before explaining the vertical kitchen cabinet's benefits. Crucially, they stretch high to the ceiling, reminding us to make use of an area that might otherwise go unused. It's perfect for small kitchens, but is also useful in homes where space might not be as much of a premium.
'We installed a line of Martha Stewart Living wall cabinets and base cabinets on this wall. They extend all the way to the ceiling, and they are finished with a simple crown molding. The upper cupboards are glass fronted, and they make the cabinets visually lighter, and I love seeing what's inside my cupboard, so nothing gets put away and never used again.'
The exact cabinets used in Martha's set are no longer stocked at The Home Depot, but we found some (almost identical) alternatives. They offer all the same benefits of Martha's, but are even more relevant to a modern kitchen.
Shop The Home Depot's glass kitchen cabinets
This cabinet from Home Decorators Collection offers an easy way to follow Martha's example without an expensive remodel. It it both tall and vertical, with sleek glass-door cabinets, so you can easily see what's inside. It also has a generous crown molding, raised panels, a fresh true white finish and zinc hardware in a bronze finish.
This exclusive Hampton Bay Designer Series cabinet with glass doors adds storage, organization, and beauty to your kitchen design, in a way that Martha would surely love. The doors have soft-close hinges, and they are preassembled for hassle-free installation.
Exhibiting a beautiful 'old money' finish, these kitchen cabinets allow you turn favorite dishware into decorative items, all while saving space in your small kitchen. They're so similar to the ones Martha first shared nine years ago, reminding us how they can stand the test of time.
After addressing our cabinets, Martha shares a small countertop tip. In a small kitchen, the countertop space is very limited. Adding a shelf takes items off the counter and puts them up here,'' she says.
'This shelf was mounted 22 inches above the counter versus the standard 18 inches. This way, if you're standing at the sink or at the stove, you have plenty of room to work. Nothing's right in your face.'
Whether you're decorating the exposed shelves behind your glass-fronted cabinets or want to upgrade your open shelves, you can do so with beautiful crockery and glasses. In a small kitchen, the items you choose arguably matter more, as every item has to fight harder to be on show. For a failsafe starting point, we've handpicked some essentials below. They will look beautiful on any shelf (behind glass or not) and are all functional. We're almost certain Martha would approve of such a combination.
A pretty crock filled with utensils on a shelf is not only a decorative addition, but it's incredibly practical, too. This rustic design suits most kitchen schemes.
Choose your prettiest dinnerware to display on shelves – this set of four cereal bowls is a beautiful blue color with a charming design embossed around the sides.
Luxurious glassware always has a place on kitchen shelves. Wine glasses in particular add an expensive look, like these decorative examples with an ornate design.
The neutral colorway and glass front of Martha's cabinets have impressed for the last nine years, and we're sure these picks will look just as good in another decade. When choosing cabinets, look for glass fronts, and a tall, vertical structure, and you really can't go wrong.
