Kitchen ideas no upper cabinets

Do you snip and pin photos of favorite kitchens for future (ah, someday!) inspiration? I do too, and I realized that many of the kitchens I loved had one thing in common: No upper cabinets. It might seem crazy to forego the storage that upper cabinets offer, but there are some significant advantages in return. See ten inspiring kitchens here that ditched the uppers, and read more on why it’s sometimes a good idea.

Alternative and modern trends in kitchen design

smart upper kitchen cabinet alternatives cover

Whether you prefer open shelving or drawers galore, here are kitchens with no upper cabinets that will nudge you to pursue the dramatic look.

Do you think you could go without?

Wall cabinets are unquestionably useful storage, but with drawbacks. A major disadvantage is that wall cabinets make a kitchen seem smaller by closing in the space at eye level – which is where we subconsciously judge how large the space around us is. The typical rank of identical wall cabinets marching with military alignment along the wall of a kitchen creates what is in effect walls within the walls of the kitchen, closing the space in. Small kitchens, in particular, can greatly benefit…

Contemporary kitchen with white cabinetry accented with nickel hardware alongside sleek white quartz countertops with a ceiling height linear mosaic backsplash.