With Colman Domingo taking on his role as the co-chair of this year's Met Gala came another excuse for us to browse his Instagram (just as we did last year, when he showcased that Willy Chavarria cape on the carpet). At the time, we discussed the wooden nature of his organic kitchen and almost overlooked his smart shelving system. That hasn't happened this time around, however.
In his kitchen, the Sing Sing actor has no cabinets on his walls. In contrast, he has opted for a single open shelf that's filled with essentials, including drinking glasses and storage jars. He also appears to hang his mugs on the adjoining wall, but again, they aren't hidden by any large cabinets.
Open shelving, like Colman's, is a consistently debated kitchen storage idea among designers. Some argue that, without the right styling, it can appear overcrowded, cluttered, and, practically, it can be hard to maintain.
However, its benefits are abundant. Most significantly, choosing this shelving (instead of cabinets) is an intelligent way to make your space feel brighter and airier, something that's particularly useful in small kitchens (even though Colman's doesn't fall in this category).
Shop the open-shelving edit
We love this simple style: it's sturdy, stylish, and surprisingly inexpensive – what more could we look for when styling our shelves?
Crafted from thin glass, the Marta glasses are the perfect simplistic set of glasses for everyday use.
Just as the name suggests, this 'hold everything' container is built to store whatever we may desire, including pasta and flour (the kitchen essentials).
'Open shelving instead of cabinets can help to create an open and airy look and feel, perfect for smaller kitchens or those with limited natural light,' explains Claudio Corniola, the R&D director of Laminam, of Colman's technique.
'Open shelves can also be integrated into a kitchen island or peninsula, making the most of every inch of space. Porcelain shelving can be used to great effect to complement porcelain countertops, backsplashes, island cladding, and tabletops, with a seamless design that flows effortlessly throughout the whole kitchen.'
Plus, Claudio is not alone in his observations. Claire Garner, the director of Claire Garner Design Studio, emphasizes that removing cabinets in favor of shelves is a powerful way of making a room feel airier, whether you're working with a large kitchen like Colman's or a more compact space.
'Open shelving can completely transform the feel of a kitchen. Unlike larger, solid-fronted kitchen cabinets, open shelves create a sense of lightness and openness, which is especially valuable in smaller or darker kitchens. They allow the eye to travel further, making the space feel bigger and less enclosed,' she says.
These shelves can make a space feel larger and offer a beautiful styling opportunity. For the perfect starting point, follow Colman's lead and decorate with jars, artisan glassware, or ceramics.
'It brings a personal, lived-in warmth to the space that closed cupboards often lack. I always encourage clients to think of open shelving as both practical storage and a design feature, just be mindful to keep it curated and intentional to avoid a cluttered look' she says.
'Functionally, they also make accessing everyday items easier. If you love to cook or entertain, having your essentials within easy reach can really help your kitchen flow more effortlessly.' You'll wonder why you ever lived without this technique.
