I have this theory that you’re wandering into dangerous DIY design territory when you can’t find any pictures on Pinterest to show what you’re thinking about doing.

This happened to me twice this weekend: once in regards to window trim (I’ll talk about that in a different post) and again concerning our lower kitchen cabinets, the design for which has been scrapped, swapped, and re-hashed this weekend in what Jeremy called a Come-To -Jesus-Meeting but was actually very reserved and pleasant and exciting.

It started when we were working on the live edge shelves in the Colloquium. Over on the wall near where the oven range will be, the realization struck us: the lower shelf was going to overlap the stovetop by several inches. A wood shelf. Some 18″ over flame. That wasn’t a good idea.

This oversight was due to the fact that:
1) There weren’t any shelves on that wall in the original design but were added later, and
2) The stove in the design is 36″, but we ended up with a 48″ range, and
3) The range is not centered on the window because of the 47″ metal cabinet to the right that I worked so hard to include in the design.

We talked about cutting part of the shelf off so they wouldn’t overlap–but we didn’t want to do that.

And I really did kind of wish the range could be centered under the stained glass window.

But to do that we’d have to get rid of that cabinet…

Those metal cabinets are sitting forlornly, in a huddle, on a trailer, waiting to be taken someplace to be sandblasted and painted (or maybe even powdercoated.) But we don’t know where yet. And I don’t know what color we’ll paint them because I don’t actually know what’s available at whatever place we’ll end up taking them. And to make matters worse, the (really cool vintage) metal cabinets that we thrifted to be able to save some money on this new kitchen were actually going to end up costing more than custom cabinets after all of that sandblasting and painting.

I could feel those cabinets looking at me every time Beatrice kicked me, as if to say, “You’ve only got a few more weeks before she comes, and we don’t even know what color we’re going to be.”

So…lose a metal cabinet and get a centered stove and keep the shelf? Yes, I’ll do that. Heck, let’s lose all the metal cabinets. Jeremy can use them in his shop or his office. They were a great idea, but they could be used elsewhere.

There were only three cabinets in the kitchen to begin with. In the corner between the dishwasher and the oven range we planned on building a shelf unit to house large bowls and pots and whatever else needed to be there close to the oven. The same was planned for the back of the island. Why not just continue that all around the kitchen?

Well, why not?

I will be completely honest. I sat there in silence for a while, mulling over what I have and use regularly in the kitchen. I thought about crawling babies and nosy toddlers (our resident nosy toddler is ALWAYS opening doors and drawers in the kitchen.) I thought about what would have to be seen, organized, or even done away with if everything–everything except the buffet that will house the kitchen sink–were open and exposed. Open upper shelves don’t scare me at all–I’ve already done that, and I far prefer it to upper cabinets. But open lowers? In a kitchen? Can you do that? Is that allowed?

After honestly asking myself if this was something I wanted to do–I had to answer an enthusiastic yes. It’s something–like the two full walls of tile we’re installing–that may seem like a strange decision, but we know it can work, and we’re not afraid of making it work.

I’ll detail more of the plans (and how we’ll work around a place for silverware and utensils and things) in the next post. With a few inspiration photos from Pinterest, because yes, there are a few out there.