Remember yesterday when our shelves looked like this?
Then I had fun filling them (you can watch the video without sound and still get the idea):
If you watch, you’ll see I can reach most of the top shelves. The corner by the window is a bit awkward, but I can sit on the counter to grab things when needed.
Who knew I’d actually reach all that stuff? I expected to yell “Joooooohn” every time I needed something up there (he’s the chef, so that might not have worked out often). A step stool would have helped if he was MIA, but thankfully I didn’t need one.
Now the shelves are full and cheerful, though still a work in progress. Plates and bowls have already been restacked as we used them, so the arrangement is always shifting. That’s the point—these shelves are for everyday use, not museum displays. Things aren’t glued down; this is just one take of many. As we add crown molding and patch the ceiling, items will come down and likely be rearranged. I’m ok with that—it’s part of the fun.
I purposely didn’t overthink the layout. Over-planning can ruin the spontaneity of styling a shelf. I moved things, stepped back, and focused on functionality: grouping dinner items together, placing dessert bowls and plates in the lower right for easy access, and keeping large dinner plates, cups, and cereal bowls on the lower left near the dishwasher. The top shelves hold items used less frequently—cake stands, large serving bowls, a vase, and a bottle of my mom’s favorite bubbly—so they can sit a bit more decoratively. If they get dusty, a quick rinse gets them back in service.
From the angle of the office doorway, the room already feels different. We’re still waiting on a new stainless dishwasher, which will help the look, but the overall change is striking. I meant to take a photo showing the shelf spacing around the window—14″ from the right and 14″ to the cabinet on the left—but I blanked. That picture is coming.
For comparison, this is how the room used to look from the same spot. It’s surprising how much closer the window feels now.
Back to the present: I’m ridiculously pleased with how it’s coming together. There are lots of soft curves in the space—from the bracket shapes to the penny tile and round pendants—which balance the room’s more angular elements like the range hood and peninsula. I love these little, happy design accidents.
Having pretty glassware displayed has made me use it more. I catch myself admiring it—OK, gazing at it—rather than stashing it away. The pops of blue, green, and yellow and the two framed pieces add personality. This isn’t a magazine-perfect scene; it’s a practical, lived-in display with decorative touches mixed in. If a magazine shot were required, they’d probably add more flowers and decorative accessories at the cost of everyday function, which would make me happy and John roll his eyes.
We considered adding a third row of shelves, but decided against it. Once the second row was loaded, it visually aligned with the top of the doorway, and anything higher would be hard to reach and likely feel cluttered.
Bracket placement was important for balance. We tested several layouts and settled on four brackets on one side and an equal spread on the other. Fortunately, the preferred positions lined up with studs, so the shelves feel secure. After taping and measuring mock-ups, we installed the arrangement we liked best—and we love how it looks in real life.
In short: we’re thrilled with our tiled wall and bracketed shelves filled with useful, colorful items. The art reads “Love Life” (I framed the cover of a book John gave me) and “Squeeze The Day” (a favorite flier from an old catalog). Open shelves, the tile, pendants, and accessories might not be everyone’s style, but they work for us. The photos and video don’t capture the full effect, so you’ll have to come over when things calm down from book-related chaos. You can even grab a cup—just check the shelves.
On another note, the tulips are still alive—thanks for the flower care tips. I’ve been meaning to drop a penny in the vase to see if they perk up more when Clara is around.
There are still finishing touches to do: crown molding, a patched ceiling, and a pendant over the sink. We’re eager to finish the cork floors and call this refresh complete. In the meantime, we’re delighted with how the kitchen is shaping up.
Just for fun, I played with a Photoshop mock-up to visualize crown molding and a pendant. It’s not perfect, but it helped me imagine the finished look.
Finally, a few small surprises: at 5’2″ I can reach nearly everything on the upper shelves—an unexpected bonus. The photo crew was working in other rooms during the time-lapse, so I could finish arranging without interruptions. In short: shelves—yay. What have you been hanging or filling your shelves with lately?
Psst—And next up: a post about donuts.
UPDATE: We couldn’t love our open cabinets more. Check out a bracket tweak we made and an update post about how they function—links referenced in the original post.