More than a decade later, the Property Brothers say this real estate trend still leads to ‘regret’

When one of the titles of their shows is called Don’t Hate Your Home with Property Brothersyou know it Jonathan and Drew Scott know what they are talking about. When it comes to design, everything is a preference, so don’t take their word as gospel. But the Property Brothers the stars certainly know a thing or two about making a house a home.

Having completed countless kitchen renovations, the Scott brothers know what works and what doesn’t. And that also means there are things you definitely shouldn’t include. In the kitchen, be wary of open shelves at all costs. Although open shelving may seem stylish and liberating, the Scotts caution that there’s a method behind their madness. You can get the aesthetic you want, but it’s not as clean and sleek as you think.

Open shelves create minimal storage

One of the many kitchen trends that have found their place HGTV The spectators’ houses are open shelves. One reason many homeowners have felt inclined to add it to their own home is that it provides a sophisticated way to display fine dinnerware, antiques, cookbooks, and even knick-knacks that one may have collected over the years. Now, even though they are out in the open, the reality is that they will just collect dust while you look for a real, practical place to store your everyday dishes. According to the Scott brothers, it is highly recommended to pump the brakes before removing your current cabinets and installing the open-air design. The sad reality is that as nice as they may look, they don’t end up working. They serve as decoration rather than storage.

“You have to have upper cabinets, unless you have a lot of storage space in a pantry. But for families, for people in real life, every time I’ve had a client who forced me to design a kitchen without a top, everyone came back in six months saying they regretted it“, Jonathan told Apartment Therapy. By foregoing built-in cabinets, you immediately lose essential storage. Now imagine not having a pantry or secondary storage space for your dishes. You might find yourself pushing them inside the oven!

“Home should make life easier. If you take the emotion out of it and think, ‘What would help me save five minutes?’ that’s how you get it,” Jonathan continued. With the kitchen being one of the busiest areas in your home, thinking that it might be nice to have an aesthetically pleasing display will end up hurting you in the long run. Especially if you sell your property later. What you prefer may not be desired by others. If you would like to have space to display, you can easily select a set of cabinets with glass doors that allow you to peek inside. That said, you need to keep it organized at all times. This in itself can be a headache you don’t want to have.

The Property Brothers have other methods for achieving the desired aesthetic

Image via HGTV

Now that you understand why to avoid open storage, Property Brothers offers cost-effective ways to make your kitchen cabinets look high-end. The first tip is to use standard cabinets. Sturdy, well-made cabinets will help your wallet in the long run. From there, look for the right hardware. Maybe you wanted to share your antiques on your now-defunct shelves, find some antique knobs instead and use them on your perfect cabinets. From there, play with color. The twins hate all-white kitchens. “For the longest time, there were white cabinets in white kitchens. Lighter colors help bounce light and feel cleaner and brighter.” said Jonathan. Using pops of color may seem adventurous, but they can add some life to the kitchen. If you prefer a neutral color, you can easily add a colorful backsplash as an alternative. Just avoid glass. Not only can it be a safety risk if installed incorrectly, but it can also look dated and tacky.

Jonathan and Drew have had their hands full helping homeowners make life-threatening decisions in their kitchens. Imagine an already cramped space with no storage, then add a peninsula. It’s a nightmare in the kitchen. You can easily replace the desired opening above and opt for an open kitchen layout. Not only does this free up the necessary space, but it also provides the lightness you are looking for. Not everything Jonathan and Drew do may be for you, but trust us here, take their advice on open shelving.

Property Brothers is available to stream on HBO Max.

Release date

2011 – 2019

Network

HGTV

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