Sorry, I had added more text to this post but it disappeared!

My hope is to get suggestions on how to use the open lower cabinet when I've got a dog and kiddos!

I may need to have a cabinet face put on but was hoping someone might have another creative idea to share.

Thank you!

Use it for kid storage for now. Maybe closed containers for art supplies or small toys? They won't be little forever, so you may want to use it for books, etc. when they are old enough not to climb on it or pull stuff off of it.

Not sure what the dog has to do with it.

Julie, I'd thought of using it for mason jar storage of pantry items and our dog will eat anything she can get to. Also, the dog hair floats up on those shelves no matter how clean I keep the floors.

The shelves are actually too shallow for cook books to sit there. I've been using it for kiddo storage for fun and it's fun for her but my kitchen is so small I was hoping for a genius idea for more kitchen storage/functional space.

Thanks for your kind input.

This will not keep a dog or children out, but if it gets messy with dog hair or kids toys, you can put a curtain over it to help the space look neat.

Thank you jhmarie! Hadn't thought of this option...very creative :)

I think it would look much better with a duplicate drawer and cabinet.

you could get magnetic rolls or sheets (amazon, uline etc), adhere to the back of the cupboard, I'd remove the shelves, and you could use as a spice rack. Making the back of the cabinet magnetic then any metal will stick, you won't have to get special jars.

I like the curtain idea the best. Looks good, hides any the "stuff", will keep the hair down, and can be washed if needed. Great idea jhmarie!

I have two young boys and would definitely use those shelves with storage containers for crayons, stickers, books. The key is CONTAINERS! so it doesn't look chaotic.