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tjmoon

Leave cabinet doors or remove them?

13 years ago
I have been trying to deal with an issue in my kitchen. It is open to the living room and dining area, and almost always in view. Last spring I had a glass tile backsplash installed, and it didn't "pop" the way I had hoped it would, and I have been pretty disappointed with it. Lots of people here on Houzz have made suggestions on how to add color and work with the backsplash. My latest idea is to remove the upper cabinet doors and display glassware or something. I have tons of colored glassware to use, but in the following photos, I arranged it by color. I have not removed the doors yet, so these photos are just of it with the doors open, and another with them closed. Which is better, doors off or on? Just thought I would take a pole before I proceed.
This is the tile, it is shattered glass, but that doesn't show in the photo very well. Bling looks good from a distance though.
with doors open
with doors closed

Comments (8)

  • 13 years ago
    I agree, it´s missing color to make a vivid contrast!
    tjmoon thanked Maria Cristina R. Adkins
  • 13 years ago
    Doors open looks suprisingly good. Before looking at pics, I thought I would choose "closed".
    An idea came in my head - The back of the 'no doors" cupboards, maybe install the same tile
    that is on the backsplash. If you had some leftovers you could lean up to wall and see how it looks.
    Just do the ones over the sink wall. Not the one to the right
    tjmoon thanked Angel 18432
  • PRO
    13 years ago
    Although it does look interesting, I would leave them on. Open cabinetry is a modern trend but stained cabinets go against the flow of black/white finishes that are most common with contemporary styles. If you are going to remove the doors, I would seriously consider painting or re-staining the cabinets to a much darker finish. Let me know if this makes sense!
    tjmoon thanked Cheryl Khan
  • 13 years ago
    I would have your cabinet company skin the inside of the cabinets with either the same or different wood. It looks like a white interior to me. Better yet if you do have the tile left over or it doesn't cost a fortune tile the backs of the cabinets and leave the door's off. Lights inside will make a big difference as well.
    tjmoon thanked User
  • 13 years ago
    Did you install under cabinet lighting? That's what makes the backsplash pop!
    tjmoon thanked Judy M
  • 13 years ago
    I have very similar cabinets, but the uppers had sliding doors with a visible metal track that was very unattractive. I removed the doors and now display pottery up there, and I think it looks much better. I think doors off is the way to go in your kitchen, too.
    tjmoon thanked andymeg
  • 13 years ago
    Agree with Judy M...under cabinet lighting would look great, and also looks likes you need an accessory or two more in your accent color (pinky/orange glass on shelves?) or a color that picks up the green in tiles, like a bold bowl on the counter with fruit, or a colored toaster or coffee maker maybe?
    tjmoon thanked zippyvt