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Closed storage and open display space can be a design game-changer in a living area
Becky Harris9 December, 2021
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia.
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One great way to give your living room a relatively small but impactful makeover is to build in cabinetry. Before you meet with a designer, think about what you want to hide from view but keep handy, such as toys, media equipment or CDs you’ll never part with, to put in closed cupboards. Then think about what you want to display – books, favourite photos, collections and artwork.
Including these things in the conversation with your professional will help them customise the design to function for your needs. As for style, check out these 12 examples of beautiful bespoke cabinets to see if they inspire ideas for your home.
KitchenLab Interiors
Go for family-friendly
This holiday home in Florida is shared by an extended family that includes six children. Interior designer Rebekah Zaveloff of KitchenLab Interiors replaced a modern bar with some much-needed cabinetry and shelving that better suited the family.
“The house had zero other shelving and we wanted to make this space cosy and library-like,” she says. The limed rift-cut white oak shelves suit the tropical site without screaming “beachy”. And while she gave the shelves a jump-start with vintage pieces, the family anticipates filling them with books over time.
Tamara Rene Designs
Here’s a closer look at Rene’s design. Grilles on the cabinet doors lend a lighter look, while wide shiplap planks add texture behind the shelves.
Find a local interior designer on Houzz.
Gather Projects
Mix white and wood
These built-ins by Gather Projects have many details to love. The cabinetry in the living room includes doors and drawers for storage. Wood panelling behind the open shelves adds warmth, while library lights above the shelving illuminate the beautiful objects.
SKIN Interior Design
Incorporate traditional drawers
While cabinet doors are more common in living rooms, drawers can be a great option. In this scheme by SKIN Interior Design, drawers beneath the shelves lend the look of built-in chests and give the eclectic room some traditional bones.
SKIN Interior Design
Depending on what you need to store, drawers can be more functional than cabinet doors, and they are easier to access. They’re great for stashing items such as laptops, papers, table linens, correspondence supplies and more. And you may want to include an outlet inside one for charging personal devices.
DTLA DESIGN
Add some deep drawers
In this room by DTLA design, deep drawers with hidden hardware provide a clean, contemporary look. Roomy drawers like these are a wonderful solution for storing toys while keeping them easily accessible.
Seth Romig Architect
Make them adjustable
Architect Seth Romig’s careful planning created a cohesive design for this TV wall. The open shelves are nestled into niches above low cabinets. Wood along the top of the cabinets links them to the shelves.
One of the best design moves is the way Seth made the shelves adjustable by adding chunky pieces of wood at either end to support them. They’re a great example of a functional architectural detail.
Tom Kuniholm Architects, AIA
Work with the architecture
The professionals at Tom Kuniholm Architects had to come up with a storage and display solution that would work in concert with spectacular walls of windows. And they had to work with a slanted ceiling, too. They designed stunning built-in units that play off the proportions of the windows and follow the ceiling’s slant.
DAG Design
Balance proportions
Cara Fineman of DAG Design created cosy window seat niches between these beautiful built-ins. “We added built-in cabinetry to this space as a way to make this enormous family room feel a bit less cavernous, and to add interest and more colour to the room,” she says.
The proportions of the cabinets and shelving work in harmony with the proportions of the fireplace, artwork and windows.
DAG Design
Here’s a closer look at the cabinetry’s grilles and hardware. “We chose brass mesh for the lower cabinets to break up all of the white and to tie in the brass fixtures in the kitchen off of this room,” Fineman says. These details serve as ‘jewellery’ for the room.
Lucy Harris Studio
Float for an airy feel
These ready-made Royal units, designed in 1948 by Danish designer Poul Cadovius, lend midcentury modern flair to this living room. Lucy Harris Studio had them mounted on the wall on either side of the fireplace. In a home where space is tight, a floating unit makes the room feel larger and airier.
Adrian Smith Construction
Create contrast
By painting the areas behind these shelves, the team at prevented the fireplace and favourite objects from being lost in a sea of white. The accent colour draws the eye and highlights the shelves and the items displayed on them.
Fautt Homes
Design a dust-free display
For those who don’t like the idea of dusting open shelves and the objects that occupy them, there’s still a great way to enjoy displays. Glass cabinet doors will allow you to view the items and keep the dust out.
In this lovely room by Fautt Homes, arched doors add an architectural feature in keeping with the French chateau-inspired style of the home.
KAZ Luxury Homes
Stagger playfully
KAZ Luxury Homes enhanced this space with staggered wooden shelves that emphasise verticality. The wood plays off the ceiling, while the playful, colourful pieces on the shelves liven up the space.
Tell us…
Which of these rooms do you like most? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
