Many kitchen designers have recently predicted that this will be the year of open floor plans with fewer cabinets and more exposed walls. While this trend creates a clean, modern look, it doesn’t mean lower wall cabinets are on their way out—especially in kitchens with islands. As kitchens continue to serve as spaces for cooking, working, and gathering, smart storage solutions are still a must.
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Is a kitchen cabinet base necessary?
You can have a functional, inviting kitchen if you remove all of your lower wall cabinets and replace them with an island. The island alone might not provide enough storage space, but the combination of an island with upper wall cabinets or furniture-style portable storage units might certainly provide all of the storage you need.
That said, most designers don't recommend that homeowners completely eliminate all of the lower wall cabinets in their kitchens. Here are some of the most common reason why:
Cosmetic Coverage
You probably don’t realize on a daily basis that your lower cabinets hide a lot of things from your sight that would look strange unless exposed in a modern, warehouse-style kitchen theme, such as pipes and hot and cold water hoses. Additionally, lower cabinets in some kitchens hide wiring or doors in walls that provide access to electrical boxes or interior wall wiring. If your kitchen is outfitted for Internet or cable television, your cabinets also hide related wires and cables.
Reduced Crowding
Lower wall cabinets and their countertops allow different people to work together without crowding. A kitchen that has only an island as a work space isn't as functional or efficient as one with lower cabinets if you have two or more people trying to prep or cook food at the same time. Even if you have portable workstations, a poor traffic plan around them can result in tipped carts and food spills. Accidental cuts, burns and falls are also more likely to happen when everyone is crowding around one work area or portable stations.
Temperature Improvement
An uninterrupted sequence of lower, box-style kitchen cabinets filled with items aligned along an exterior-facing wall can also provide an extra barrier against extremely hot or cold outdoor temperatures that seep through poorly insulated walls or cracks. If you have a poorly insulated older home, lower wall cabinets can make a huge difference in interior temperature and, as a result, your heating and cooling bills!
Thinking about custom cabinets for your home? Contact Kitchen Magic!
In short, while kitchen islands are a great feature, lower wall cabinets are still crucial for maximizing storage and functionality. If you'd like to explore these benefits further or learn more about how kitchen wall cabinets can improve your space, get in touch with Kitchen Magic today!
