Kitchen design without upper cabinets: kitchen interior with hood. Kitchens without upper cabinets (41 photos): original single-level design Kitchen without hinged

Landscaping and planning 23.06.2020
Landscaping and planning

The choice of kitchen sets in modern furniture stores is very large, so it is very easy to create your own unique kitchen design. Relatively recently, designers have come up with a new "chip" in the design of the cooking zone - a kitchen without upper cabinets. At first glance, it seems that such an “inferior” design is not very appropriate and functional, but in practice everything looks different.

Advantages and disadvantages

A kitchen without wall cabinets is an interesting and unusual solution in creating an apartment design. Despite the established stereotypes in terms of two-tier headsets, such models are quite popular.

Pros of headsets without hanging cabinets:

  • Additional space and visual spaciousness of the room. It looks great if the kitchen is small enough.
  • Maximum placement options (without lockers at the top, headsets can be placed even under the window).
  • Maximum light in the kitchen. Without hanging cabinets, the light from the chandelier will evenly reach the cooking area and additional lighting may not be useful.
  • Lack of "dust collectors". Due to the fact that classic headsets have a large height, getting to the very top can be very difficult, so dust accumulates there. A modern topless model won't make you constantly climb and check for dust.
  • Availability. The kitchen set has a standard height, which is why petite housewives often have to stand on their toes or substitute a chair to get another cup.
  • Financial savings. A single-tier set has a lower cost.
  • Safety. If the upper cabinet is not fixed properly or if the maximum filling weight is exceeded, it may fall.

In addition, one can note the possibility of an original decor of a free wall above the working area: paintings, shelves, photographs, etc.

Layout types

You can design a kitchen using a single-level headset yourself, knowing the rules and types of layout. There are 4 options:

  • Linear. A classic option for a spacious or narrow kitchen. As you can see in the photo, the headset is located along the longest wall.

  • In the form of the letter "G" or angular. One of the most common kitchen design options, as it takes up minimal space.

  • Parallel arrangement. A small white kitchen in a classic style, on one side of which there are standard floor cabinets, and on the other - column cabinets that practically dissolve into space.

  • Island. An interesting design option for a small kitchen area, in which the work area is in the center, and shelves or column cabinets are located along the walls.

  • U-shaped. An option that can be implemented both in a spacious kitchen and in "Khrushchev"

Interior design

In order for a single-level kitchen to be not only practical, but also beautiful, it needs to be properly designed. Especially worth paying attention to the backsplash without upper cabinets, as it will be very eye-catching if left intact.

The wall decoration above the working area should consist of properly selected and high-quality materials, such as ceramics, natural stone or heat-resistant glass. This point is very important, since ordinary wallpaper in this place is impractical.

Apron design options:

  • Glass surface with photo printing;

  • Glass panel or mosaic;

  • Laminated board made of MDF or chipboard.

It is very important when designing the kitchen area to think over the lighting in the cooking area. Ideal option - wall movable lamps.

What can replace wall cabinets

If you prefer a single-level kitchen, but do not want to have a completely empty wall, then you can try to replace the standard wall cabinets with something. Some interesting alternatives:

  • Wardrobe-column. Very comfortable, albeit oversized. The main plus is the ability to integrate a variety of kitchen appliances into it. Column cabinets are usually located opposite the headset or on both sides of the floor cabinets

  • Open shelves. A light and airy alternative to bulky hanging cabinets, most often used in the Provence style. Shelves can be used to store beautiful dishes or jars of loose seasonings.

  • Buffet, sideboard, rack, cabinet-pencil case. Whatever you choose from this list, follow the style and color scheme of the kitchen area.

  • Roof rails. Practically the same as open shelves, only this design is lighter and is made of metal. On the rails, you can not only arrange, but also hang items (scoops, potholders, shovels, towels).

As you can see from the above, there are plenty of alternatives to wall cabinets, so don't be afraid of single-level kitchens, thinking that you will have very little space for storing kitchen appliances.

How to decorate walls

We have dismantled how to replace cabinets, now you can delve into this issue a little more and analyze examples of how you can decorate empty walls. The decoration of the vertical surface above the work area should not merge with the space, so it can and should be decorated in a special way.

Some interesting options for decorating walls in a variety of styles:

  • Brickwork. Original loft-style kitchen. Despite the fact that all the walls are decorated the same, the space above the lower tier does not look empty.

  • Ceramic mosaic. In black, this design of the apron looks very impressive. In this example, the kitchen is made in the style of "minimalism". The other walls blend in nicely with the work area, as they are painted in a similar silver grey.

  • Laminated chipboard panel. The wood apron looks very nice, besides, due to the contrasting color, it helps to zone the space, highlighting the work area against the white background of the rest of the walls and ceiling.

  • Wood panels made of the same material and color as the kitchen unit. above the storage and eating area. The stone contrast wall above the cooking area is identical to the hob and dining table. This design looks chic and quite practical.

  • Rough masonry in the loft style looks original and very comfortable; goes well with wood paneling and metal modern kitchen furniture.

  • Orange mood in Provence style. The brick wall and functional shelving for dishes harmonize perfectly and look rustic cute.

One-level set in the interior

Many people think that a suite without lower cabinets does not fit into the interior of a modern apartment and looks out of place. We dispel these myths and present you with a selection of photos of a one-level kitchen, decorated in the most common styles.

Country style kitchen

Do you live in a bustling city, but want to have a rustic cozy kitchen? Feel free to choose country style. It combines rustic charm with modern functionality.

The main features inherent in the "rural" design:

  • Natural materials: furniture, decoration, decor;
  • Simplicity, artificial antiquity and ostentatious rudeness in design;
  • Calm color palette.

An interesting variant of country cuisine in a modern apartment. As expected, natural materials of calm natural shades were used in the decoration. The gray stone floor blends harmoniously with the natural wood ceiling. The worktop work area perfectly coexists with a modern single-level kitchen set. A slightly rough finish is diluted with walls painted in light and dark gray shades.

Provence

Cozy and gentle French "Provence" conquers with its romance and naivety. Do you want to build an island of gentle village life in your apartment? Then decorate the kitchen in the Provence style.

The favorite colors of designers who create a piece of France in a modern kitchen are rich colors, as if diluted with milk: olive, wheat, mustard, turquoise, lavender, etc.

It is better to use natural material for furniture, since elements of antiquity are characteristic of Provence. A set without wall cabinets will fit perfectly into such a kitchen, because numerous wooden shelves are one of the wonderful features of Provence.

A vivid example of a Provencal interior: milky walls, a fireplace hood, wooden carved shelves, flowers in vases, a pale pink set, a wood-colored floor.

Modern

The kitchen, decorated in this modern style, is a real piece of art. The uniqueness of this design lies in such features as:

  • Variety of design solutions;
  • Practicality;
  • Restraint;
  • Conciseness.

Art Nouveau design is distinguished by geometrically correct furniture with glossy surfaces made of metal, glass and plastic. Lighting should be presented in the classic version: a large chandelier and single lamps. It is also possible to use LEDs for illumination.

An example of classic modern with bright accents (Fig. 19). The design of this kitchen looks smart and stylish. Rectangular white furniture with black countertops, a classic chandelier and floor, bright spots in the form of gilded chairs and original mosaics over the work area are the key to a successful modern design.

Increasingly, in modern apartments and private houses you can see kitchens that are unusual at first glance without an upper tier. And despite the absence of wall cabinets, the interior as a whole looks organic and attractive, and the space is not cluttered with unnecessary elements. But in order to find such a good solution for a kitchen without an upper tier, it is necessary to take into account both the layout of the room and some features of this type of headset.

Modern kitchen design without overhead cabinets

Kitchen without upper cabinets - unusual and surprising

Mistakes in the design of the kitchen can lead to the fact that all the dishes, appliances and utensils will not fit in the purchased furniture. Another option is also possible - everything is hidden in cabinets and placed in their places, and half of the boxes are empty, taking up the necessary space. In the latter case, such an unergonomic distribution of space can be avoided by ordering a set without upper wall cabinets.

But in this case, you need to take into account several points:

  • The right approach to choosing ready-made lower modules: in the absence of upper cabinets, most things will have to be placed in the lower ones, which means that when ordering furniture, you need to select the appropriate cabinets with shelves, sections and drawers;
  • In matters of design, attention will have to be paid special attention to the interior, since without upper cabinets a sufficiently large area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe walls of the kitchen will be open;
  • If the kitchen is small, it will be impossible to completely do without hanging elements: it may be necessary to install several hanging shelves or a dish dryer.

If the kitchen is large enough, a so-called "island" can be installed in its center - this is a special module that acts as a work surface, and if necessary, a kitchen sink can be built into it. You can find examples of options in the article.

Kitchen without upper cabinets makes the room more spacious

In the absence of hanging cabinets, there may be a problem of storing some of the necessary things, which can be solved by increasing the height and depth of the floor cabinets by calculating. But at the same time, it may not be possible to put a large dining table in such a kitchen due to lack of space.

This kitchen is easy to decorate.

Advantages and disadvantages of a kitchen set with shelves instead of cabinets

If single-tier kitchens are ordered, it means that someone needs them. But not everyone understands how such furniture can be functional and at the same time fit organically into the interior. Nevertheless, such kitchen sets have a number of advantages:

  1. A kitchen without the top row of cabinets visually looks much larger and lighter - this is especially true when choosing furniture for small apartments, in which every square meter of space counts.
  2. For those who spend a lot of time in the kitchen, the single-tier option ensures the reach of all the necessary items: in this case, you don’t have to climb high-hanging cabinets for dishes or food, and the next point follows from here - safety.
  3. People of short stature in most cases are forced to stand on a stool, getting something they need from the very top shelves of wall cabinets. And falls from a stool in these cases occur much more often than you might think. In addition, with poor-quality installation, the cabinets themselves may fall, but in most cases this is the fault of workers who do not follow the installation technology.
  4. Every housewife knows that not only dust accumulates very quickly on hanging cabinets, which can be wiped off without any problems, but also drops of fat: over time, such fat, which is formed during the cooking process, covers the surface of the furniture with a dense layer. And if you can wipe the countertop and the lower sections daily, then removing such dirt from the very top is problematic.

Without the top tier, the kitchen itself becomes cleaner, as dust and dirt accumulate not only on the cabinets themselves, but also on their back surface, in the gap between the cabinets and the wall. The cost of such furniture also plays an important role: the absence of the top row means savings on material, since you do not have to pay for additional modules and expensive facades for them.

In such a kitchen it is easy to make additional windows.

But the best part is that now the walls free from cabinets can be decorated at your discretion. And for a hostess who spends all day at the stove and sink, it is very important to see in front of her not the faceless facades of cabinets, but a pleasant pattern on the wallpaper or original images on the tile, which can be used to lay the wall up to the ceiling.

There are also negative sides in single-tier kitchens, and the main drawback is the lack of space, which is clearly manifested in small kitchens. In this regard, the lower modules have to be made deeper and higher, and sometimes this is not very convenient from a practical point of view.

Open shelves make it easy to place utensils and decor items

Also, when saving on the upper sections, do not forget about the appearance of new costs: free walls will have to be finished with something. But since ordinary kitchen wallpapers will not work due to the fact that they are impractical, you will have to look for more expensive washable options or tile the wall.

In addition, the lack of an upper tier forces a person to constantly bend over in order to get the necessary items from the lower cabinets, and such frequent bending and extension of the lower back can lead to health problems.

When an interior with bottom drawers is justified

an island is appropriate in such a kitchen

With the right project approach, a kitchen without upper cabinets will not only be a good solution, but will also meet all expectations, and first of all, it is a desire to save space.

In small apartments, kitchens are designed to take up less space than any other room. This is clearly seen in the "Khrushchev", where large families even dine in two stops. It would seem that the upper cabinets in these cases, on the contrary, are an additional place for storing dishes and kitchen utensils, but in practice in such kitchens only a cabinet with a dishwasher can be functional. The rest of the space is occupied by the hood, part of the wall is “eaten up” by the refrigerator standing right there, as a result, the remaining 30-40 centimeters remain either an empty “dead zone”, or you have to additionally order a non-standard cabinet, in which you may have to make additional cuts and cutouts under the ceiling gas pipe or heating pipe.

The lower sections in such kitchens are often half empty. Incorrectly designed furniture with excessive or, on the contrary, insufficient shelves and compartments may not allow you to fit everything you need into them. In such kitchens, it is better to replace hanging cabinets with a few ordinary shelves, but at the same time carefully choose the lower modules.

When ordering single-tier furniture for an individual project, it is necessary to provide for the following points:

  • Decide how many drawers you need. A typical set usually involves the presence of two, four or six drawers, while no more than two or three are functional, in which cutlery is stored. The rest just take up space, since all the small items are already placed, and large ones (pots or pans) will not fit there;
  • If possible, add a few small ones to the cabinet table under the sink. This can be problematic, since it is inside these cabinets that pipes and communications always look like, and all the free space is occupied by a trash can. But if you manage to place at least two or three shelves in this module, you can free up space in the working area by putting detergents and household chemicals into the cabinet;
  • The main worker should have one or two shelves inside, while the holes for the shelf holders should be located at different levels. This will give you the opportunity to adjust their height and optimally position both large items and kitchen appliances, as well as small utensils in such a table.

In this case, ordering a kitchen without upper cabinets will be justified, and you will be able not only to correctly distribute the usable space, but also to free the room from unnecessary hanging modules. This will get rid of the feeling of tightness and congestion. But a kitchen without upper cabinets can be a good solution not only for small spaces. Sometimes such options are appropriate for large spaces.

How to install kitchen cabinets see:

How to equip different types of rooms

Depending on the configuration and size of the kitchen, a suite without an upper tier will have its own characteristics. So, for small kitchens, the decisive factor is space saving, so when ordering, you should not only understand in detail the internal structure of the modules, but also think about what can be “brought” into the open space.

The lighting on the walls looks interesting

The wall above the floor tables and cabinets is now free, but it is not worth decorating it with expensive panels. This wall will play its part in improving the ergonomics of the kitchen if you equip it with several shelves. They can store some of the dishes and kitchen utensils.

A large country-style hood looks interesting

Also on this wall, you can mount one or more metal railings, which in turn can have various hooks or holders. Towels, rags, potholders will find their place on these rails, in addition, various accessories and cutlery can be hung on hooks.

Another option is one hanging shelf the entire length of the wall, on which you can also store beautiful dishes, keep spices and spices, or put various decorative decorations on this shelf. But this option is far from always possible due to the fact that gas pipes run vertically along the wall or a massive hood is installed.

If the kitchen is large, there is scope for design ideas and constructive solutions. The following options are possible:

  • If you are the owner of a private house, additional windows can be made in the furniture-free walls;
  • Brackets can be fixed on the wall, on which, in turn, household appliances will be located. This will help you free up the workplace of floor modules from, deep fryers, coffee grinders, kettles;
  • A free wall can have an exclusively decorative purpose. Possible options include shelves with aquariums, ornamental plants and flowers, or a collection of beautiful tableware.

The same recommendations are relevant for narrow kitchens, but it must be borne in mind that in a narrow space it is better to use as few modules with drawers as possible. Shelves, which can be hung instead of cabinets on the wall, can be mounted in several rows.

Decor

In a modern kitchen, bare walls are quite appropriate.

A kitchen without an upper tier requires special design, and improperly designed open walls can give the impression of an unfinished renovation. Moreover, these walls may seem like "holes" characteristic of "temporary buildings".

Regardless of the cost and type of materials you choose for decoration, they must be practical. Fat deposits may form on the walls, in the immediate vicinity of the stove, the wallpaper may move away due to exposure to steam and high temperatures. In addition, there is always a risk of staining such a surface. And if the facade of the kitchen cabinet, which could hang in this place, is very easy to clean, then the decorative coatings in some cases can be completely damaged.

There are several ways to finish the walls in a single-tier kitchen:

  • laminated furniture boards made of MDF or chipboard, ;
  • ceramic tile;
  • mosaic or panel;
  • exclusive finish in the form of a glass apron or .

The first option is the most inexpensive and common, but chipboard panels are already outdated: it is a heavy and not the most practical material, and the installation of such panels is associated with certain difficulties. For this reason, many kitchen furniture manufacturers today use lighter and more practical MDF panels. Ceramic tiles are also a popular option, but such a finish will cost more.

Paint the walls in warm colors to make the room feel cozy.

When finishing with ceramic tiles of an apron or an entire wall, it is completely important to choose the right color and pattern for it. Some pitchfork tiles look different on the floor and on the walls: it's all about the angle at which the light falls. For this reason, many manufacturers focus on the fact that there are both floor and wall tiles, and the point here is not always in the physical properties and characteristics of such products.

Make a contrasting wall

In the case of a mosaic or a glass backsplash with an exclusive pattern, the choice depends solely on your taste and financial capabilities. The main thing you need to pay attention to is the material from which such products are made. Such materials must be heat-resistant, as they are located close to the stove. Also, they should not be exposed to aggressive chemicals contained in detergents.

Plasterboard wall decor options:

Wall decor with stucco:

At first glance, it seems that choosing such an option as a single-tier kitchen without upper cabinets is a risky move. Often, consumers are afraid to make a mistake and are in no hurry to abandon the usual headsets with cabinets on the walls. But when comparing all the pros and cons of such a choice, as well as with the correct development of the project, such a kitchen can be a win-win option in all respects. We also recommend that you read our article, which will tell you how to choose .

Such furniture is especially relevant in today's fashionable studio apartments, where there are combinations of kitchen-dining room or kitchen-living room. However, the choice of such an original interior is not limited to studios, and we offer a more detailed acquaintance with the kitchen without upper cabinets.

Spatial nuances

If there are no stylistic restrictions in this case and a single-tier kitchen is very organically able to fit into any design style, then the spatial possibilities of the room will have to be considered.

A kitchen without top drawers can be the best stylish solution in the presence of a spacious room. It can be a studio, a large apartment or a private house. According to the designers, for the successful implementation of such a project, the kitchen area should be at least 8-9 sq.m. And this is a very modest minimum, which also involves paying special attention to the organization of storage systems and very carefully planning the placement of furniture and appliances.

In some cases, an interior option is possible without hanging drawers and in a space of 6-7 square meters. m. However, this will require additional storage areas for rarely used kitchen utensils outside the kitchen - for example, on a loggia or balcony (it's good if they have access from the kitchen), in the hallway or pantry. Most often, this choice for a small kitchen is made in bachelor apartments or young active families who use the kitchen for quick snacks and morning coffee, ready to sacrifice functionality in favor of style and creativity.

Well, in order to turn around, to make a kitchen without top drawers stylish, original and at the same time ergonomic and functional, you need a spacious room.

Kitchen layout options without upper cabinets

The key point is choosing a layout for a kitchen without top drawers. Why is it important? - Such an interior implies that it is necessary not only to take care of the placement of equipment and the layout of work surfaces, but also to think over storage systems for items that are usually stored in the upper drawers.

Among the most common and popular layout options, the following should be highlighted.

  1. Corner kitchen - allows you to comfortably place all the necessary equipment, equip work surfaces and organize spacious storage systems.
  2. U-shaped kitchen - a great option to increase the usable area. Provides enough space to accommodate kitchen utensils and appliances.
  3. Island kitchen - allows you to use the island part for mounting kitchen appliances or spacious storage systems. This type of layout fits perfectly with a single-row suite, but requires a lot of space - from 18 sq. m.
  4. Parallel two-row layout - this option allows you to place all the utensils from the upper cabinets to the lower tier and at the same time not experience discomfort. The recommended width of the room for such a layout is 3-4 meters.

Advantages of a kitchen interior without upper cabinets

  • The popularity of the kitchen interior without wall cabinets is not accidental. This design has a number of advantages:
  • Convenience and practicality - only at first glance it may seem that such a kitchen is not practical. In fact, the absence of bulky upper cabinets and the need to get items from them above the work surface only simplify all the processes in the kitchen and make it more comfortable to stay.
  • Visual increase in kitchen space - the kitchen becomes more spacious, and new opportunities for implementing design ideas open up.
  • An abundance of light - upper cabinets create not only the effect of bulkiness, but also hide the lighting above the worktop and hob. That is why a frequent technique is the installation of local lighting in hinged kitchen modules. The absence of upper cabinets automatically solves the problem with lighting.
  • The possibility of implementing original design ideas - the surface of the wall, freed from wall cabinets, allows you to design it in the same style as the room. This is especially true and looks very impressive in studios and spaces where the kitchen is combined with other rooms.

Photos of kitchens without upper cabinets

It takes ~2 minutes to read

For a kitchen set, it is important that it has enough storage space. If it is possible to fit all the necessary items in the lower cabinets, it is better to refuse wall cabinets. This is especially true in small spaces. No need to overload the kitchen space with furniture that you can refuse.


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Features of the kitchen without hanging cabinets

Standard interiors remained in the Soviet era. Now it is possible to create a custom-made kitchen design project, in which specialists take into account the layout of an apartment or house and the wishes of the owners. You can exclude the upper cabinets from the headset, but before that you need to take into account all the disadvantages and advantages of this option.


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Advantages

A kitchen without upper cabinets looks more spacious. At the same time, the ceiling visually rises. In the interior of the kitchen without wall cabinets, more lighting is added, making cooking and dining more comfortable. There is no need to spend money on facades, decor, fittings and other elements for wall cabinets that are not planned to be used.

A kitchen that includes only the bottom items is a more economical solution.

Cleanliness is a very important factor in a kitchen. On cabinets installed above the stove, dirt settles faster. Their cleaning is not so easy, because washing too thoroughly can spoil the original appearance of the furniture fronts. The presence of a hood and an apron above the stove will simplify cleanliness, because caring for moisture-resistant material coated with or is easier than caring for furniture. Walls free from furniture can be used as space for decor. The wall (more detailed in the article) above the working area will be effectively decorated with a glass or ceramic apron with an unusual design.


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Flaws

The top pieces of furniture cast a shadow on the bottom row, which makes any imperfections less noticeable. If there are no hanging elements in the room, then every flaw in the surface will be visible, for example, stains, fingerprints on glossy materials, and even slight dirt.

Without hanging modules in the kitchen, the amount of storage space is reduced. Moreover, their excess is not so noticeable. Upper cabinets are a very practical solution. If the space has a lack of width and length, then height should be used. Refusal of the top row of furniture in a small kitchen will cause a lot of inconvenience.
If it was decided to exclude upper cabinets, then shelves can be installed on the walls. They visually look much lighter and do not weigh down the room. But such open shelves will quickly collect dust, so the kitchen will have to be cleaned more often.

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Although rare, there are times when top cabinets overflowing with dishes fall over. It is also worth noting that high cabinets are not convenient for everyone. It is problematic for children and short people to reach their handles, for which many people use a stool. Roomy lower cabinets will suit everyone. In a room of less than 10 square meters (read also about the design in, and m 2), it is undesirable to completely abandon the upper part of the headset. At least two hanging cabinets should be mounted, which will be useful in a miniature kitchen.


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Where to store items in a kitchen without upper cabinets

Hanging cabinets are designed to store dishes. If the kitchen has enough space for a separate sideboard, then the upper furniture elements are not needed. In this case, the sideboard does not have to be combined in color and design with the headset.


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In the interior of a spacious room, you can organize a pantry closet where kitchen items and some products will be stored. For embedding such a pantry, some free corner is suitable. On one side of a corner or parallel type headset, a series of cabinets can be placed and a microwave, oven and refrigerator can be built into them. Thanks to this solution, the part of the kitchen with the working area, which includes the sink and stove, remains uncluttered. An island is often placed in the middle of a large kitchen. If it is equipped with drawers for storing dishes, then it will be an excellent replacement for a sideboard.

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How to occupy the space above the bottom row of kitchen furniture

With a small length of the furniture row, the wall above the work surface can be free - only the hood will remain. Minimalistic kitchen will be the best solution. Instead of upper cabinets, shelves are usually hung. It is advisable to place on the shelves only those items that are constantly used, otherwise stagnant dishes will quickly become dusty. The rest of the items are best left in closed cabinets. In this case, the shelves can be arranged according to symmetry and asymmetry. It is also possible to use one long shelf or several small shelves placed at different levels.


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The upper free part of the kitchen may seem empty. Low pendant lights will help fix this.

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Usually, in the presence of hanging cabinets, light sources are mounted directly in them. But in this case, an alternative to them will be an LED strip attached to a kitchen screen, or wall sconces. In a small room, there may not be enough light from one chandelier (choice tips), so it is better to add comfort to the work area with the help of movable lamps on brackets.

In the kitchen without upper wall cabinets, the design of which is shown in the photo, there is a place for roof rails for kitchen items, photographs and paintings, wall clocks.

You can visually get rid of the feeling of emptiness with the help of a colorful kitchen apron. At the same time, if it is of the same color and light, then it is worth raising the apron almost to the ceiling. Light will be reflected on the glossy wall, due to which the kitchen will become lighter and wider (you can read in detail if you choose a color).


If you want the kitchen to have as much “air” as possible, you can abandon some of the furniture that is so familiar to our mentality. Namely - to remove the upper tier of cabinets. The storage system will have to be thought out especially carefully, but the design of the kitchen without upper wall cabinets will be the subject of your special pride.

Features and Benefits

A single-tier kitchen is made for beauty! Functionality and convenience in this case are relegated to the background. This is the case when the owners know how to treat things neatly, have only the minimum necessary utensils and do not save tons of food.

Of course, this solution has its advantages and disadvantages. Single tier set:

  • Leaves a lot of space in the room. If the kitchen is small, such furniture will suit very well;
  • allows you to have a very bright work surface, because the shadow from the upper cabinets does not fall on it;
  • is considered safer, tk. there are no loaded hanging elements in it, and in order to get food or dishes, even children do not need ladders and chairs.
  • looks original and fresh: after all, for the time being, a kitchen without upper wall cabinets in Russia is a rather rare occurrence.

Among the shortcomings can be noted:

  • It will not work to place a lot of things in such a headset;
  • part of the dishes or products will be in plain sight - you will have to maintain perfect order;
  • to get things out of the cabinets, you have to constantly bend down;
  • the depth of the floor cabinets will be large enough - this is not the most convenient option in practice;
  • potentially useful areas will have to be left empty - an unaffordable luxury for most modern apartments.

The upper walls, free from cabinets, fit very well into the modern styles of minimalism, hi-tech, industrial, loft or romantic Provence, Scandi. Usually, hanging furniture is abandoned in favor of unusual wall decor or original decorations. Free walls are well suited if a combined kitchen-living room is planned: its appearance will delight the eyes of guests and households.

A single-tier kitchen set, most likely, will have to be made to order. And this is a great chance to think over the interior filling of lockers to the smallest detail.

Layout options

A kitchen without hanging cabinets is suitable for both small and large rooms. True, in the first case, a single-tier set will be designed to save space and not “eat up” the light in the apartment. But for a large kitchen, this is a way to show your design skills and create an amazing, stylish interior.

So, for a small kitchen, linear and corner layouts are ideal. With linear - the lower cabinets are arranged in a row against the wall under one table top. There should be a place for a work surface, a sink and a stove.

The angular arrangement of cabinets involves building them with the letter "G". At the top of the corner, there is usually a sink, and on both sides of it are surfaces for cooking.

With both types of layout, it makes sense to complement the furniture with a sideboard, sideboard or a narrow long closet, which is commonly called a “pencil case”. It can be placed in the corner, or it can be placed on the opposite wall to the headset. First, it will create additional storage space. Secondly, it will add a height difference in the interior - it looks interesting. And thirdly, such a cabinet can “make” your style: in particular, a classic sideboard with artificially aged surfaces is an indispensable attribute for a Provence-style kitchen. A pencil case with a mirrored metal coating will bring the interior closer to high-tech, etc.

If the area allows, you can put a single-tier set with an "island". The island can serve as a table, but here its main purpose will be additional storage space. Inside it, by the way, there can be not only cabinets. There you can build appliances (for example, a dishwasher) or even a sink.

With an "island" layout, there is another interesting design solution - a kitchen with column cabinets. That is, the usual low kitchen cabinets are replaced by high and long ones. They can take up the entire wall. Ideally, if column cabinets are located in a niche - i.e. do not protrude beyond the level of the wall. All household appliances are built into them - an oven, a microwave, a dishwasher, etc. And the working surface is located on the island.

The table should be long enough. In it, with such a layout, it is possible to place a hob at one end, then a work table and a sink at the other end. Such solutions are often seen in cooking TV shows (everything is washed, cut and sent to the stove in almost one place) or in open kitchens in restaurants.

Ideally, if a pantry adjoins the kitchen or there is an opportunity to arrange it. There you can store groceries, spices, some dishes.

What to do with the walls

With all the modern craving for minimalism, the walls cannot be completely empty. It has been proven that with a cursory glance at the kitchen, a person first of all pays attention to the place where the kitchen “apron” is usually located (which is why designers often make it a style dominant). In the situation with a single-tier headset, there are two ways out: decorating the walls or placing at least some storage systems on it. You can successfully combine these two things and make several shelves, placing exclusively decorative gizmos on them.

If the kitchen is not too large (for example, its area is 9 sq.m.), and the furniture row is not too long, you can get by with a “bare” wall. A metal hood on a perfectly smooth and well-finished light wall will perfectly fit into the high-tech style and other “minimalistic” trends.

In a larger kitchen, a bare wall can create a feeling of emptiness. Therefore, it is perfectly acceptable to make a bright and tall (your standard) apron from beautiful tiles or glass. After the apron - part of a smooth wall and ceiling.

For loft kitchens, rooms with an urban design, brickwork or its imitation is often used. In this case, this "apron" goes under the ceiling. So that the brick wall does not look empty, you can hang lamps on long cords above the work surface, which will create an additional “pattern”.

The wall can be decorated with interior stickers, posters, panels or paintings in frames or on stretchers.

For kitchens where the wall cannot be purely decorative, and yet you still need to somehow use the area, you can offer an option with shelves. At a minimum - one or two or many shelves up to the ceiling - in different styles, both designs look good. On such shelves you can place dishes and jars of spices. Experts advise putting there what is constantly used: then dust will not form on the plates and mugs, and the shelves themselves will not have time to get dirty.

If the shelves are purely decorative, put travel plates, flower arrangements, etc. on them. But remember that they constantly have to put things in order.

By the way, the shelves can be deep, that is, with side walls and a "roof". Something like cabinets without doors. Such designs - square and rectangular are combined in different combinations, creating an original pattern.

In addition to shelves or solo, modern railings can be installed on the wall. Hooks are usually broadcast on them, and in this way mugs, pans, towels and other kitchen textiles are placed - in other words, everything that can be hung. Roof rails are beautiful, stylish and catchy, but according to reviews, this is a potential place for a mess. Therefore, do not rely on rails as a serious storage system.

A single-tier set allows the use of 1-2 small wall cabinets. Such “point” cabinets with glass doors or a lattice will look very good. But - an important rule - they must be located outside the working area. Most often they are hung around the edges or in the corners.

Rational storage on the lower tier

For the lower row of furniture in such a kitchen, a difficult task is set - to accommodate all the stocks of food and kitchen utensils, appliances and utensils. The boxes must be:

  • sustainable;
  • deep;
  • with the possibility of embedding technology;
  • with "smart" systems for compact storage.

When designing, you need to carefully consider how many and what kind of drawers you need. Standard sets have 2, 4 or 6 drawers. At the same time, at most two are actually used (cutlery and various trifles are stored there). Others are misused or empty. Accordingly, you need to decide how many drawers and ordinary ones with shelves you need, and what will be stored in them.

A very expedient solution is to build at least one shelf into the cabinet under the sink. Usually there is a trash can and pipes, however, if you select at least a small shelf, you can clean household chemicals, sponges and rags there so as not to litter the sink.

Shelves should also be under the main countertop (work surface). Experts recommend installing them at different heights so that you have high and low compartments. Then it will be possible to conveniently place pans and pots on them.

Simple drawers of different heights should be separated from the inside by partitions. This can be done at the design stage, or you can embed the dividers already in the finished headset. So it will be possible to compactly place all the items so that nothing is lost.

Full-retractable systems are very suitable for a single-tier headset, when a deep drawer rolls forward to the very end, but does not fall. This will allow you to find the item you need without getting into the box with your head. In addition, these drawers close silently and smoothly.

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