/ April 11, 2022
kitchen with rustic wood beams and a white-painted brick wall, with blue-black custom cabinets

The decision to ditch upper cabinets translates to getting creative with storage solutions. Whether you opt for open shelving or prefer drawers galore, here are kitchens with no upper cabinets that will inspire you to pursue the dramatic look.

Statement Kitchen

Custom iron counter stools with cushions of Joseph Noble leather align beneath the kitchen’s unlacquered brass island, which was custom crafted by Keystone Millworks in collaboration with Larry W. Stone Custom Metals. A single Visual Comfort & Co. pendant makes a simple statement against the fluid veining of Danby marble from Stone World. The oil portrait is vintage.

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White kitchen with brass island and light brown accents

Custom iron counter stools with cushions of Joseph Noble leather align beneath the kitchen’s unlacquered brass island, which was custom crafted by Keystone Millworks in collaboration with Larry W. Stone Custom Metals. A single Visual Comfort & Co. pendant makes a simple statement against the fluid veining of Danby marble from Stone World. The oil portrait is vintage.

Mixing Materials

Custom cabinets fabricated by Distinctive Designs, painted in Farrow & Ball’s blue-black Railings and accented with Emtek brass hardware, add polish to a kitchen defined by rustic wood beams and walls clad with white-painted face brick by Summit Brick Company. In the adjacent bar, the white oak cabinets feature metal mesh accents and an antique-mirror backsplash reflects the view.

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kitchen with rustic wood beams and a white-painted brick wall, with blue-black custom cabinets

Custom cabinets fabricated by Distinctive Designs, painted in Farrow & Ball’s blue-black Railings and accented with Emtek brass hardware, add polish to a kitchen defined by rustic wood beams and walls clad with white-painted face brick by Summit Brick Company. In the adjacent bar, the white oak cabinets feature metal mesh accents and an antique-mirror backsplash reflects the view.

Showstopper

The kitchen’s hood is wrapped in the a patinated steel. Rich Brilliant Willing’s Gala chandelier lights the quartzite-topped island. Rocky Mountain Hardware knobs and pulls accent the cabinetry, stained an ebony hue that speaks to the dark shade on the home’s exterior.

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kitchen range is topped with a dark, patinated range hood
Photo: Sam Frost

Directly opposite the great room’s fireplace, the kitchen’s hood is wrapped in the same patinated steel. Rich Brilliant Willing’s Gala chandelier lights the quartzite-topped island. Rocky Mountain Hardware knobs and pulls accent the cabinetry, stained an ebony hue that speaks to the dark shade on the home’s exterior.

Cue The Calm

Christopher Peacock and his design team created custom cabinetry, hardware and paint for this Edwardsville, Illinois, kitchen project; the interior design was by Jessie D. Miller.

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Strategic Solutions

Breezy neutrals in the well-appointed kitchen get a splash of drama thanks to black accents. Custom whitewashed white oak cabinetry by ADK Design and Taj Mahal quartzite countertops from Stone Dimensions create casual sophistication.

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A sleek kitchen with quartzite countertops and white oak cabinetry.

Breezy neutrals in the well-appointed kitchen get a splash of drama thanks to black accents. Custom whitewashed white oak cabinetry by ADK Design and Taj Mahal quartzite countertops from Stone Dimensions create casual sophistication.

Order Up

Beneath Hudson Valley Lighting pendants, RH stools line a kitchen island painted Sherwin-Williams’ Caviar. The backsplash of SapienStone’s Arabescato marble—behind a custom range hood from Vent-A-Hood—and countertops of Pompeii Quartz are from Naples StoneWorks. Cabinets by Ruffino Cabinetry and Waterworks’ On Tap faucets complete the bistro look.

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french 1920s-inspired kitchen with marble backsplash, gold counter stools and pendants and marble island
Photo: Mali Azima

Beneath Hudson Valley Lighting pendants, RH stools line a kitchen island painted Sherwin- Williams’ Caviar. The backsplash of SapienStone’s Arabescato marble—behind a custom range hood from Vent-A-Hood—and countertops of Pompeii Quartz are from Naples StoneWorks. Cabinets by Ruffino Cabinetry and Waterworks’ On Tap faucets complete the bistro look.

Guiding Light

Rejuvenation pulls stud Rutt cabinetry in the kitchen, outfitted with Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances. Hudson Valley Lighting sconces perch above Waterstone faucets from Ferguson against a wall of Mosaic House tiles. A Malayer runner points the way to the breakfast area, where Ro Sham Beaux’s Malibu chandelier hangs above a Worlds Away table and Artesia chairs. EBL Construction fabricated the banquette.

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kitchen with blue banquette in breakfast nook

Rejuvenation pulls stud Rutt cabinetry in the kitchen, outfitted with Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances. Hudson Valley Lighting sconces perch above Waterstone faucets from Ferguson against a wall of Mosaic House tiles. A Malayer runner points the way to the breakfast area, where Ro Sham Beaux’s Malibu chandelier hangs above a Worlds Away table and Artesia chairs. EBL Construction fabricated the banquette.

Shelve It

Designer Andrea May hung a fixture by The Urban Electric Co. from her previous home in her current kitchen’s nook above an existing Roche Bobois table. She also hung two new pendants from the company above the island topped with stone from Tutto Marmo. The counter chairs are by Charleston Forge.

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Kitchen with large island and two pendants hanging above. Small eating area in the background.

May hung a fixture by The Urban Electric Co. from her previous home in her current kitchen’s nook above an existing Roche Bobois table. She also hung two new pendants from the company above the island topped with stone from Tutto Marmo. The counter chairs are by Charleston Forge.

Focal Point

The white tile for the kitchen backsplash was designed by Groves, fabricated by SlabHaus and installed by Rex Tile. Walnut barstools by Cherner Chair Company complement the marble waterfall-style island from RAM Marble & Granite Designs.

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modern white kitchen walnut barstools textured backsplash

The white tile for the kitchen backsplash was designed by Groves, fabricated by SlabHaus and installed by Rex Tile. “Once we did it, we found other places in the house to use it,” says Groves, whose partner, architect Andy Byrnes, served as the builder on the project. Walnut barstools by Cherner Chair Company complement the marble waterfall-style island from RAM Marble & Granite Designs.

Ultimate Kitchens

Consider this your go-to kitchen guide. Whether you’re planning a complete overhaul, making minor refreshes, or simply inspo scrolling, Luxe lets you envision your dream kitchen as you discover products, palettes and trends that speak to your personal style.

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