We love open shelving in a kitchen, but we've definitely seen it done poorly. When shelves feel overly styled and out of place, rather than reflecting the life and lifestyle of the people who live in the home, they read as a remnant of the instant-makeover modern farmhouse era.

So, who's doing open kitchen shelving well? Zac Posen, for one. The fashion designer and his husband, ballet dancer and actor Harrison Ball, recently redid their San Francisco home with Ken Fulk, and every detail feels perfectly imperfect.

This especially true of the open shelves above their countertops and stove. Instead of a few purchased-for-the-look cookbooks, they are full of pots, pans, plants, and dishes the couple actually uses.

Their kitchen idea proves that, sometimes, the most functional designs can also be the most stylish.

This idea of loosely curated clutter is gaining major traction as a kitchen trend for the coming year.

Magdalena Gierasinska, design expert at Barker and Stonehouse, explains: '2026 is the year of lived-in and deeply personal homes. Displaying your favorite pieces, whether artwork, mementos, or ceramics, is key to achieving this. And where better to do this than the kitchen, where we host friends and family for memorable gatherings. So, rather than displaying artwork on the walls, consider open shelving or a glass-fronted cabinet instead.'

Magdalena states: 'There’s a quiet joy in slowly and lovingly collecting and curating meaningful pieces over the years. Whether it’s a time-worn vase discovered at an antique market, a cherished family heirloom passed down through generations, or a memento tied to a moment you don’t want to forget, each one tells its own story.'

Recreate Zac's Shelves at Home

From stylish shelves to beautiful cookware, the most important ingredient to beautiful kitchen storage is a design that feels like a reflection of you. Here are our top picks, inspired by Zac and Harrison's space.

However, as seen in Zac and Harrison's kitchen, the best open-shelved design goes beyond pure aesthetics. It strikes a balance between the look and ease of use.

Professional chef Simon Ball explains how, especially in a small kitchen, the organizational tactic of open shelves can transform the way one uses the space.

He states: 'From a chef’s perspective, an organized kitchen is the foundation of efficiency, safety and effective cooking. Knowing exactly where everything is saves time, reduces stress and transforms cooking from a chore into a pleasure. Small, considered changes like keeping worktops clear and storing frequently used items within easy reach of where you’ll actually use them can make a remarkable difference to how a kitchen feels and functions.'

Open shelves are common in professional kitchens, and Zac Posen's arrangement of sauces and dishes exhibits how this technique can be similarly used in a private home to increase efficiency. Simon advises: 'Homeowners can apply the very same principles used in a professional kitchen by dividing their space into dedicated zones based on the tasks they perform most often: food preparation, cooking, cleaning and storage. Keeping the tools, equipment and ingredients for each task within their respective zones creates a far more intuitive workflow and eliminates unnecessary movement.'

He concludes: 'Regardless of kitchen size, this approach maximizes every inch of available space and makes everyday cooking a smooth, stress-free experience.'

Open shelves full of the items you will actually use in your home make a kitchen feel considered, yet lived in, striking the perfect balance for 2027.

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