By Emily Schilling

So, I’ve been scouring home décor magazines for months now, seeking inspiration on how to update the mid-‘90s style that we’ve surrounded ourselves with all these years into something more on trend.

Kitchens and bathrooms seem to top most homeowners’ renovation to-do lists. I totally understand why. When comparing the dark wood cabinets and black appliances in my kitchen with the lighter cabinetry and farmhouse décor in so many homes nowadays, the passage of time and trends is crystal clear. 

I know many DIY’ers freshen their cabinets by replacing the doors or painting them in one of numerous shades of white but, according to the decorating magazines, to really update your kitchen’s appeal, open shelving seems to be the way to go. I love the look of neatly stacked matching plates, soup bowls and mixing bowls nesting within each other next to them, and rows of sparkling glasses out in the open for all to see. 

But as much as I covet this popular trend, I know I’d never be able to pull it off. For one thing, I’d have to buy a whole new set of dishes and glassware fit to be a kitchen focal point. Plus, the stress of having more open surfaces to dust (as if I dust regularly as it is!) is negating the tranquil effect the open concept is supposed inspire.

So, maybe I need to ditch the decorating trends and create a totally original look — one that won’t be subject to the whims of design gurus who will never know what works for me. And 10 years from now, when the shelf life of open shelves is over, I won’t have to dismantle them to put some cabinets back up. I guess it’s time to pick up some paint and keep what’s behind closed doors right where they are. Who knows — my as-yet undiscovered kitchen makeover may be a home style hit!

EMILY SCHILLING is editor of Indiana Connection