EXPOSE YOURSELF

Maybe you were raised to believe it was better to hide it. Or you might think it will look dirty and scare people away if you bring it out. Forget what you were taught...relax, take a deep breath, open your drawers and expose yourself! Whether you lean towards the modern or traditional end of the design spectrum, the ever-evolving kitchen is knocking through old ideas of what "should be" and redefining what works. Overhead cabinets are for stowing luggage on an airplane, not hiding coffee cups in your kitchen. Open shelves for dishes and glasses not only force you to be clean and organized, but are visually pleasing, open up the space and create a clean, streamlined look. We use Ikea's STATLIG shelving in our kitchen ($19.99 at http://www.ikea.com/) (see KNICK-KNACK EQUITY 12/21/07). If removing the cabinets entirely seems drastic see a physician for mood-stabilizing pills OR remove the cabinet doors, paint the wall behind the shelves and enjoy the results!

OPEN YOUR DRAWERS AND PULL IT OUT:

TIME TO COMPLETE TASK: Hanging shelves, half hour

COST: From $5+

STRESS LEVEL: Fully Exposed: LOW