You'll never guess where Annie Leibovitz keeps her family portraits – the out-of-the-box placement is heartwarmingly brilliant

The famed photographer stores family photos in an unexpected location in her kitchen – it helps bring loved ones into every moment

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If you polled 100 people on where they keep their family pictures, most would probably say the living room. Over the mantle, styled as a gallery wall, or framed on a side table, are all popular options.

Never one to fall in line, Annie Leibovitz bucks this tradition by placing portraits of her mother and daughters on a shelf above her kitchen sink. Though this seems a strange place to display family photos, it actually makes perfect sense. Not only does it offer a daily opportunity to look at and think about loved ones, but it also makes the mundane task of doing the dishes more enjoyable.

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Furthermore, eye-level shelving like Annie's element is gaining traction as a popular kitchen trend for 2025 because of its benefits for both design and storage.

Nina Lichtenstein, Westchester-based interior designer, explains: 'Open shelving in kitchen design is a popular trend that combines functionality with aesthetic appeal. There are a variety of benefits to open shelving, and luckily it’s not hard to style these shelves to create a stunning and organized kitchen.'

She continues: 'Open kitchen shelving offers several advantages that make it a desirable choice for modern kitchens. First and foremost, open shelves create a sense of openness and spaciousness, making small kitchens appear larger and more inviting. They also provide easy access to frequently used items, allowing for efficient organization and convenience during meal preparation.'

Whether it's family portraits, homemade pottery, or house plants, organizing kitchen shelving is one of the easiest ways to style your cooking space.

'Open shelving encourages creativity in kitchen decor, as it allows homeowners to showcase decorative pieces, dishware, and greenery that add personality and charm to the space,' explains Nina. 'From a practical standpoint, open shelves are easier to install and maintain compared to traditional cabinets, making them a cost-effective and stylish storage solution.'

To create a similar effect in your own home, Nina recommends: 'Combine everyday items like plates, bowls, and glassware with decorative elements such as plants, artwork, sculptures, and cookbooks. Play with different shapes, textures, and heights to create visual interest.'

The best design feels specific to the people who live in the home. This extends beyond the decor you choose, to where it is placed.

Sophie Edwards
Sophie Edwards
News Editor

Sophie is a writer and News Editor on the Celebrity Style team at Homes & Gardens. She is fascinated by the intersection of design and popular culture and is particularly passionate about researching trends and interior history. She is an avid pop culture fan and has interviewed Martha Stewart and Hillary Duff.

In her free time, Sophie freelances on design news for Westport Magazine and Livingetc. She also has a newsletter, My Friend's Art, in which she covers music, culture, and fine art through a personal lens. Her fiction has appeared in Love & Squalor and The Isis Magazine.

Before joining Future, Sophie worked in editorial at Fig Linens and Home, a boutique luxury linens brand. She has an MSc from Oxford University and a BA in Creative Writing and Sociology from Sarah Lawrence College.