Goodbye Cluttered Cabinets –Julianne Moore's Unique Take on 'Floating Storage' Is The Small Kitchen Organization Hack I Didn't Know I Needed

Open storage is transformed in the actor's kitchen, revealing a universal lesson in organization – here's what I'm taking from her space

julianne moore on white background
(Image credit: Pascal Le Segretain via Getty Images)

As a relatively organized person, the concept of open kitchen storage strikes fear into my heart. I have a hard time believing that a space can both have plates, bowls, and utensils out where everyone can see them and also look neat. However, Julianne Moore's small kitchen shows that it's not only possible, but highly accessible.

After selling her storied West Village townhouse in 2021, Julianne Moore moved into a more modern property in lower Manhattan, and the home features a masterclass in small kitchen storage. The gray and cream space leaves Julianne's items for cooking and eating neatly in the open. Notably, a low, floating shelf in the corner is filled with plates and bowls for easy, well-organized dining. On the countertop, she has arranged jars of utensils and tapped into the kitchen lamp trend (this $30 fluted light from Target is my current obsession for recreating it).

So, why does Julianne's original take on floating shelves work so well? First, she has selected a furnishing that is exactly the right size for her space. By choosing a bookshelf that sits directly under the window, it lets the light flood her space. By placing the piece around the height of her countertops, it creates the feeling that Julianne has a smaller, second kitchen island.

Recreate Julianne's Look at Home

Furthermore, the actor's kitchen storage idea is balanced. Rather than serving as the sole point of visible dishes in the space, she complements the shelves with countertop jars and a lamp. This way, it feels like there is equal emphasis on storage across different parts of the room.


Ultimately, there are no hard and fast rules for visually appealing storage; it comes down to your needs and what works in your space. For those with small spaces, a low floating shelf like Julianne Moore's just might be the perfect fit.

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.

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