The Centuries-Old Kitchen Cabinet Feature That Deserves A Comeback

Vintage never goes out of style, and country cottage kitchens are as popular as ever. There's a cute little detail that's quietly coming back into vogue and has its roots in old-world practicality. Cabinet cut-outs or vents bring a unique charm to simple cabinets. In the days before refrigeration and air conditioning, these vent holes allowed air to circulate and kept moisture out. That was important for keeping food fresh and free from mold. Best of all, you can make them yourself, and not just in your kitchen. This adorable detail would work just as well in cabinetry in any room of the house that would benefit from better ventilation. Pair this trend with ideas from our ultimate guide to cottagecore décor for even more vintage charm.

In a way, cabinet vent cut-outs are similar to the California cooler, a vintage cooling feature that deserves a big comeback in kitchens. The electric refrigerator was invented in 1913, but didn't see widespread use until almost 1930. Before then, many homes had ice boxes — food storage boxes kept cold with ice blocks — but they were small. California coolers and cabinets with vent cut-outs allowed families to keep food fresh in a cool, dark, well-ventilated space. California coolers vent to the outside of the house and create a cooler environment by drawing in cool air from the bottom and siphoning off warm air at the top. Vented cabinets draw air from indoors and allow air to circulate inside the cabinets.

The beautiful thing about these interior vent cut-outs is that you are only limited by your imagination. There are so many different patterns to choose from: horizontal or vertical lines, diamonds, hearts, or a series of small circles. A large hole could even double as a handle. Venting works best on Shaker-style cabinets. If you don't have Shaker cabinets, this DIY will completely change your cabinets without buying new ones. To get the look, cut a template of your design out of a piece of paper. Practice cutting the design on scrap wood first to avoid ruining your cabinet doors. Using a router will probably give you the best finish and may well be easier than using a jigsaw. When you're ready, use the template to cut the design into your cabinet doors.  Instead of creating your own templates, you'll find that large-format Epakh geometric shape stencils for kids are easiest to work with.

Vented cabinet doors are not only useful in the kitchen. You can use them anywhere you need air circulation. Mudrooms and laundry room cabinets or closets are also good candidates for this lovely detail. If you're renting and can't cut holes in your cabinet doors, get the look by cutting vents into a freestanding cabinet or other piece of storage furniture you own. A series of small ornate cut-outs looks great on a distressed dresser. Or avoid drilling at all by using a stencil and paint. Use a measuring tape to perfectly center the stencil on the cabinet door and tape the stencil in place. Use a stencil brush and black paint to create faux holes.