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all-wood kitchen can seem dark and heavy; glass presents yet another option for
the look of the cabinet door. Mixing glass in with other door fronts in the
kitchen can add interest to any design, particularly to stock cabinets that
might otherwise lack unique touches. Glass cabinets will also bounce back
sunlight streaming in from the windows, brightening your kitchen and making it
appear larger.
Choose clear glass to highlight fine china or collectibles. Clear glass is
certainly not for homeowners who worry about fingerprints—nor for those who
don’t worry about clutter! Luckily, the variety of textures and patterns makes
glass a smart choice for anyone.
For more diffusion, opt for ribbed glass so that the colors—not the messy
details—of the dishes or cereal boxes sitting behind them show through. The
ribbing may be vertical, horizontal, or diagonal. The options don’t end there.
Other glass doors may be:
- Beveled—polished angle-ground glass with prismatic
characteristics
- Bubbled—air bubbles sprinkled in the glass to enhance
the illusion of age
- Camed—strips (or “cames”) of lead, brass, or copper lie
between the glass
- Colored—tinted glass
- Etched—a design is carved into glass using hydrofluoric
acid
- Frosted—glass blown with fine sand under high pressure
for an opaque look
- Icicle
- Leaded—a popular type of camed glass
- Mullion—thin strips of wood separate the panes of
glass, either as individual panes sandwiches between front and back mullions,
or as one sheet of glass inserted behind the mullions, which makes the glass
easier to clean—and break
- Pebbled
- Textured
- Wire grid—chicken wire (fronted by glass for
protection) adds farmhouse appeal
Consider unique sandwiching inserts, like rice paper, matted black and white
photos or fabric, between the layers of glass. Custom-made stained glass
inserts are also a unique alternative.
Install a small halogen light in your frosted or clear cabinets for an
additional glow or to highlight the contents. Use glass shelves to allow the
light to shine all the way through.
Stylish juxtaposed finishes don’t just have to be on the exterior of your
cabinetry. When using glass doors, consider a colored interior. Because the
color will be layered under glass doors and contents, choose a fairly bold
shade. A hunter green interior against a white cabinet can emphasize a country
motif.
You can also decorate the interior with stenciled patterns, faux finishes or
wallpaper; just make sure it can be safely and easily wiped down.
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