In the Clear: Why See-Through Kitchen Cabinets Make Sense
Glass kitchen cabinets offer a light and airy alternative to heavier materials, with an array of styles to choose from
The dilemmas of choosing kitchen cupboard doors – do you go for timber or laminate, gloss or matt, plain or profile; the options are endless. But one dilemma that gets less attention is the choice of whether to break the look with some clear cabinet doors. It might be that you want to display your lovely wares through the clear cabinetry, but even if you’d rather keep yours under wraps, you can still have the look, but opt for a semi-opaque style. Clear cabinets can work in both modern and traditional kitchens, and you don’t have to go the whole hog – just opt for a few cupboards in the clear. Sceptical? Don’t be. These examples highlight just how effective glass can be.
If you’re a neat and tidy person, and you have great taste in crockery, breaking up the look of solid cabinetry is a great idea, as in this New York loft.
Tip: If you do have something you’d like to show off, consider installing downlights or uplights in the see-through cabinets for maximum effect. Glass shelving is best to allow light to flow from top to bottom or vice-versa.
You can even keep the flow of light coming right through the kitchen while creating a slight barrier between the kitchen and dining area, with cupboards suspended in the middle of the kitchen with glass on both sides.
Tip: Talk to your kitchen expert or joiner to discuss which product to use. If using real glass, it will of course need to be safety glass. One of the most economical applications is plexiglass (or acrylic plastic sheeting) but that can be prone to scratching. Polycarbonate sheeting is said to be less prone to scratching but can be more expensive.
Tip: Talk to your kitchen expert or joiner to discuss which product to use. If using real glass, it will of course need to be safety glass. One of the most economical applications is plexiglass (or acrylic plastic sheeting) but that can be prone to scratching. Polycarbonate sheeting is said to be less prone to scratching but can be more expensive.
Semi-opaque
If you don’t want to show off your stuff or you’re worried about having to keep it tidy and perfectly arranged, you can opt for the look in a less transparent form. A semi-opaque option is ideal for this.
If you don’t want to show off your stuff or you’re worried about having to keep it tidy and perfectly arranged, you can opt for the look in a less transparent form. A semi-opaque option is ideal for this.
In this Sydney kitchen, Shaker-style cabinets feature wire mesh inserts in the pantry and appliance doors, providing a semi-opaque alternative to glass.
In the same kitchen, here’s another look at those wire mesh inserts in the pantry door.
16 common kitchen dilemmas solved
16 common kitchen dilemmas solved
In this 1920s kitchen update, the semi-clear cabinetry in the upper cupboards is refreshing, but remains in keeping with the kitchen’s heritage.
For semi-opaque doors you can choose frosted or seeded glass. Seeded glass is the bubbly or wavy glass that gives a translucent effect, and is a good option for a vintage kitchen.
For semi-opaque doors you can choose frosted or seeded glass. Seeded glass is the bubbly or wavy glass that gives a translucent effect, and is a good option for a vintage kitchen.
Slightly frosted glass – neither quite clear nor fully-opaque – is equally at home in a modern kitchen.
Go retro
If you have an old kitchen to update, but want to retain some of the retro feel, glass cabinets are a great option – and again, a wonderful way to display some vintage items.
If you have an old kitchen to update, but want to retain some of the retro feel, glass cabinets are a great option – and again, a wonderful way to display some vintage items.
Sliding
This kitchen features thoroughly modern sliding kitchen doors for a totally original breezy look, and is a lovely contrast to the brown kitchen cupboards.
This kitchen features thoroughly modern sliding kitchen doors for a totally original breezy look, and is a lovely contrast to the brown kitchen cupboards.
Create space
In this apartment, clear upper cabinets afford a narrow kitchen a look of extra space and they break up the monotone of the mainly green kitchen.
Choosing the right kitchen cupboard doors
In this apartment, clear upper cabinets afford a narrow kitchen a look of extra space and they break up the monotone of the mainly green kitchen.
Choosing the right kitchen cupboard doors
Just a few
You can break up the look of all-solid cabinetry with just a few doors in clear glass, as in this traditional, all-white Melbourne kitchen.
You can break up the look of all-solid cabinetry with just a few doors in clear glass, as in this traditional, all-white Melbourne kitchen.
Floor-to-ceiling
We’re used to seeing this look in mainly upper cabinets, but it can also look pretty stunning with a row of floor-to-ceiling cabinetry, all in glass.
More kitchen trends in 2017
We’re used to seeing this look in mainly upper cabinets, but it can also look pretty stunning with a row of floor-to-ceiling cabinetry, all in glass.
More kitchen trends in 2017
Drawers too
Another modern way to take this idea further is taking the look into drawers, as well as cabinets.
Another modern way to take this idea further is taking the look into drawers, as well as cabinets.
Tell us
What do you think of clear cabinetry? Would you consider it for your kitchen? Let us know in the Comments.
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What do you think of clear cabinetry? Would you consider it for your kitchen? Let us know in the Comments.
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When choosing whether to go with clear or translucent glass, consider how tidy you are and what you want to show. If you’ve got lots to display – a cool or quirky range of vintage glasses, a gorgeous mixed colour or all-white crockery set, put it here. Save the messy stuff for your solid cabinets.
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