Kitchen Guides
See How Glass Makes Its Way Into Kitchen Cabinets
Lighten up in the kitchen with see-through or glossy panes that bounce the sun's rays or show you've got nothing to hide
Glass-front cabinets, often used in upper areas of a kitchen, can make for a pretty and practical focal point. These clear cabinets can be illuminated for ambience, display precious possessions, store functional kitchen items and ease transitions from room to room.
Can glass-front cabinets become the focal point for your kitchen? Check out the examples below to see if any of these styles will work in your home.
Can glass-front cabinets become the focal point for your kitchen? Check out the examples below to see if any of these styles will work in your home.
2. Frameless glass-front cabinets
Traditional glass-front cabinets have a wood frame with a glass centre panel. Frameless glass-front cabinets have just one sheet of glass for the entire cabinet front. More contemporary in design, they create a sleek appearance with their decorative hinges and lack of hardware.
You may have to hunt for this style – many cabinet lines do not offer it.
Traditional glass-front cabinets have a wood frame with a glass centre panel. Frameless glass-front cabinets have just one sheet of glass for the entire cabinet front. More contemporary in design, they create a sleek appearance with their decorative hinges and lack of hardware.
You may have to hunt for this style – many cabinet lines do not offer it.
3. Picture-window cabinets
What do you do when you have a kitchen that has more windows than wall space? Try putting your wall cabinets directly over the windows, like in this photo.
Picture-window cabinets are designed with no back panel, so sunlight can flow through.
What do you do when you have a kitchen that has more windows than wall space? Try putting your wall cabinets directly over the windows, like in this photo.
Picture-window cabinets are designed with no back panel, so sunlight can flow through.
4. Sliding glass
Once popular in the ‘70s, sliding cabinet doors have made a comeback in kitchens today. They glide on a recessed track (at the top and bottom) that allows two sheets of glass to travel back and forth as doors.
Sliding glass doors sometimes have hardware that is drilled directly into the glass, but many simply have a finger pull cut through the glass.
Check out this mini guide for kitchen cabinet door styles
Once popular in the ‘70s, sliding cabinet doors have made a comeback in kitchens today. They glide on a recessed track (at the top and bottom) that allows two sheets of glass to travel back and forth as doors.
Sliding glass doors sometimes have hardware that is drilled directly into the glass, but many simply have a finger pull cut through the glass.
Check out this mini guide for kitchen cabinet door styles
5. Decorative glass
Glass fronts, whether framed or frameless, come in many different patterns and finishes. Shown here is a popular decorative glass known as seeded glass, which has little air pockets inside to create a textured appearance. You can have your cabinet manufacturer supply the glass on purchase, or you can have the door prepped for glass. This means that the door frame will arrive without glass, and you can have another company supply the glass.
Frosted glass, etched glass, stained glass and coloured glass are just a few other types of decorative glass for kitchen cabinetry.
Take a look at 12 surprising ways to use stained glass at home
Glass fronts, whether framed or frameless, come in many different patterns and finishes. Shown here is a popular decorative glass known as seeded glass, which has little air pockets inside to create a textured appearance. You can have your cabinet manufacturer supply the glass on purchase, or you can have the door prepped for glass. This means that the door frame will arrive without glass, and you can have another company supply the glass.
Frosted glass, etched glass, stained glass and coloured glass are just a few other types of decorative glass for kitchen cabinetry.
Take a look at 12 surprising ways to use stained glass at home
6. Glass-front base cabinets
Many kitchens have glass only on upper cabinetry, but it can look just as good below, too. Glass doors on base cabinets can deliver an extra visual punch and spice up cabinetry that faces other rooms.
Keep in mind that when you’re sitting at a counter, feet and knees can accidentally hit and bang the glass, so it may not be the best design for families with active children.
Many kitchens have glass only on upper cabinetry, but it can look just as good below, too. Glass doors on base cabinets can deliver an extra visual punch and spice up cabinetry that faces other rooms.
Keep in mind that when you’re sitting at a counter, feet and knees can accidentally hit and bang the glass, so it may not be the best design for families with active children.
8. Painted glass-front cabinets
These cabinet doors are frameless, and the glass has been painted on the back side to maintain a wonderful glossy finish.
This particular application is referred to as a factory finish. Heavy-duty epoxy paint is uniformly applied to the reverse side of the glass in a controlled environment to prevent imperfections. The end result is a perfect finish, seen through the other side of the glass.
Read more:
What’s the Best Material for Kitchen Cabinets?
Tell us:
What type of kitchen cabinets do you have? Which ones would you recommend? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
These cabinet doors are frameless, and the glass has been painted on the back side to maintain a wonderful glossy finish.
This particular application is referred to as a factory finish. Heavy-duty epoxy paint is uniformly applied to the reverse side of the glass in a controlled environment to prevent imperfections. The end result is a perfect finish, seen through the other side of the glass.
Read more:
What’s the Best Material for Kitchen Cabinets?
Tell us:
What type of kitchen cabinets do you have? Which ones would you recommend? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Some kitchens have a peninsula that divides the cooking space and another adjacent space (often the dining room). Peninsulas are accessible on three sides.
Although peninsula storage is practical, many homeowners feel that it can close the kitchen off. Adding upper glass-front cabinets to the peninsula allows for light and creates a more open feeling.
Browse through images of glass kitchen cabinets