Incorporating Glass and Open Shelving in Cabinet Design

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to cabinet design. The room, the homeowner’s aesthetic preferences, and the way the space will be used all influence the types and layouts that function best and we at Askin Cabinets are always ready for whatever preference the customer may have. Open shelves and glass cabinet doors are two design features that are becoming more and more common. Both can change the appearance and practicality of built-in shelving units, bathroom vanities, kitchen cabinets, and more.

The Beauty of Glass Cabinet Doors

Glass-front cabinet doors give an open, airy atmosphere that instantly enhances any cabinetry design. They’re fashionable and let you fill the cabinets with eye-catching plates, glasses, and décor pieces. Glass doors remove the solid fronts of conventional cabinet doors, creating an air of openness and brightness. When you wish to keep sightlines between rooms, they’re the ideal addition to open floor-plan houses.

Glass can be used for cabinet doors in a wide variety of styles:

  • Clear glass: This lets you see what’s within the cabinets without any obstructions at all. It looks sleek and contemporary.
  • Textured or patterned glass:  These give visual appeal without obstructing your view of the cabinet contents.
  • Antique or seeded glass: These retro-inspired designs include lovely light-refracting properties along with a wavering, uneven appearance.
  • Frosted or opaque glass: These types provide the appearance of being sleeker and more streamlined by partially obscuring the view inside.

Glass doors are available in an array of hues, tones, and finishes, and can be either framed or unframed. Glass and raised panel doors or ornate mullions combine to produce a quaint, classic look.

The Functionality of Open Shelving

While open shelving is quickly taking the kitchen cabinet scene by storm, these free-standing shelves may be utilized anywhere additional storage is required. When opposed to cabinets with closed doors, they offer simpler access to commonly used products. Having dishes, glasses, cookbooks, and décor items easily accessible is a terrific use for open shelves.

While leaving the majority of the storage space behind closed doors, many homeowners include a few open shelves in their kitchen cabinets. Extra storage is provided by a few floating shelves on an exposed wall, which also break up large expanses of flat cabinetry. Using a complete wall of open shelves in place of top cabinets makes a striking focal point and presents stuff in a pleasing way.

Displaying books, collectibles, artwork, family portraits, and other valuables on open shelving systems in living rooms, home offices, or bedrooms is a current idea. The shelves keep commonly used items visible while also adding visual appeal.

The secret is knowing how the space will be utilized and what has to be stored, whether that means adding a few open shelves or going all out with open shelving. Enclosed cabinets are typically required as well because open shelves aren’t the best place to store an assortment of untidy or unattractive objects.

Glass and Open Shelving Work Together

Open shelving and glass doors are frequently paired to produce a single, harmonious design. While the open shelving offers easily accessible storage, the glass serves to further open up the area. When combined, they improve a space’s appearance and use.

To make a kitchen feel lighter and airier, you may, for instance, install glass cabinet doors around a window. The windowed area is framed by open shelves on either side, which also serves as a beautiful place to showcase cookbooks, dishes, and décor items. Open shelving towers to hold towels, candles, or other accessories could be placed on either side of a vanity with a glass door cabinet in a bathroom design.

Take Advantage of Glass and Open Shelving To Improve Your Design!

Glass fronts and open shelving make for incredibly beautiful and distinctive cabinet designs with a little careful preparation for storage, organization, design elements, and installation requirements. Anywhere you desire fashionable yet practical storage, whether it’s in a kitchen, living room, bathroom, or elsewhere, the increased visual interest and openness they bring can drastically change the space’s appearance and atmosphere. 

Work With Askin Cabinets To Incorporate Your Ideas!

With our decades of experience, quality materials, and professional staff we’re sure to make your place pop! We partner with known suppliers like Hettich Australia, Laminex, and essastone® by Laminex and design, manufacture, and install quality cabinetry so you can count on us for any of your cabinetry needs. So contact us now, get a quote, and let’s bring your design ideas to life!