GIVE CABINET DOORS A MAKEOVER WITH GLASS

Replacing opaque wood with glass gives a sense of depth and makes a small kitchen feel more spacious. It can also style up a dull or dated kitchen design without the expense of a complete remodel. Most people prefer not to use clear glass on every kitchen cupboard door because there are some kitchen items – like cereal boxes – that you don’t want constantly on display. There are a few ways to address this:

• Leave some cabinets as they are and have cabinet glass installed on the ones that house attractive glassware and dishes.
• Have all the cabinets upgraded with glass but choose a vision-obscuring product – patterned, tinted, or acid-etched – so the contents don’t have to always be styled.
• Use clear glass on the cabinets with attractive contents and vision-obscuring glass on the others. This way all the cabinets are updated, but you don’t have to stress about every cupboard staying tidy.

A vanity with cupboard doors is another excellent candidate for cabinet glass. Use it to modernize an older vanity, enhance a vanity’s unique style, or give the bathroom a more open feel. Other benefits include:

• Smooth glass – clear or tinted – can be easily wiped clean and disinfected, which is a real bonus in a bathroom.
• Cabinet glass complements other glass frequently used in a bathroom – shower doors, vanity mirrors, glass wall shelves, and the like.
• Glass door fronts look good with any palette, so they won’t clash if you alter your bathroom’s color scheme later on.

Besides built-in cabinets, numerous pieces of furniture can be improved with glass door fronts. China hutches, bookcases, accent cabinets, and more often have doors that can be outfitted with cabinet glass. In fact, this is a nice way to make a display case if you have vintage books, heirloom china, collectibles, small sculptures, framed photos, or other beautiful pieces you’d like to include in your decorating scheme. If the cabinet needs a complete makeover, also consider:

• Repainting the piece.
• Changing out the door knobs or handles.
• Replacing wooden shelves with glass shelves.
• Having mirror attached to the back wall of the cabinet to replicate the view of whatever is on the shelves.