Consider your collection of family photographs and mementos. In a traditional wood cabinet its frame and shelves lack transparency and make it difficult to see some of the items on display.
Glass cabinetry offers an alternative.
A glass display cabinet would allow light to pass through and illuminate your memories.
Cabinets are found all over home and commercial spaces. But they don’t have to be boring. Glass cabinetry adds style and sophistication to a space, be it a kitchen, bathroom, or office.
Whether you are refurbishing a classic home and have a need for antique glass, or putting a glass cabinet in a new home or commercial space, glass cabinetry will brighten up your space.
Today’s glass fabrication options provide designers, homeowners and business planners with a wide variety of options to create a dramatic appearance or make a statement. What’s more, it can help visually set off a piece, say, curio cabinet in a dining room or upgrading the glass door on a built-in wine cabinet.
What are some of the most popular fabrication options?
They include:
Tempered glass
Beveling/
V-grooving
Tempered glass is among the strongest types of glass available. In cabinetry, it’s frequently used for shelving and windows. Consider an all-glass display case at the jewelry store. Strong glass gives you peace of mind when a customer leans in for a closer look – they can see the jewelry without worry of the glass breaking.
But should the glass shatter, it breaks into small, pebble-like pieces (a far cry from the shards from a broken standard glass pane). Many patterned glass and colored glass options can be tempered for additional strength and safety.
Beveling is made by taking large pieces of glass and creating an angled surface around the entire edge of the glass. Beveling and other edgework types are most commonly used for appearance reasons, as it is the easiest to coat, texture, and design. Beveling gives your cabinet a splash of elegance.
Similar to chiseling a piece of wood, V-grooving carves intricate patterns – including those you come up with – into a glass pane's surface. That jewelry store case can display a company logo.
Learn more about v-grooving and our available patterns:
As with any décor element, a variety of factors affect cabinet glass costs considerably , including:
The total area of the project
Type of glass used
Prices can be as low as $5 per square foot to as high as $35 per square foot.
In all, glass is very cost-effective, especially when compared to high-end wood cabinetry. And using glass in place of wood can dramatically change the look of a room without requiring an all-out redecorating effort.
Today’s variety of patterned and colored glass choices leaves the home or business owner with a creative solution to fit any budget.
One exciting new trend is German Antique – or German New Antique – which provides a classic appearance in modern form. This is a popular item in the home décor industry, especially for those who are refurbishing classic homes.
Circa 1800 glass from Hollander features a waviness and roll that is popular in cabinets or restoration.This glass is clear with very slight, if any, distortion of the image viewed through it; however, it has considerable character derived from the irregularities within and upon the surface of the glass.
Patterns can also be used to highlight or camouflage items contained in the cabinet. A Misco Diamond Wire, for example, gently mutes the cabinet contents while an Acid Etched Velour provides a higher level of opacity.
Both of these types of glass can add a modern or industrial feel to cabinets, and are a popular choice for modern interior design and many industrial applications.
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How should different types of glass cabinetry be cleaned and maintained? That all depends on the glass and who makes it. Different manufacturers have different recommended cleaning procedures for their products. It’s best to check with the manufacturer. Are there customization options available for the glass cabinets? Absolutely! As we mentioned you can look at things like V-grooving and beveling. What should I think about with lighting considerations? To an extent, it simply comes down to what visual effect you’re looking for. Some patterned glass can obscure light, making it difficult to see what’s on the other side. |
If you’re thinking about furnishing or refurbishing a home or office, glass cabinetry is the clear choice.
It's one of the most elegant and durable options available to enhance the functionality and style of any space. Whether it is mandated by design or for its aesthetic appeal, glass cabinetry is the ideal solution for any interior project.
New Angle Beveling carries a wide variety of patterned glass to choose from. Explore our patterned glass options here.
(This blog was originally published April 9, 2019, and has been recently updated)