If your commercial building project requires extra finesse and sophistication, consider installing glass front cabinets. This specific detail can go a long way to upgrade the value and elegance of a space.
But before you jump into a commercial kitchen installation with glass cabinets, be sure to do some research and make sure this is the right choice for your project.
Here is everything you need to know about glass front cabinets.
Pros
Glass front cabinets can really open up, brighten, and make the most use of a small kitchen space. The reflection of the glass can add more light to the room, especially if the kitchen doesn’t have a lot of natural light.
There is also a current trend for designers to lean towards using more saturated or darker colors. This can be a beautiful way to add a more dynamic appearance to the kitchen but can easily make it feel cramped or moody if the colors aren’t balanced with more light.
In addition to the reflection of the glass, having glass cabinets opens up the possibility of more lighting fixtures. This additional lighting can balance the darker color schemes or brighten up a darker space.
Whether they are lit or not, glass cabinets are a great way to showcase china or other special and unique belongings while offering protection from daily dirt and grime that inevitably builds up in the kitchen.
Well-crafted wooden cabinets can be absolutely beautiful, but too much of a good thing can still be disappointing. If your kitchen design utilizes a lot of space dedicated to cabinets, the same color and design can begin to feel dull and overdone.
Glass front cabinets offer an additional option for personalization by allowing the interior space of cabinets to be seen. It’s easy to accent these spaces with a complementary color or design that will break up a monotonous cabinet design throughout the rest of the kitchen.
Cons
A downside of installing cabinets with glass is the required extra maintenance compared to the general care of wooden cabinets. The glass will obviously show fingerprints, dirt, smudges, and other marks more than wood, so it will need to be cleaned more often.
Another aspect to consider before choosing glass front cabinets is the higher cost. Both the materials and the installation will usually be more expensive for cabinets with glass instead of woof fronts. This is also true if a cabinet needs to be fixed or replaced. However, most glass front cabinets can last as long as their wooden counterparts.
Types of Glass
Once you’ve decided to go with glass for the front of the commercial cabinets, then you have to choose the type of glass to use. Depending on style, durability, and budget, there are five basic types of glass to choose from.
In almost all cases, the glass used for cabinets should be tempered glass that is less fragile and more likely to withstand the wear and tear of commercial living. There isn’t necessarily one right choice for the type of glass, but here’s what you should know about the different types.
Transparent
When people think of glass front cabinets, they usually think of the traditional transparent glass. This is the most commonly used and widely available type of class for cabinets.
It’s no wonder that transparent glass is so popular. The simple, clean, and classic look will go great with any cabinet design, color, layout, or hardware.
However, while it is the safest choice for glass, it is also the type of glass that will show the most fingerprints and debris from your kitchen. But this is easily resolved with a good glass cleaner.
Textured
Textured glass is manufactured with some type of pattern or decorative design that is pressed into or created to add a bit more visual appeal to the glass. The texture of the glass panes could be as simple as beveled edges or repeated ribbing, or more complex patterns of bubbling or grooves throughout the glass.
The texture of the glass can hide smudges more easily than transparent glass but can also become a dated look if the texture is more intense.
Frosted
Also known as translucent glass, frosted glass is created when transparent glass is treated with a blast of sand, grit, or acid to become more translucent. This means the glass is less see-through and has more of a cool, modern look.
Frosted glass offers a bit more privacy than transparent or textured glass while still keeping a lot of the benefits of glass front cabinets. This is a popular choice for bathrooms but can also be an excellent choice for kitchens that might not get as much cleaning, such as student housing.
Seeded
If you are looking for a more historic or vintage look, consider the wavy look of seeded glass. This style is reminiscent of how glass was manufactured during colonial times and is a great choice for a cottage or Shaker-style kitchen.
Considering how popular Shaker-style cabinets continue to be, seeded glass is an excellent material to match those cabinets and create a homey feel throughout the kitchen.
The downside to seeded glass is that the bubbles in seeded glass can range in size. The larger the bubbles, the more the glass will distort whatever is on the other side of the glass. It’s important to pick the right size of seeding for your commercial project.
Leaded
Leaded glass is made by putting smaller pieces of glass together and attaching them with small iron bars. The pieces and the bars can be arranged in almost any design and add an artisan touch to any window, cabinet, or door.
This type of glass offers an antique look that has historically been associated with British architecture. It is also the basis of stained-glass windows. So if you want to add a pop of color to the kitchen, leaded glass is a great option for cabinets.
Acrylic
If you are worried about the fragility of glass, there are multiple options to use that can replicate the aesthetic of glass with a bit tougher materials, such as acrylic or Plexiglass. This may or may not be the best choice when it comes to glass-front cabinets, but it is certainly a possibility if the project requires more durability.
Get the Best Commercial Cabinets from Superior Commercial Solutions
As leaders in glass front cabinets, wooden cabinets, and countertops, you will get the best quality products and services when working with Superior Commercial Solutions. From design to completion, SCS offers extensive knowledge and experience to help you get your commercial projects done right.We specialize in multi-family builds, including student housing, hospitality projects, and assisted living, and we are eager to help you with your next commercial project. Send us a message today for more information and a quote from our expert team!