Semi-Open Kitchen: See-Through Cabinets Offer Peekaboo Views
Get the best of both worlds with cabinets that only look open
Jennifer Ott
March 20, 2017
San Francisco-based architectural color specialist and design writer. Jennifer's work has been featured in many print and online publications. Her recently-published book, "1000 Ideas for Color Schemes," is a beautifully illustrated and easy-to-navigate guide that takes the guesswork out of selecting the perfect color palette for your home or special event. For more information on Jennifer Ott Design, visit http://jenottdesign.com/.
San Francisco-based architectural color specialist and design writer. Jennifer's... More
Our recent story on doorless kitchen cabinets received a good number of comments, with many of you registering a thumbs down due to concerns about having to clean dust, grease and grime off items that are left out in the open. For those who prefer door-fronted kitchen wall cabinets, but don’t necessarily like the heavy, clunky look of them when they are suspended in an open kitchen, here are some examples of how you can keep things open, yet closed.
Perhaps you require a good number of wall cabinets in your kitchen because you need the extra storage. Or maybe you want to create a bit of separation from an adjacent dining or living room. Rather than going with a bank of conventional, closed-off cabinets, which can block views and light and make the kitchen feel too closed off from the rest of the house, try adding cabinets that have glass doors or panels on both sides, as was done in this kitchen.
Especially if your kitchen is a bit on the small side, it will help make the space feel a bit more open and expansive, without sacrificing vital storage space.
Especially if your kitchen is a bit on the small side, it will help make the space feel a bit more open and expansive, without sacrificing vital storage space.
Here’s another kitchen that has a nice open feel to it due to the see-through glass cabinets suspended above the peninsula. It helps give the space a light, open and bright quality.
There’s also a practical reason to install see-through cabinets with glass doors on both sides: Your guests can access items, such as wine glasses, from the adjoining room.
This is the other side of the peninsula shown in the previous photo. Not only does this suspended cabinet serve as a handsome display case, but, again, it allows your guests to easily grab whatever glassware or other items they need.
I tell my design clients that the single best decorative element they can add to their home is not a paint color, textile or piece of furniture — it’s natural light. And so I say the more windows, the better.
This applies even if you don’t have the best view out the window; you can always install obscure glass or affix a translucent film to the glass that softens the views while still allowing the light to shine in. Both the previous kitchen and the one here offer clever solutions for maximizing cabinet storage space while still allowing windows to serve their purpose.
This applies even if you don’t have the best view out the window; you can always install obscure glass or affix a translucent film to the glass that softens the views while still allowing the light to shine in. Both the previous kitchen and the one here offer clever solutions for maximizing cabinet storage space while still allowing windows to serve their purpose.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that the one downside to glass-framed cabinets is that all of the contents are on full display. This is clearly not the cabinet in which to store those random plastic storage containers or mangled boxes of cereal. Reserve these cabinets for items that are worthy of being on view.
Of course, you can always help soften the view of your cabinet contents by installing frosted glass, or a frosted film on top of the glass. This treatment allows a lovely soft, diffuse light to flow into the interior areas of a home.
Natural light and transparent or translucent glass that allows the light to shine in are always desirable in a kitchen. Suspended glass-framed cabinets just might be the perfect option for those trying to balance kitchen storage needs and a small bit of separation between rooms while still allowing light to circulate or sightlines to be preserved.
Your turn: How have you used see-through cabinets in your kitchen? Please share a photo and details in the Comments section below.
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Your turn: How have you used see-through cabinets in your kitchen? Please share a photo and details in the Comments section below.
More
Cabinets 101: How to Get the Storage You Want
Choosing New Cabinets? Here’s What to Know Before You Shop
I have specialized in kitchen and bath designs for the past 20 years. I am an NKBA certified designer and would... Read More
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@2swanscarolyn: You can see the traditional style open concept by doing a search. The search box is in the top portion of each page to the left of the SALE tag. To make it easy for you I searched for "traditional style open concept" in stories. And was presented with over 6,000 stories. This doesn't include a search for the same topic under photos. So there is a wealth of info within Houzz' library if you are willing to do a simple search.
I know it's just me, but the see-through effect makes me think I'm in an Institutional, open type situation, think Krispy Kreme or a K&W Cafeteria type setting.
@SouthernBelle: Nah.... I don't think of KK or K&W..... never heard of them.... but I use to go with my grandma to H&H...... Horn & Hardart (Joe Horn & Frank Hardart) Automat was founded in Philadelphia is 1888. That was long before KK or K&W time.....
It was a real treat to take the bus, then train to Philadelphia and walk up Chestnut St to H&H Automat with my Grandma.... It was America's first Automat.