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Kitchen cabinet design

5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago

Are mullions out of date? I planned to have clear leaded glass inserts with glass shelving in the upper cabinets in the breakfast area to give that area a more special look. The cabinets are white and the counters which aren’t installed yet are white quartz with a soft or muted Calacatta pattern. I want an elegant look and chose Miele appliances except for the integrated SubZero fridge. My designer suggested using mullions in a circular pattern instead of leaded panes. The pattern is pretty, but I am concerned that the look may be passé.

I drew the pattern on pieces of Bristol board and taped them to the cabinets to try to get an idea of the look, I realize, of corse, that the mullions would be white and on clear glass so they wouldn’t appear so stark. (I’m no artist as you can see.)


To give you some perspective, the section between the two tall pantry cabinets is 5 feet wide. The doors are 15” wide and the glass inserts will be approx. 12,5” wide.

I am not fond of frosted or etched glass and I don’t want just plain clear glass because my condo decor is transitional and clear glass is a more modern look. Also, I think that having some form of trim on the glass will serve as somewhat of a buffer against whatever is on the shelves, which is likely to be mostly dishes or glassware as I don’t have collections to display. (Yet!)

Any comments re: leaded glass panes vs patterned mullions would be appreciated.

Comments (11)

  • 5 years ago

    Those are out of date if you want to be in the middle of the current shift to Modern clean lines styles. They are very Traditional. If your home is very traditional, they might work. But they are about 1K per door. Plus. Curved anything is one of the most expensive choices that you can make.

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    I think that would be beautiful in the right setting. What is the design style of your house in general? If it works with your overall design, then go for it.

    My MIL has a sideboard with a mullion style similar to what you show. It is a beautiful piece that I admire every time I see it. Her house is what I would call transitional.

  • 5 years ago

    I might do this on the middle two glass sections. Keep far LEFT and RIGHT in the cabinet door style used throughout. I dont think its passe...its nice if you want it. It is totally discretionary kind of thing. But I don't see any stylistic impact w simple clear glass as you hint.

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    Funny that you should suggest using the mullions on the middle two cabinets. I thought of that myself, because I was concerned that doing all four was overkill. My condo is a combination of traditional and somewhat modern, which I call (correctly or not), transitional..

    The breakfast room is completely open to the dining room, which has an English Sheraton table, with traditional Hepplewhite style chairs with cane backs and a centre carved medallion. I refinished them in Benjamin Moore's Silver Satin to give a contemporary touch to the area . The chandelier is a large fairly traditional crystal fixture - I couldn't; bear to part with it. Because I have less room in the condo than my former house, I will probably use 4 of the 12 dining room chairs in the breakfast area, which is open to the dining room, and which is why I made the kitchen transitional;, rather than going with today's more popular sleek cabinetry.

  • 5 years ago

    Simpler/cheaper option - do a fretwork overlay panel

    https://www.myoverlays.com/


    Metal and other materials

    https://lightwavelaser.com/

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    Thank you for your suggestion, but looking into reeded or fluted glass is uncomfortable for me. I feel as if I am straining my eyes. I don't mind seeded glass, however, but it has to be in a suitable application, and I am not sure it will work with my cabinetry, although if I go with leaded panes, it may work . At this point, however, I will likely either go back to my original idea of leaded glass panes or have my cabinet maker install clear glass until I can figure out what will likely work best for me after I move in and have lived there for awhile. Dated or not, I think that having 4 doors with the intricate mullion pattern may just be too busy a look for me.

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    Chispa, thanks for taking the time to reply to my query. I looked at the website. Some of the designs are fabulous, but I don't think they are for my situation.

  • 5 years ago

    Gorgeous - in no way dated. Keep going on this.

    focused thanked Shoemaker
  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    Decision made: Since the breakfast area is totally open to the traditional dining room, I ordered the doors made with the mullions as drawn in the picture. It is not today's minimalist look, but I think the style in keeping with the mix of classic and contemporary décor in the condo. Thank you to those who weighed in. I appreciate your time and opinions.

    My next project is choosing handles (pulls and/or knobs) for the ensuite and guest bathrooms and the powder room, plus the built-ins in my bedroom. I am going with polished chrome Alexander pulls by Emtek in the kitchen, and likely satin brass Tribeca pulls, also by Emtek, for the built-in cabinetry on either side of the Taj Mahal quartzite wall in the family room, which will be the backdrop for the linear fireplace and TV.

    The cabinet hardware for the bathrooms is not an easy choice for me either. I'll probably pose the question in the bathroom section shortly.