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Kitchen Design

See-Through Refrigerators Dare to Go Bare

Glass-front fridge doors put your food and drinks on display, for better or worse. See the benefits and disadvantages

Lisa Frederick
Lisa FrederickOctober 10, 2012
Houzz Contributor. After journalism school, I fell into decorating media and immediately discovered a new passion. An Atlanta native, I spent several years as an editor for Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles magazine before making the leap to national publications and websites such as Houzz, Better Homes and Gardens and Southern Accents. I live in Birmingham, Alabama, with my husband and son, who’ve gotten used to coming home and finding the furniture rearranged. When I'm not dragging case goods across the floor, I enjoy good food and wine, college football, music of all kinds, and traveling.
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I’m pretty type A about some things, but tidiness isn't one of them. I have friends and family members whose homes stay neat as a pin, no matter how busy they are, and I'd love to claim the same virtue. But the truth is, I don't organize so much as relocate; little piles of clutter migrate from room to room like tumbleweeds. (It doesn't help that I have a 7-year-old who tends to deposit Lego sculptures, crayon stubs and the odd science experiment in surprise spots around the house.)

With this in mind, I can't imagine having a glass-front refrigerator, one of the rising trends on the kitchen appliance scene. A longtime staple of commercial kitchens, these fridges have crept into home kitchens, and they do have some design and functional advantages. But I know myself, and the contents of my refrigerator will never be neat enough to put on display. Devotees insist that perfection isn't necessary — organized chaos will do. My chaos isn't organized, however. It's just chaotic.

Here's a look at some of the pros and cons of glass-front refrigerators. Do you own one? What do you like about it (or not)? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Beckwith Interiors
Pros of Glass-Door Refrigerators

A sense of openness. Like glass-front cabinetry, transparent refrigerator doors help to expand a kitchen visually and alleviate the heaviness of a traditional solid-front model. They also can look more elegant than solid colors or even stainless steel, adding to the upscale feel of a space, and they work particularly well with modern kitchens.
Clarke - New England’s Sub-Zero & Wolf Showroom
Extra display area. Essentially, having a glass fridge is like having a deep-chilled cabinet. Motivated homeowners have been known to take advantage of the extra space to showcase collections of crockery and glassware, artfully filled with fruit, vegetables, beverages and other goods.

Frankly, this is easier if you don't cook. But if you're willing, you can put in a little extra effort to coordinate storage containers and other contents to create a pleasing package.
Cornerstone Architects
Additional light. The interior glow of a glass-door fridge can help to brighten a dark corner or lackluster wall. Just pay attention to the cast — a cool blue LED light might look at odds with a warm-tone kitchen, for example. On many models, you can switch the light off or leave it on.
Van Wicklen Design
Efficiency. One reason glass refrigerators are a mainstay of restaurant kitchens is that cooks can inventory supplies quickly without having to open the doors and fumble around. The same holds true for homeowners. If you keep the contents tidy, you can see what you have and what you're missing at a glance.
E.W. Kitchens
Cons of Glass-Door Refrigerators

Transparency. If you're the type to keep eggs in a French wire basket, apples in pretty ceramic dishes and Perrier bottles in precise rows, glass-door refrigerators put your domestic divadom on display. If, instead, you have leftovers in random plastic tubs and a collection of half-empty juice cartons, good luck with that. You don't have to limit your shopping habits to brands with the same color packaging, but you do need to keep in mind that no one wants to stare at a jumbled mess.

If that sounds daunting but you're attracted to see-through doors anyway, consider a compromise. Some styles are available in frosted, ribbed or smoked finishes that strike a balance between transparency and baring it all.
Erin Hoopes
Cleaning. Think stainless steel is tough to keep clean? It has nothing on glass. Every smudge, fingerprint and splatter will show, so you must be diligent about wiping down the fridge door regularly. Keep in mind, too, that interior shelves look best when they're pristine, which requires extra elbow grease.
Kitchens & Baths Unlimited
Loss of door storage. Those handy bins and cubbies on the door of most standard refrigerators aren't an option with glass. You'll need to find an alternative way to store butter, condiments and other staples. The upside: You'll gain a bit of shelf and drawer depth, since there are no door shelves to eat up square footage.
Group3 Architects llc
Cost. These models come with an eye-popping price tag. The least expensive ones start around $1,500, but some can cost $10,000 or more.

You might be tempted to save a little cash by opting for a commercial glass-front fridge rather than one designed for home use, but commercial models have disadvantages — chiefly noise from their compressors.
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