When planning and designing a pleasing and functional kitchen, there are many factors to consider. The obvious ones are layout, appliances, materials, and finish options. One design element that is often overlooked is glass.

Glass can be used in a kitchen design in many ways besides just the simple glass door to show off decorative items. How can this be done? One of our designers here at Kitchen Associates, Rich Dupre, has been creatively incorporating glass in his projects and his clients are loving it. How did his love for using glass develop? Let’s hear from him!

“Approximately 20 years ago, I would incorporate glass only upon request. Occasionally, I would place it where valuable family items would be displayed, but that was it.
One day though, I came to realize that a lot of the kitchens I had designed, while functional, were kind of “closet like” and depressing for people to prepare meals in. Wanting to help people have a dream kitchen they would love for years, I thought about other options.
I realized that in many kitchens glass would be a nice way to bring the outside environment into the kitchen, increasing the homeowners joy of cooking. I started to consider ways of removing walls and then adding glass cabinets to see through to
other adjoining rooms or beautiful lawns and patios. Instead of being “stuck” in the kitchen when preparing meals, the homeowner would now be visually joined with others in another room or to the natural views of the back yard.
The feedback that I have received has been that people now love staying home and enjoying the view as well having guests over more often.”

Rich also tries to use glass panels on the tall end cabinets beside refrigerators and other appliances. Cabinets that can potentially block views and portions of the room are now opened up. This gives the illusion of a room appearing larger than it really it as well as allowing light which otherwise would have ben blocked by such cabinets to shine through.

"Today, whenever glass is used in my designs it is with the goal to reflect light and act as a mirror enlarging in a subtle kind of warmth people fall in love with as well as to display beautiful items. Using double access cabinets built into walls with glass on both sides or putting glass in front of windows with a see through view has been an exciting experience especially when my clients are amazed at how this really transforms their kitchen.”

Glass is not for every application, but when properly placed, it can add a unique and functional element to your new kitchen design.

Using Glass as a KItchen Design Element

When planning and designing a pleasing and functional kitchen, there are many factors to consider. The obvious ones are layout, appliances, materials, and finish options. One design element that is often overlooked is glass.