Stained Glass In Cabinet Doors: The Finishing Touch
Stained Glass in your kitchen cabinet doors is a marvelous idea! Whether you are building a new home or remodeling, stained glass could be that finishing touch that ties everything together. The versatility of stained glass in both design and color make it a wonderful compliment or accent to your kitchen area.
Getting started in choosing a design is usually the most difficult part. If you first concentrate on the line part of your design and then the color selection, it simplifies the process. As a designer of stained glass I look at several things in the kitchen for artistic direction. Sometimes there is an architectural element that I might want to repeat in the design. Other areas I look at are style of cabinet doors, counter tops, flooring, other artwork in the home and general preferences of the homeowner. In some situations stained glass can accent what is in the cabinet. By using clearer glass in the center area, the visibility into the cabinet is not limited. This allows the items in the cabinet to be showcased. The perimeter design area can hold color and texture. On the other hand many corner cabinets have items that are better hidden by a more opaque glass.
Once the style is chosen whether it be victorian, geometric, prairie, mission, contemporary or abstract, the next step is to choose the colored glass to be used. I look to the colors in the room as my guide. Remember the color used in a cabinet door insert is in general not a changeable
accent. You must choose colors that are compatible with your tastes 24/7. Along with color is texture in glass for consideration. For those who are hesitant to commit to color often a variety of clear textured glass is an attractive choice. I prefer my clients to view their cabinet door insert after the glass has been cut and before it has been assembled. It is much easier to visualize what the finished piece will look like and if necessary changes can be made. One tip as far as choosing glass is to view the glass in the same light setting as your cabinet. A piece of glass held up in a sunny window will appear entirely different than in a cabinet door with no light passing through.
The easiest installation of glass in a door is one that is prepped for glass. If your existing doors are panel doors the wood center insert can easily be removed and replaced with stained glass. For a timeless accent in your kitchen consider stained glass as a flexible decorating option. Denny Berkery owns The Vinery Stained Glass Studio in Madison. His studio has created 1000’s of stained glass panels for cabinet doors over the last twenty five years. He has published a book of designs for stained glass cabinet door inserts. The Vinery works with many architects, interior designers and cabinet door companies throughout central Wisconsin.
