Kitchen design ideas for displaying crockery and glassware

Are you a fan of glass cabinets? When we carried out a recent poll on our Instagram stories it was almost unanimous, with over 75% of our followers who voted, responding they were not!

However, current social media feeds are flooded with kitchen designs that include open shelfing, glazed units and all sorts of different materials which provide some degree of transparency. This would suggest that as a nation, whilst we are not necessarily approving of having our items fully ‘on show’, we do like being able to display things to an extent.

In this blog, we look at some of the design options from our recent Davonport projects.

Combining cabinets & shelves

This bar area sits proudly in the alcove alongside the original hearth in our old vicarage Tillingham project. The cabinets have been finished with a burnished brass effect mesh which allow the client’s glassware to be visible, as well as helping to reflect the amount of natural light into the room from the nearby traditional style French doors.

To complement the look, and to help the area feel like a real bar, a metal glass holder also sits underneath the cabinets, allowing full exposure of glassware, and reflection in the opulent antique effect mirrored backdrop.

Part glazed

To create a focal point but still allow for a degree of privacy, semi-glazed dresser units have been incorporated into these projects.

At eye level finest glassware or crockery can be displayed, visible through the traditional style glazed doors. Less attractive items can then be stored at the bottom behind the solid hand painted cabinet doors.

Glazing options

Not only is it important to consider where you choose to position the glass in your kitchen, it is also worth taking time to research the type of glass (there are a plethora of finishes to choose from) that will fit with the overall aesthetic.

Above (left), the fluted decorative glass help to maximise the amount of light, whilst also providing a touch of privacy as only the shapes and colours can be seen.

To the right, the cabinets have been finished with a wired glass, which introduces a slightly more urban, industrial edge to the aesthetic.

Add variety to the design

In very large kitchens and smaller rooms, glazed units help to break up walls of cabinetry, and they are also used to help reflect natural daylight in smaller spaces, incorporating mood lighting in the evening.

To the left (above) the traditional style glazed cabinets help to add interest and provide design variety in this spacious kitchen dining room.

To the right, glazed cabinets have been used in this smaller Shoreditch kitchen, helping to maximise light and provide symmetry to the design. In addition, the Crittall windows InnerVison sliding door, which leads into the exposed brick pantry, helps to define the two areas whilst also allowing them to flow together seamlessly.

As we have demonstrated in these few examples, there are many ways that you can incorporate an element of display within your kitchen. For more design ideas, take a look at our client journeys section of our website or follow us on Instagram @davonport_interiors.

If you are ready to begin planning your new kitchen in detail, why not contact us for a free design consultation with one of our expert designers.