Yes, there is! Maybe about a year or more ago they posted pics of their really fabulous kitchen. They had a see-through cabinet as you described, tucked at the end of an L-corner in their kitchen and it overlooked their yard. I took a quick look through the Finished Kitchens Slideshow and didn't find it. Maybe someone else who's been on these boards for a while will recall? It was a great look!

I don't know how strange it would look from the outside but I sure know that I wouldn't want to wash those windows!

If I were to do something like that, I would make certain the cabinets were mounted on windows that could be opened out for easy cleaning. To me, taking everything out of the cabinets (including shelving) to clean the windows would not be a option.

Jodi-

That's really beautiful, but I wonder if it's worth the brain damage. You could only use it for decorative items, which could just as easily be displayed on shelves across the windows. If you really intended to use the uppers for practical storage, I'm not sure it would look as open and light as this photo. But then again, I'm just thinking about my uppers, which are stuffed to the brim with sippy cups, and Barney dishes....:)

Absolutely agree. If somehow we were able to incorporate this, it would be used above a wet bar for wine glasses. Just thought it looked stunning-not necessarily practical. Wondering if anyone had applied these anywhere and would love to see photos.

You should check out femmelady's kitchen! She did that in her butler's pantry. Love it! I rarely see her here much these days, but you can generally find her on the cooking board.

Here is a link that might be useful: femmelady's website

you know...this is such a great idea that it has me all a thither thinking of doing something like this in my dining room. i could have a gorgeous custom cabinet built to add more display space for my venetian glass! i'm calling my cabinet lady/kd right now!!! thank you!!!

I've occasionally seen something similar used as a divider between two rooms, i.e., above a peninsula, where the architect didn't want to have something totally clunky and light-blocking. It's usually been in a very modern kitchen. I agree with the other posters -- it's a nice look but completely impractical. I'm using frosted glass so no one can see my sippy cups and spiderman plates :)

Thanks for the link to femmelady's kitchen-that is exactly how I would envision it being used -wine /crystal display above a wet bar.It would either be that or just a window so why not a glass cabinet/window combo?
Igloochic,Will be curious to hear what your cabinet maker says -we aren't nearly at that stage yet.Still planning and creating our wish/dream list!

How funny that I just decided to take a browse over here. The cabinet in front of windows is really beautiful, especially if you're trying to let in additional light, which we were. Yes, you do have to take it all out about every 6 months to clean (3 if you're really really clean). My daughter just did ours this weekend. Ours faces west and is SO pretty as the sun sets in the evening. Our cabinet maker framed the inside, and from the outside, it looks like a picture window. Here's a couple of close-ups.

Under Construction

How beautiful. I would have never thought of doing that.

i talked to my cabinet gal and i'm working up some sketches....it might be too tight on the other wall to work...but we're thinking if it were only 5" deep that might work and would mimic the inwall cabinet across from it. i'm also working on a free standing hutch built for the space because i was so high on pain pills when we talked i thought i could design the moon! this accident has additional costs that go far beyond daily helpers lol

Oh my soul, femmelady, that is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. It must look spectacular in the afternoon/evening with the sun shining in.

I could never, ever do that in my house, but I will forever be jealous!

Thanks so much! I didn't make it up though. I also found the inspiration from a kitchen design catalog a year or two before we did the remodel (2004), and my cabinet builder made it happen for us. He was wonderful! The entire kitchen design was a collaboration between the two of us.

Igloo, good luck designing yours! I'm certain you'll be really happy with it.

FEMMELADY-
I look at your photo constantly. Hope you are still on this site occasionally.
What type of window did you use? Is it a standard width picture window? Or is custom size window and custom size cabinet?

Igloochic-any luck in incorporating this into your design?

The secretary at our work lives in an old craftsman bungalow in the city. Her built in buffet in the dining room has leaded glass on an outside wall. It is gorgeous and the only one I have ever seen like that even though there are many craftsmen bungalows in our city.

Femmelady, your cupboards are simply gorgeous. They'd be worth cleaning and I don't say that lightly!