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What type of shelves in lighted cabinets with glass doors?

15 years ago

I just had my cabinets installed. They are creamy white shaker style. Two of the cabinets have glass doors with no panes. I had my electrician put lights inside on the top. The shelves are wood so only the top shelf shows the light. I am thinking that maybe I should have glass shelves made so the light would illuminate the whole cabinet.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

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Comments (6)

cosmo_nj
15 years ago
I would want glass shelves. Your cabinet maker should be able to provide them.
Buehl
15 years ago
Glass shelves.
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One thought...if you are going to have stacks of plates, the shelves may be filled to the point that no light will shine through from above anyway. If it were clear glassware, that would be different, but I wouldn't think that much light would get through with the plates. We have glass-front cabinets with wood shelves and a channel running up the front/side for lighting. We have yet to install the actual lights (wiring is there), so I can't say how well it works, but here are a few photos. Hopefully they will help give you some ideas. :) Good luck! Photo of my glass front cabs with wood shelves (no lights yet): Photo of the channel that runs inside of the cabinet where future lights will be installed: Inspiration photo for cabinet lighting (I can only hope mine will turn out so lovely!):
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We're going with some glass cabs too and I just assumed we'd light them. Honestly, I've had a zillion other things to worry about and we're no where near there. I was even considering doing glass shelves too... Anyway, I'm am pleasantly surprised to note that a great many of you don't have either glass shelves or lights. I never even considered the dust, and I can't remember who said it, but it's true, when do you turn on the lights in the china hutch? For company? That same company who honestly, would only notice it for the 30 seconds you point out your new kitchen. So, no lights or glass shelves for me either! Thanks again! I'm so glad I read this.
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If you don't have glass shelves you'll need lights under each self. Otherwise the top shelf will be lit and will block any light getting to the rest of the cabinet. My glass cabinets came with wooden shelves and we special ordered glass ones from a local glass shop, which were delivered a few weeks later. The lighting looked pretty bad until we got the glass shelves in.
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For heavens sake. Just shorten the cabinets over the sink, and make them ALL glass doors No solid doors) on that sink side. Uppers are only good for glasses and dishes anyway. Be neat. You don't need to recess them, just shorten over the sink. Yes it's done all the time. Nobody has gone to ER for the concussion that has not happened. If they are all same glass front? You won't be counting the inches in width left, right center whatever. Or............... use a 33 inch sink base, 18 inch Bosch DW, and have 9 inches to your symmetry issue added left db and upper cabinet. And I'd still do all glass doors, and shorten those over the 33 sink base. The 6 inch loss of DW sizing ? No big deal. Most folks hardly notice. Hand wash the bulky pans. And a 33 inch sink base will take a very decent single bowl sink.
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bbtondo
15 years ago
Glass shelves. I had a local glass store make 4 glass shelves for my 2 uppers with glass doors. It was under $100.

Barb
organic_nettie
15 years ago
My corner cabinet is the one with the glass door. It is a pretty large cabinet and I need really large glass shelves. I will be putting a lot of heavy dishes on them and I am afraid that the 1/4 inch shelves will be too thin for all that weight. Today, DH did a great job of putting a puck light on the side of the cabinet of each shelf. You cannot see the puck light. Each shelf lights up and it looks great. He did a wonderful job of hiding the wires. I feel more comfortable with the wood shelves, they seem much stronger because of the size.
sankaty_91
Original Author
15 years ago
Thank you for your answers. I will go with glass shelves - maybe 3/8" thick. Does that seem right? I plan to use the cabinets for glassware and decorative serving dishes.

organic nettie - your idea is wonderful. Wish I had asked this question before my electrician installed the linear lighting on the top. It does look fabulous but I think you probably have the better set up especially with a corner cabinet.
arleneb
15 years ago
Sankaty, before ordering from your cabinet maker, check local glass suppliers. In my last kitchen the price difference was huge. They also made the glass inserts for the doors -- I just took the doors in and chose the glass.
Even the kitchen rep told me to do that.

I'd advise you to take measurements of each shelf . . . they may not be exactly square/even.

Arlene

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