The answer really depends on the orientation. If this is a passage between the rooms, so that the cabinet in there is basically perpendicular to the kitchen, and if there's a closed wall rather than open counter, then there is no reason at all why the cabinets, counter and glass have to have anything to do with each other. They only need to not-clash. That is, no OTK or gloss modern kitchen with rustic distressed Sundance style BP. That would be bad. Really bad. If the BP cabinet faces into the kitchen, you'll want them to have a stronger resemblance, but can still have different elements. I don't think the Antique German glass isn't really that different looking from clear, for this purpose. It's not like you're doing bamboo etching vs. clear, or merry-go-round glass! Long winded way of saying go for it. Warning: BP is good place for marble. If you're pouring wine, however, do it on a tray.... :)

oouuhhhh!! I love Hillbilly's pantry! I hadn't been able to work out shelving for my pantry before we moved in a few days before Thanksgiving. I needed to get something organized in my house before hosting the holiday. My carpenter recommended the Rubbermaid adjustable shelving system with MDF shelves at HD. I really, really wanted something more custom looking, but settled for this as it was cheap, could be done in a day, and meant that I could UNPACK! The shevles are 12" deep and are adjustable, although, like someone else mentioned, I doubt I'll adjust them. Carpenter said it was cheaper to do adjustable shelves than fixed. grrrr. Oh, and BTW, that pantry was much more organized before DH came out from a visit in there and said, "there's a lot more room in the pantry now." He mushed everything together and put Christmas junk in there. Another grrrrr.

NYCbluedevil, I agree that I do not want a clown car kitchen! Nancy, our lighting is actually simpler than what is shown, but I agree we do have a lot going on. I like plain frosted glass, but my designer warned me that texture tends to show marks easily if anything damp or greasy touches the surface and is hard to keep clean looking. Have you had experience with frosted glass? Michoumonster, our exterior door, whatever design we pick, will be laminated to meet local energy codes. I had not thought about that for the pantry. The Paris is cool looking (and my favorite city) but not quite opaque enough. Camphappy, that is a good point about tempered glass - thanks for the reminder. Localeater, that is an interesting idea - I will run it by my designer. I can picture doing a vertical strip of rectangles and squares maybe 1/3 of the way over from one side, with a very opaque glass on one side of the line and a less opaque glass on the other side. The more opaque glass could be repeated on the pantry doors to tie the elements together. DH and I picked out a few glass textures we think might work. What do you think of these? If we pick a pattern with lines/ridges, do you think vertical or horizontal would be better? Ripple: Quarter Reed: Pilkington Stippolyte: Pattern 62: Master Point: Cord: Cannes: Thela:

Note: I'm personally leaning toward smooth out having compared in daylight and night light. For my glass, having the texture side out almost doesn't look like glass -- almost like a light diffusion material you see on ceiling tube fluorescent lighting. But I reit there is plenty of counsel out there saying consider all the considerations yet there is no absolute rule. Unlike say tile or flooring where there clearly is only one choice.