Jenn Todryk Shows Us A Unique Way To Update Kitchen Cabinets For Less

HGTV's Jenn Todryk is known for her budget-friendly, low-impact transformations on her hit series "No Demo Reno." These remodels often involve employing simple fixes and hacks that save hundreds, sometimes, thousands of dollars for the homeowners. In a recent episode, one of these hacks included the choice of using pre-fab cabinets instead of expensive custom ones. Todryk's approach, however, was to make the cabinets look custom by adding glass panels in the cabinet doors that instantly make them one of a kind.

By simply popping out the existing panels in the center of the cabinet with a jig saw and a few modifications to add the glass panel, Todryk creates a unique and distinctive look for less than half the price of custom and bespoke cabinets, which saves money in the budget for other pricier parts of the home remodel. You can also, with this DIY, make existing, outdated, or builder-grade cabinets have a glassed-in custom look for much less than the cost of replacing the cabinets entirely with new ones. 

Jenn Todryk's contractor on "No Demo Reno"  begins by using a jigsaw to carve out each side of an existing panel on the pre-fab cabinet door. To do this DIY-style, begin by using a drill at each corner to guide your cuts with the saw. After you have created your desired size opening, sand the inner edge thoroughly. You will want to cut the glass panel with about 1/4 to 1/2 inch overlap to the frame on the inside of the door to hold it securely. Glue the glass in place with caulk on the inside of the door where the glass overlaps with the wood.

Allow the glass to dry in place, then secure with screw-in glass fasteners on each side of the frame. To hide the glass fasteners, you can add trim with wood glue to the perimeter on both the back of the door and the front. If you would like the look of muntins or mullions, use wood glue to attach additional strips of trim in a crisis cross pattern on the glass, or for a quicker upgrade you can even use adhesive decals.

This DIY is a much more cost-effective way to get glassed-in cabinets that you can customize easily to your aesthetic. For a simple, classic look, use clear panes of glass. For a more obscured look, try ridged or fogged glass. You can also use colored or stained glass panels for a truly distinctive look of a turn-of-the-century kitchen. For the look of custom cabinetry in your kitchen, combine closed and glass cabinets for a stylish mix.

Prefab cabinets usually cost between $4,000 to $6000 to install, versus $15,000 to $30,000 for custom ones. Adding glass to the cabinets is also a more easily accomplished DIY project than can be finished by the homeowner, which may save you on professional labor once the cabinets have been installed. Custom glass panels usually cost between $5 and $7 per square foot, making this a great budget-friendly approach to purchasing cabinets with glass insets already included.