If You're Going To Do Open Kitchen Shelving, Embrace This Stunning Glass Solution

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Floating glass shelves are the things that minimalist industrial-influenced coffee shops and bistros are made of. Their clear glass shows off features like brick accent walls, while sturdy brass or iron fittings make them look solid and nearly unmovable. The thing is, these shelves aren't just for your favorite corner bistro. If you're going to do open kitchen shelving, embrace floating glass shelves as a stunning solution. 

That said, it's important to get a few things out of the way before taking a deep dive into the design aspect of using floating shelves in the kitchen. The potential fragility of the shelves is a big concern for home decorators. With threats like rowdy kids, slamming doors, and curious cats, the fear of broken shelves is real. While the feat is understandable, it shouldn't stop you from using them. Many of these shelves are strong enough for a stack of plates and a mug collection.

This is thanks to modern floating glass shelves being made from thick, tempered glass. Tempered glass boasts a strength that's four times greater than other types of glass and goes through very rigorous testing to determine its durability. To put this into perspective, testing includes punching the glass. The tempering process also ensures that the glass breaks in small, relatively innocuous pieces (for glass, anyway). It's a glass that's been designed to be used in an environment where humans live, so while breakage isn't out of the question, it's less likely than you might think. This opens up the possibility of using floating glass shelves in a number of areas in the kitchen.

If you have a bare wall or nook in the kitchen, floating glass shelves might be a good filler for these spots, particularly if you want that spot to remain open and airy. Filling spots like these with a full-sized movable cabinet solves the storage problem, but it makes the area look bulky and could be a place to inadvertently stub your toes, given that it's probably also a high-traffic area. Shelves that float above the head allow you to easily access dishes and cups as well as spices and cookbooks without sacrificing floor space. Unlike cabinets, glass shelves brighten the space by allowing light through.

They can also be a solid choice when you're ready to transform an unused space into a coffee bar. Placing them here evokes the glass shelves that are popular in coffee shops and bistros, lending a clean, streamlined look in your kitchen. It's an especially smart option if you have a wide stretch of open wall between two built-in cabinets that you'd like to cover.

Finally, your indoor herb garden can benefit from this option, particularly if you grow your plants in the kitchen windowsill. You'll increase your growing space by inserting floating glass shelves between the two walls that house the kitchen window. This choice permits you to build upward instead of outward and takes advantage of a space that already exists but that is probably under-utilized. You get an additional bonus by putting them here. Many kitchen windows are above the sink, giving you easy access come watering time.

These shelves work because they can be dressed up or dressed down just by changing out the types of brackets you use. This feature comes in handy if you're embracing certain decorative styles, like minimalist, French bistro, and industrial interior design. In minimalist styles, glass shelves with plain or even wooden brackets create a clean look that's in keeping with the style. They make it fun to experiment with this style to see just how minimalist you can be. For example, swapping out the brackets for Spancraft Store shelves that hang on thick wire takes minimalism to the next level.

More elevated styles, like French bistro, (particularly Parisian French bistro), sometimes call for brass fittings for the brackets and can be a sophisticated choice for open spaces around the stove. Or, to elevate an eclectic French kitchen design, swap out the brass for wrought iron fittings. The glass juxtaposed against the wrought iron looks dramatic, particularly if you fill the shelves with items like black and white mugs, cookbooks, and cool cutting boards.

Finally, floating glass shelves are a logical choice in industrial interior design. One of the most notable features of the industrial aesthetic is the embracing of architectural elements like exposed brick walls, visible ceiling beams and pipes, and light bulbs without covers. Floating glass shelves won't hide any of these features. Instead, they offer you a way to show off your kitchen wares and the "industrial-ness" of your space without forcing you to try too hard.