The Elegant Glass Material That's Trending In Kitchen Design

Kitchens remain one of the most important rooms in your home. They're a place to gather and cook meals, but they're also a room that reflects personal style. As such, they demand a lot of attention in any home renovation project. This is probably why they get a lot of the focus in the interior design world. While there are plenty of kitchen trends that are being left behind, today's kitchens still have some classic features, such as built-in plate racks and butler pantries. There are even some decades-old trends that are making unexpected comebacks. Smoked glass, that moody tinted glass found on cabinet doors, coffee tables, and even glassware in the 1970s, is sneaking back into homes to quietly steal the show.

Smoked glass is emerging as a trend in high-end kitchen design, especially for cabinetry and display cases. Classic translucent glass is almost overdone at this point. Open shelving, a style that flooded Pinterest boards not too long ago, is slowly losing favor among designers. Now this subtly tinted material is giving homeowners a new, elevated, and refreshing way to think about how to display their kitchenware and gadgets. But what is smoked glass, and why are designers turning to it? Smoked glass is a type of tinted float glass made by adding cobalt oxide to glass at the manufacturing stage. Its unique charm is that it perfectly balances concealment and display, allowing glimpses of what's inside a cabinet while maintaining a clean aesthetic. Traditional glass or open shelving is too transparent.

Smoked glass started gaining traction with European design firms, which have fully embraced it as a key kitchen component. Its use is quickly catching on elsewhere. Smoked glass works well in almost any kitchen, no matter the space, layout, or design aesthetic. In an open-concept home, where all parts of a room are in full view, display cabinets are a practical and decorative solution to keeping kitchen counters clutter-free. Smoked glass creates an understated shield, hiding unsightly kitchenware from the view of guests. It can be especially useful in small kitchens, where storage space is at a premium and order is essential. Smoked glass display cabinets provide a sleek storage solution that looks professionally decorated and reduces visual clutter by obscuring the contents behind the doors.

Smoked glass has gone beyond being just a material; it is a design statement that's gaining popularity due to its versatility. It pairs perfectly with most materials, including natural stone, dark metal, and richly grained wood. It also fits into most design styles, from contemporary to minimalist to rustic. That makes smoked glass easy to incorporate into any home. For example, you could switch out the regular wood-framed door on your kitchen cabinets for a metal frame fitted with smoked glass for an industrial vibe. Integrate lighting to create a warm ambiance that elevates your kitchen and adds a touch of luxury. As more designers and homeowners discover the potential of smoked glass, expect it to become a staple of kitchen design for the foreseeable future.