The apron in the glass kitchen is a wall protective panel mounted in a hot, humid or too dirty area of the room. This option has many advantages, as it is characterized by reliability, sophistication and functionality.
The main advantages of a glass apron
Glass kitchen aprons began to be used in decorating the kitchen relatively recently and immediately gained great popularity. Such a product has many advantages, among which the following should be highlighted:
- easy cleaning and hygiene;
- ease of installation;
- decorativeness.
The apron in the kitchen made of glass is easy to clean, as it is not a porous material, food coloring and dirt do not eat into the surface. Hardened drops of grease and dirt can be easily removed from the apron. Cleaning takes a minimum of time and effort.
The installation of the glass panel is simple, there is no need to specially prepare the surface of the wall. Therefore, an apron can be installed both when arranging a new kitchen, and already after its assembly.
Glass kitchen aprons can be absolutely any color, it is possible to choose the desired shade in accordance with the interior design. Such a product can be given the appearance of a large-format poster or decorative panel. Glass shines very beautifully, which gives the kitchen an original and stylish look.
The disadvantages of a glass apron
An apron for a kitchen made of glass has not only advantages, but also some disadvantages. Among them, one can single out the fact that if you need to drill holes in the wall (for example, it was necessary to hang shelves or hooks), then you need to turn to professionals for help.
Among the shortcomings, it should also be noted the rather high cost of these products in comparison with the usual ceramic tiles or mosaics.
How to make and design glass aprons
To create an apron of glass in the kitchen, mainly tempered glass of sufficient thickness is used. It is not afraid of heating from steam and burners. Widely used back-painted glass. In its manufacture, on one side, the surface is painted with paint, then hardened, and the paint literally flows into the glass structure. During further operation, it does not peel off and is not washed off, despite the effect of aggressive environments, high temperatures and moisture.
Aprons for kitchens made of glass with photo printing are also popular. They provide the opportunity to pick up absolutely any drawing you like. There are several different methods for applying images, in particular UV printing, film and triplex printing.
Aprons made of transparent glass for the kitchen, which look very stylish and elegant, are in demand on the market. Look beautifully products illuminated by LEDs.
Tempered glass apron
Most of the technical characteristics of glass panels largely depend on the type of apron. Tempered glass products are quite in demand, which are made from ordinary silicate glass, initially subjecting it to processing at very high temperatures. Then it is cooled very much. Such material has increased strength and resistance to high temperatures.
Colored glass can be mounted near the stove. It is not prone to fading over time, scratches and moisture. However, it is worth remembering that its cost is much higher than the price of ordinary or plexiglass. All cutouts for communication must be performed by a specialist. The following main varieties of tempered glass are distinguished:
- satin;
- skinned;
- stemalitis;
- optivite.
In addition, there may be backlit panels that allow you to turn a kitchen apron into an independent or additional light source in the room. The presence of such a function will significantly enhance the visual effect of the surface of the apron.
Laminated apron
Laminated glass is a tempered, organic or silicate glass, which consists of two or more layers. A feature and advantage of such a product is that it is characterized by heat resistance and increased strength. Such glass is completely unpretentious in care and absolutely safe, and thanks to a wide range of it can be used to create absolutely any design.
Among the disadvantages of such a product can be noted a lot of weight, as well as the fact that a lot of time is spent on its manufacture. Such an apron can be made with photo printing, as well as decorated with a mirror or a glass insert. In addition, you can create an imitation of a leather or fabric coating. Laminated glass is suitable for installation not only on the surface behind the sink, but also near the gas stove.
Plexiglas apron making
Plexiglas has increased strength, so everyone who chooses it for the kitchen, can not worry at all that it accidentally breaks. In addition, the product is characterized by affordable cost, low weight, it is not demanding on the quality of the wall on which the fastening is carried out.
In addition, Plexiglas products are environmentally friendly, moisture resistant and heat resistant. Cleaning does not cause any problems. Among the main shortcomings of the material, it should be noted the fact that it fades over time and is strongly scratched. Plexiglas can not be washed with abrasive detergents, it is afraid of overheating, since as a result it can be severely deformed.
Polycarbonate Application
Polycarbonate glass in its technical characteristics is very similar to ordinary plexiglass, but it has higher strength. Polycarbonate is also quite resistant to high temperatures and is easy to install.
Among the shortcomings, it can be distinguished that polycarbonate glass scratches very strongly over time, and also significantly loses to ordinary glass in its decorative qualities. It is presented in a variety of colors and shades, which is why with its help you can create absolutely any kitchen design.
Color schemes
In the kitchen you can pick up transparent or colorless glass, which will help to give an elegant style to the interior and will become a real decoration. Colorless glass is considered the best option that helps protect the wallpaper or paint on the wall from splashes of grease, water, as well as many other factors that can affect their appearance. Colorless glass becomes an invisible protection, and also helps to emphasize the interior of the kitchen. The range of aprons made of glass includes:
- matte;
- glossy;
- with silkscreen printing;
- with texture;
- with sandblasting.
The glass obtained in this way can be not only smooth, but also have a rather unusual texture. The apron in the kitchen made of white glass looks very original and can become a real wall decoration. Using the silk-screen printing method (screen printing), absolutely any pattern can be applied to the surface of the decorative panel.
The tinted glass looks quite stylish and beautiful, for which a variety of decor options are possible. The color palette offered by manufacturers is very diverse and gives room for choice. When installing tinted glass, an attractive background is required, as it will shine through the apron.
To obtain bright colored glass, the technique of single-color staining is used. The method consists in applying special paint to the glass panel, followed by heat treatment. Thanks to a wide palette of colors, it is possible to choose shades that are harmoniously combined with furniture or, conversely, contrasting. However, monochromatic staining can be somewhat boring and significantly inferior to photo printing.
The most popular buyers among aprons with photo printing are skinnies. It is a glass panel with an image having photographic accuracy. The drawing is applied to the area that will be adjacent to the wall, so it will not be erased and will not be damaged even with active use.
The main types of mounts
To properly complete the installation, you must know how to fix the apron made of glass in the kitchen. There are only three mounting options, namely:
- by means of screws;
- using hinged mounts;
- on glue.
Fasteners with screws are considered the most reliable, it allows you to mount the panel even on an uneven surface. The apron can be easily removed if necessary and then reinstalled. The disadvantages of such a fastening include the fact that decorative plugs will be visible on the panel. However, you can choose them in the tone of the glass so that they do not stand out much.
Mounting to glue can only be used if there are perfectly even walls. The main advantage of this method is that no attachment points are visible. For installation, you can use special glue or liquid nails.
If fastening is carried out by means of hinged clamps, then in this case special plates are inserted into the panel. This method is most suitable in situations where you need to mount an apron, consisting of several parts. In this case, you can easily dock its individual components.
Which design to choose
To emphasize the special style and sophistication of the room, it is important to correctly select the design of the glass apron in the kitchen. A glass panel of bright or unusual color can become the real highlight of the room, emphasize its originality and beneficial sides. An accent apron is ideal for a kitchen made in neutral light colors.
A panel of the same color as facades or walls will look beautiful. However, you must choose it a tone darker or lighter. A gray or white apron is ideal for black facades, chocolate for a cream, and beige for brown.
When choosing photo printing, special attention should be paid to the drawing. It is advisable to select an image that includes only those colors that are planned to be used in the decoration of the kitchen. Additional shades may be inappropriate and will become unprofitable to stand out against the general background. This can greatly harm the interior, depriving it of integrity and harmony.
It’s best to select an image with just a few colors, since variegated pictures are quite difficult to combine with other interior items, the help of professionals is required. You can use multi-color images, but only if the kitchen is completely white.
If the kitchen furniture is glossy, it is recommended to choose a plain apron - this will help to create the most harmonious color background in the room. In addition, various types of surfaces can be combined if desired.
Design Tips
It is worth remembering that for kitchen glass aprons there are certain size restrictions. The standard dimensions of the fabric are 3300x2140 mm. If the working wall is much larger, then you will have to make an apron for an individual order.
Optivite glass is best suited for drawing drawings. It is very durable and lightened. Due to the absence of a greenish hue characteristic of glass, optivite can provide the most accurate color rendering of the picture.
It is important to choose the theme of the picture for the style of the kitchen. For high-tech style, urban landscapes, images of the underwater world, flowers and herbs are ideal. Especially spectacular are such images with backlighting running along the lower edge of the cabinets.
The art deco style allows for the presence of exquisite fantasy images consisting of various ornaments that give a certain mystery and mystery. Ethnic style implies a variety of directions, for example, for the Japanese-style cuisine, the image of orchids is suitable, and for the Scandinavian style mountain landscapes will be appropriate.
For techno style, choose plain frosted glass without additional decorations. When creating a loft-style kitchen, you can choose a kitchen apron with a coating that imitates natural materials. If you prefer minimalism in everything, choose a plain apron that refreshes the strict lines of furniture.
Product Cost
Many are interested in how much an apron made of glass costs in the kitchen, and how to choose the right type of product. The cost of products can vary greatly, it all depends on the type of glass used. Colorless glass, for example, costs 600 rubles per square meter, tinted glass - 900 rubles. When choosing glass with photo printing, it is worth remembering that its cost is approximately 5300 rubles.
Customer reviews
The apron made of glass on the kitchen, for the most part, earned the best reviews, as many say that this is a very interesting and original alternative to ceramic tiles, which has many different colors and shades. That is why it is possible to choose the most suitable option for the interior.
In addition, customers note the high strength, quality and reliability of these products.