Special attention has always been paid to the decoration of walls in the kitchen, since surfaces are subject to harsh operating conditions and are constantly in contact with moisture. This is especially noticeable above the work surface. Therefore, aprons are used to protect the walls, which, if desired, can also become a decoration for the kitchen. Let's consider an option like glass apron for kitchen: advantages, disadvantages, as well as options for its design.
Kitchen apron: materials from which to make an apron for the kitchen (read more) An unusual option that can improve the interior of the kitchen are glass panels.
Photo catalog of glass aprons for the kitchen: the best designs and colors
The interior of the kitchen, like any other room, requires attention. That is, in addition to the fact that the glass of a kitchen apron should be of high quality and durable, its appearance should decorate the room. Let's look at the most popular options, and what rules need to be followed when choosing panels for a particular interior.
One of the most popular today are glass aprons that depict a variety of flowers.
So, the first thing you should consider when choosing the color of a glass splashback for the kitchen is the size of the room. Considering that the kitchen is small, pictures of the apron should not attract too much attention. Therefore, large and bright flowers or fruits will look better in a spacious kitchen.
Large fruits on a glass apron look impressive in a laconic white kitchen.
On a note! A great idea for decorating a glass kitchen backsplash is a photo taken on a family vacation or just a good photo taken together. The only requirement is that the image must be of high enough quality so that it can be enlarged to the desired size.
A floral theme will ideally highlight the style of the kitchen, creating a romantic atmosphere indoors.
An extremely popular subject for an apron with photo printing for the kitchen is city landscapes. Moreover, you can find both images of a large-scale metropolis and cozy streets of small towns. It all depends on personal preferences, as well as the overall design style of the room.
Photo printing of city landscapes on a glass backsplash is a winning option for a wide variety of kitchen styles.
A special place in the catalog of kitchen aprons is occupied by panels with images of berries and fruits. Juicy raspberries or cherries can be an excellent interior accent, adding bright colors to the decor. This solution is perfect if you want to choose an apron for a white kitchen.
Appetizing compositions of juicy fruits not only look attractive, but also have a positive effect on your mood.
The catalog of glass kitchen aprons offers a huge variety of panel options. You can use traditional ideas for a kitchen backsplash, or you can show your imagination by ordering an original surface design. So, if you have a certain amount of money, you can easily get a high-quality and beautiful glass apron that will satisfy all your wishes.
Advantages and disadvantages of a glass kitchen apron compared to other materials
Many different materials are used to make kitchen aprons, for example, tiles, metal, chipboard, MDF, plastic, natural or artificial stone. Each of them has its own advantages: some of the options may have excellent appearance and functionality, and some may have an affordable price.
A colored glossy glass panel refreshes the interior of a white kitchen.
If we talk about glass for the kitchen backsplash, then this solution combines all the best possibilities. The variety of designs for such panels is unlimited. The surface of the glass can be smooth or textured, and the glass itself can be glossy or matte, depending on the preferences of the owners.
On a note! Almost any material can be placed under the glass, including paper, fabric or photographs, thus giving the apron an original appearance.
A transparent glass panel with an unobtrusive pattern in a modern kitchen.
If we compare glass with plastic, despite the higher cost, a glass apron wins in many respects. For example, its service life is much longer, and its resistance to external factors, including high temperature, which is inevitable due to the close proximity of the plate, is higher. In addition, glass is much easier to care for.
Of course, a stone apron will look very monumental, however, you should understand that the cost of such a design will be high and not everyone can afford it. As for metal, it does not perform well when in contact with water and often corrodes.
Glass panels are seamless, making them easier to keep clean than, for example, a ceramic tile backsplash, since dirt does not accumulate in the joints.
Perhaps the only worthy competitor to glass can be tiles, which are also easy to maintain and at the same time provide a fairly wide variety of colors and textures. But if we talk about installation technology, then laying tiles efficiently and beautifully will be much more difficult than simply fixing one glass panel. And there are significantly fewer opportunities for decorating tiles, because, as the photos demonstrate, there are much more ideas for a glass kitchen apron.
In addition to traditional external lighting, internal lighting is often used, which is placed between two glass panels.
How to fix backsplash panels in the kitchen using fasteners
You can secure the glass apron using special fasteners. This option is considered optimal and is excellent even for fixing very heavy and large elements. The main advantage of this method is that there is no need to pre-level and prepare the surface. In addition, it is always possible to dismantle and then reinstall the apron in place.
Installation of the glass panel in the kitchen should be done only after the final installation of the furniture.
For this purpose, hinged and through fasteners can be used. In the first case, it looks like metal hook-plates, approximately 1 cm wide. The glass panel is simply inserted into them. At the same time, there are no holes in the apron, and the distance from the wall to the panel is so small that it is almost invisible. If the apron is not solid, but consists of several parts, then this method of fastening best allows you to join the edges imperceptibly.
The glass apron can be secured with screws equipped with protective gaskets.
In order to use pass-through fasteners, special holes for screws are made in the glass at the tempering stage. In the future, a fastening element is simply screwed through them, and special decorative caps are put on top, which give the panel a completed appearance.
A glass apron can be installed both on perfectly smooth walls and on walls with flaws.
In this case, there is also a small gap between the panel and the wall (only a few millimeters). This allows you to avoid having to carefully level the base and even attach a new apron on top of the old tile.
Durability and endurance
If you decide to buy a glass apron for your kitchen, this is an excellent investment in the future, because you will save a decent amount of money on repairs and redecoration of the kitchen area. Your apron is more likely to go out of style than to physically wear out. Although designers say that aprons will be relevant for many years to come.
Catalogs of glass aprons can be found in specialized stores, on the manufacturers' website, or directly from the company that will install it in your home.
That is, you can choose from an unlimited number of options, based only on your preferences and financial situation. From most companies you can order large aprons, non-standard shapes with a unique pattern.
Triplex
Triplex is a type of three-layer glass. It is also called laminated because it consists of two layers of glass and a printed layer between them. The optimal glass thickness is 6 mm.
But often the manufacturer does not use stalinite, but ordinary silicate glass. The advantage is that even with a strong impact, the glass will not crumble, but will remain attached to the layer of film that is glued in the middle.
How much does it cost to install a glass kitchen splashback: prices and services
The price of a glass kitchen splashback can vary greatly, not only due to the technical characteristics and characteristics of the material, but also because different companies price their work very differently. But if you try to derive some criteria for assessing value, then the following aspects are worth attention first:
- type and thickness of glass;
Measurements should be taken and glass for the splashback should be ordered only after all kitchen furniture, sockets and switches are installed in their places.
- presence and method of drawing;
- fastening method;
- whether the apron is a solid structure or consists of separate parts;
- the presence of beveled corners, as well as the number of sockets;
- Are there any factors that complicate the installation process?
Glass splashbacks are made taking into account the individual characteristics of the kitchen.
The first thing you will need to pay for is the visit of a surveyor who will assess the situation and advise on the necessary work and its cost. Some companies provide this service for free, but in most cases you will have to pay about 1000 rubles if we are talking about Moscow. It goes without saying that in the region this service will cost a little more.
On a note! To get a general idea of the price of a glass splashback for a kitchen, you can use online calculators that are available on many websites.
Glass panels look much more harmonious in the interior of kitchens in a modern style, as they ideally combine with the facades of the furniture, as well as with chrome-plated elements of household appliances.
The pattern of an apron for the kitchen, taking into account all the obstacles and features of the base, has its own price. But in general, a standard glass apron, 2.5 m long and 60 cm wide, including delivery and installation, will cost on average about 14 thousand rubles. If, with the same parameters, you order a panel made of clarified Optiwhite glass, the cost will immediately increase and amount to about 18 thousand rubles.
An experienced specialist can advise in detail, explain technological nuances, take into account all wishes, and give useful advice regarding the selection and installation of a panel.
The average cost of 1 m² of an apron with UV photo printing on glass 6 mm thick will be about 4-5 thousand, including fasteners. But when ordering 3D photo printing, the price will automatically double.
The minimum cost of transparent glass for a kitchen apron (provided that the glass thickness is 6 mm) is 3.5 thousand rubles. Tempered glass costs almost 50% more, but triplex with photo printing will cost at least 10 thousand rubles per 1 m².
When choosing the color and pattern of a glass splashback, you should focus on the overall style of the kitchen.
If we talk about deadlines, the standard period indicated by most companies is 10-14 working days. But if we are talking about complex individual orders, this period can increase to 1 month.
Among the additional services that are provided and paid separately, it is worth noting:
- design work with drawings;
- providing an image from a photo bank;
- additional protection in the form of film;
- creation of an individual layout.
Skinali for the kitchen with an original geometric pattern.
Of course, each company individually determines which services it is willing to provide free of charge, and for which the customer will have to pay extra. So before you order an apron for the kitchen, the price of which will be acceptable, it is worth checking the conditions offered by this company.
Slate
Painting a kitchen apron with black chalk paint is not only a practical, but also an original option. The wall will be easy to clean, since chalkboard paint is resistant to long-term external influences. You can draw on the apron, leave notes, write menus and recipes.
Before painting, the surface must be leveled. The composition should be applied in three layers to achieve an even coating. One liter is enough to cover a two-meter apron in two layers.
There are many ways to design a kitchen apron - they all have their advantages and disadvantages. Before choosing a material, you should consider your financial capabilities, as well as cooking methods and the availability of a dishwasher. People who rarely use the sink and stove can not worry about the performance properties of the apron and show their imagination without limiting themselves.
Dye
This inexpensive material gives unlimited possibilities when choosing the color of the apron, because the composition can be tinted in any color. Buy paint that can be washed with household chemicals and wiped down frequently - then the coating will last a long time. Leave some of the paint so that the splashback can be restored if necessary.
The main requirement for a wall intended for painting is a perfectly flat surface.
How to remove sockets?
If we talk about glass, then in this case the holes for sockets must be agreed upon when placing an order for the apron, since it is not possible to work with the panel later. If we are talking about acrylic or polycarbonate, then making a hole is quite simple - even an ordinary knife will do.
- First you need to mark the future hole with a pencil.
- Then drill inside the resulting circle next to the hole markings using a drill. For convenience, you can make several holes.
- Using a jigsaw or a regular hacksaw, cut out the material according to the markings, connecting the holes from the drill.
You don’t have to worry too much about evenness, since the socket cover will still fall on top, but it’s better to sharpen sharp corners or pieces so that they don’t damage the wire in the future.
You might find it useful:
Sockets on the kitchen apron for lighting and appliances - how to safely install and hide
What sockets should be installed in the kitchen, and how many are needed?
Retractable, built-in, hidden sockets in kitchen units and countertops
How to fix glass kitchen wall panels with glue
In order to fix the glass apron to the wall, you can use glue or liquid nails. But in this case, it is extremely important to pay due attention to the issue of preparing the base, since the wall must be smooth, plastered and dry. On the one hand, this method is considered simpler, since there is no need to drill the wall, but at the same time, fixation using this method is considered less reliable.
The technology for installing an apron with glue is extremely simple - the main thing during the work process is to accurately align all the elements and align the joints of adjacent panels as much as possible.
Panels for the kitchen: decorative wall panels for the apron (read more)
The joint between the glued panel and the table top must be closed using a special wall bolt. If the surface is large and the apron consists of several parts, it is important to position them as closely as possible to each other so that there are no gaps. To ensure tightness, all joints are treated with a sealant that prevents the appearance of fungus and mold.
Note! To ensure that the layer of sealant applied to the front side of the apron is not noticeable, it is necessary to ensure in advance that the composition is transparent. In addition, it must be applied in a very thin layer.
The process of installing glass panels is quite simple and does not take much time from an experienced craftsman.
Of course, if you want to save yourself the extra hassle, you can contact a special company that will install a glass apron. The price of this procedure is acceptable, however, before placing an order, you need to know that services such as preparation of the base, as well as installation of accessories, are not included in the price. They will have to be paid separately, and it is better to ask in advance how much all the work will cost in total.
Backlight
Another option to add aesthetics to your backsplash is to illuminate it. Lighting in the kitchen is rarely superfluous, because the more light there is, the larger the room appears. Backlighting is more often used in modern styles, since it is easier to fit into a similar interior.
This solution looks impressive and original. Such an apron will easily become the highlight of the kitchen. Backlight can be of two types:
- built-in LED;
- LED strip around the perimeter.
The color palette here can also be varied.
If you decide to do the lighting using LED strips, then it is possible to change the color of the light bulbs using a special remote control. This will help create a different atmosphere in the kitchen: invigorating, calming or neutral.
There is another positive aspect of such lighting: thanks to the latest technologies, it practically does not consume electricity, which will result in good savings if you occasionally replace the main lighting with it.
In addition to the classic options, you can consider more original lighting methods. For example, side lighting. To do this, you need to purchase an aluminum profile that matches the color and cover the light bulbs with it.
Other non-standard ideas
You don’t have to limit yourself to the examples described, and you can add some flair to the design, even if you make a design that is less traditional.
The area between the cabinets and the worktop will be filled with:
Wine corks (they should be cut lengthwise or crosswise, into circles and laid out in different patterns).- Beer caps.
- Pebbles.
- Shards of broken dishes.
- Remains of a parquet board.
- Disks.
- Cereal panel.
Typically the material is attached in one of two ways:
- Glued onto a sheet of chipboard, which is moisture resistant, and screwed.
- Place on mortars (this applies to dishes, stones, etc.).
It is best to use clear glass in the food preparation area. The panel will cover the apron from grease and water, but will nevertheless allow you to admire the incredible decorations of the kitchen space. A rather interesting and alternative option are vinyl stickers, which can be bought at any hardware store, hypermarket, or ordered online. Various designs - color or black and white drawings, patterns.
Interestingly, a panel is usually used as a base (for example, a sheet of moisture-resistant chipboard or MDF). It is mounted on the wall, and the decor is attached to the top. You can easily change it as soon as you get tired of it.
What a glass apron for the kitchen can be made of: photo examples
Despite the fact that the apron is called “glass,” it is obvious that ordinary glass cannot be used for its manufacture. Several material options are used for this purpose.
Let's briefly look at the advantages, disadvantages and features of each of them:
- tempered glass - the material is excellent for use in the kitchen, since it is characterized by increased strength, does not scratch, does not deteriorate as a result of exposure to chemically active substances, and perfectly withstands impacts without chipping. All this is achieved through a special procedure - glass tempering;
Tempered glass is highly durable and impact resistant.
- plexiglass - the material is produced synthetically and is a lightweight panel made of hardened acrylic mass. Usually a dye is added to the composition to give the glass a color or tint. The advantages of this option include the fact that it does not crack or break. But the disadvantages are the appearance of scratches on the surface. In addition, over time, plexiglass turns yellow, or rather, its natural yellowness intensifies. Another important point is that plexiglass is not resistant to high temperatures, so it cannot be placed in close proximity to the stove, as it will simply melt;
The best choice, based on the combination of cost and characteristics, is acrylic plexiglass.
- triplex is a combined material that consists of two sheets of tempered glass and a layer of polymers with a pattern applied between them. This option has all the advantages of tempered glass; moreover, due to the presence of a special protective film, such an apron will not break;
The colored stripes on the glass splashback fit perfectly into the minimalist kitchen interior.
- Optiwhite is a special glass that can be called the perfect product for decorating kitchen aprons. During the production process, it is made perfectly transparent, eliminating the shades that are characteristic of any glass. This has a positive effect on color rendering and clarity of the picture.
Of course, depending on the glass production technology, prices also differ. Optiwhite kitchen skins will cost much more than traditional tempered glass, so before you place an order, you should think about how much money you are willing to spend on this functional piece of furniture.
Whitened tempered glass will look brighter with a light decorative backing.
Is it worth buying a glass apron for the kitchen: advantages and disadvantages
Like any interior solution, glass splashbacks have their advantages and disadvantages. Let's consider what positive and negative aspects you will have to face if you make such a choice.
So, first of all, let's look at the advantages:
- the price of a glass kitchen apron is relatively low, and the technical characteristics of the material are at the proper level;
A colored canvas made of glossy glass will refresh the interior of the kitchen.
- the installation process is extremely simple and can be done independently without any problems;
- the variety of color and texture solutions is extremely large;
- You can purchase a ready-made panel or make an individual order. It won't take too long anyway;
- glass surface fits perfectly into any interior;
- The service life of glass with careful handling and regular maintenance is quite long;
The beautiful glass surface is not afraid of moisture, heat, scratches, and all dirt can be easily removed with ordinary detergents.
- Caring for a glass apron is easy and there are no problems in removing dirt or grease from it;
- the apron can be replaced with a new one at any time, thus refreshing the interior;
- due to the reflective effect, the glass apron will visually expand the modest kitchen space;
- the material is completely environmentally friendly.
Durable glass panels will become a real decoration for any kitchen.
If we take into account the shortcomings and difficulties that will have to be encountered, then it is worth noting the following points:
- ordering a glass splashback is not an easy task that requires attention. If you make a mistake in the sizes, then it will no longer be possible to correct something and you will have to make another order, which will entail new expenses;
- You won’t be able to cut out a space for an outlet in a glass panel yourself, so you should think about this in advance by taking accurate measurements and markings. In addition, the need to cut holes will affect the cost of the panel;
A mirrored apron is ideal for the interior of a small kitchen: by reflecting objects, it can visually increase the space of the room.
- if the installation was carried out poorly, then over time you will have to deal with the appearance of condensation between the wall and the apron;
- if the surface that needs to be protected with glass is long, then the apron will consist of several parts, which means the joints will be visible;
- It is worth paying attention to preparing the surface, making it as smooth as possible to eliminate the risk of glass cracking;
An apron with abstract elements adds emotionality to the room and evokes positive associations.
- In addition, according to reviews, skinali rarely looks truly clean, since grease and fingerprints are very visible on them.
Note! When cleaning a glass apron, it is strictly forbidden to use cleaning powders, as they leave scratches on the surface. It is much better to use special products designed for cleaning glass surfaces.
By installing a glass splashback in the kitchen, a typical kitchen will become more refined and original.
Glass apron for the kitchen: surface design options
Looking through the catalog of glass kitchen aprons, you can come across several main options. Let's look at each of them:
- colorless glass. In this case, there are two options: transparent and frosted glass. Typically, clear glass is used as a protective layer for another material with a pattern, for example, if there is wallpaper on the wall. Frosted glass is preferred as it produces less glare. Moreover, you can consider purchasing a textured transparent apron. And sometimes a pattern is applied to the back of the glass, using special technologies for this;
Wallpaper or painted walls are often covered with glass so as not to overload the kitchen interior with dissimilar surfaces.
- glass with photo printing is the most popular type today. Very often they are also called skinali. Photo examples perfectly demonstrate how impressive such panels look and how great their variety is. The technology of applying a pattern is to use UV ink, with which an image is applied to the back of the glass. The advantages of this solution include the fact that the pattern is extremely resistant to moisture and sunlight, but such glass also costs slightly more than colorless or simply colored glass;
Photo printing technology makes it possible to apply any image to the surface and make the kitchen design exclusive.
- painted glass is a simple but quite beautiful option that will cope with all the functions and at the same time will look unobtrusive. During the production process, the back side of such glass is coated with special paint, after which it is subjected to heat treatment. The variety of color solutions is not limited, and the service life of such panels is very long;
A stylish red panel can create an unusual contrast effect when properly combined with white and black kitchen furniture.
- glass panels for the kitchen with a pattern on vinyl film. Unlike photo printing, this method is not durable. Decorative film is glued to the back of the glass, which in this case acts as protection against dirt and moisture. However, during operation, the film often becomes deformed, although one cannot help but admit that the photos of a glass apron for the kitchen perfectly demonstrate the attractiveness of this option;
A kitchen panel with a pattern on vinyl film is a more budget-friendly option, but a pattern glued to glass can fade and peel off over time.
- triplex (laminated glass) is a very reliable and durable option. An image is sealed between two glass panels, thus obtaining a durable and reliable apron that is not susceptible to any impact. It is very convenient that the triplex does not break, but in the event of a strong impact it simply cracks. But this solution also has disadvantages - the apron turns out to be much thicker and heavier than all other options;
An excellent option for the kitchen is laminated triplex glass, which cannot be broken, and if severely damaged, it will simply become covered with cracks.
- A mirrored apron is an unusual but very effective solution that allows you to influence the visual perception of space and expand it somewhat. Even if you need to decorate a very small kitchen, a mirrored apron will be an excellent solution, at the same time making the room more spacious and brighter.
A mirrored apron looks stylish, but at the same time requires additional care.
Kitchen aprons with photo printing, for which 3D technology was used, look unusual and interesting. This way the image is not only bright, but also three-dimensional.
Decorative rock
Suitable for aesthetes and connoisseurs of brutal textures. Natural stone is the most durable, but has a high cost. A more affordable option is artificial agglomerate, as well as colored concrete that imitates shell rock.
In addition, the apron can be laid out from budget gypsum tiles “like stone” or “brick”, but their textured and porous surface must be protected with varnish or glass. You can lay such an apron yourself.
Skins in different interiors: choosing a pattern
The image plays an important role in the perception of the kitchen, so it is chosen as carefully as the color scheme. Popular themes include the following:
- With macro effect. These may include birds, wild plants, fruits and vegetables. Pictures with culinary themes look excellent: coffee beans, kitchen utensils, a scattering of spices.
With macro effect Source minsk.deal.by
- With the effect of a false window. An image of a deserted beach, sea surface or a view of a night metropolis will visually enlarge the space.
With a view of the city Source stroimbistro.ucoz.ru
- Abstractions. The image of avant-garde geometric shapes, mesmerizing recursion or soothing expressionist motifs suits the role of interior accent like nothing else.
Abstract motifs Source fishki.net
The popularity of flower images lies in their unsurpassed ability to create a comfortable atmosphere. The type of colors is chosen in accordance with the style of the kitchen:
- Orchids. A universal image that is suitable for both classic and modern interiors. The pattern of luxurious colors will favorably emphasize both the refined range of modernism and the strict palette of high-tech. When choosing, preference should be given to large designs: the exquisite form of an orchid in a small design will lose half of its attractiveness.
Universal design Source glass-store.ru
- Wildflowers. Chamomiles, dandelions and cornflowers are a good choice for a rustic style. For a Provence-style kitchen, the best option would be an apron with a picture of lavender, perhaps in combination with household utensils.
In Provence style Source a-house.by
- Spring flowers. For a kitchen in the Art Nouveau (and Mediterranean) style, romantic images of daffodils, lilies of the valley or tulips are suitable.
- Stylized flowers. For strict minimalism and ascetic hi-tech, a pattern in retro style, in monochrome, blurred (with a rain effect) is suitable.
Spring freshness Source keraton.spb.ru
Images of the underwater world, cities, landscapes and still lifes are selected taking into account the color palette of the kitchen. To make the design of the skinali an accent, choose a color for it that is opposite to the color of the surrounding pieces of furniture. If you want to install a wall panel in the color of the countertop and furniture, transfer the accent to the rest of the furniture - make it a shade or two darker.
Plain wall panels are favorites of urban styles: minimalism, hi-tech, loft, techno, but they are also successfully used to decorate classic kitchens. The color of a plain kitchen apron is chosen to contrast with the countertop and furniture.
In the spirit of minimalism Source kitchenonline.ru