DIY Network

Replacing Cabinet Panels with Wire or Glass From "Ask DIY Home Improvement" episode DADH-206

Bruce Johnson replaces the wood panels of kitchen-cabinet doors with wire and glass for a less standard look.

Q (from Sarah in Peoria, IL): I would like to update my kitchen cabinets by replacing the door panels with glass or wire. Can you show me how?

A: (from DIY woodworking and refinishing expert Bruce Johnson) Styles come and go in kitchens almost as often as clothing styles. And with kitchen cabinets, it's not always just a question of color. Sometimes it's a matter of the cabinet-panels themselves. There are several ways you can change the look of your ordinary kitchen cabinets. Here are a few suggestions.

Materials and tool used in this segment:

Screwdriver
Diagonal pliers or wire cutters
Poultry wire or hardware cloth
Wood-trim strips
Glass panels
Small nails
Hot-glue gun

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• First, carefully inspect your kitchen-cabinet door panels. Classic-styled raised-panel doors (figure A) have center panel that is raised from the edge.

• Check the back of the door. In some cases, the center panel is "locked in" by a glued-in piece (figure B). In that case, it would be difficult to remove the panel as it would mean carving away part of the wood with a razor knife.

  Figure A

  Figure B

  
  

• If, however, the panel door is held in place on the back by clips (figure C), you can remove the clips (figure D) and lift out the panel.

  Figure C

  Figure D

  
  

• With the panel removed, you have the option of substituting another material in its place. Keep the panel handy, as it may serve as a template for cutting a replacement material. Many people have replaced the wood panels in their cabinets with glass, but there are some other options. Poultry wire (figure E) makes for an interesting look, is inexpensive and is available at most hardware stores. It has a hexagon pattern and is easy to cut using ordinary wire-cutters or diagonal pliers. Tin-snips are not required.

• Another option is hardware cloth (figure F). It is also available from home centers, is inexpensive and easy to cut.

  Figure E

  Figure F

  
  

  Figure G

• Simply cut the mesh to size using your original panel as a template and lay the newly cut piece into position.

• You can secure the mesh with clips or wood strips (figure G). Wood strips can either be nailed in place or secured with hot-glue.

• One option is to have glass panels cut to size and lay them in place over the wire mesh (forming a back support with the glass), then secure both with clips or wood strips. The glass will add to the appearance as well as help stabilize the mesh panel.

  Tip: Use caution if using strips and nails to secure the glass and mesh panels, use caution.
  

Another option for replacing the wood panels is frosted glass. It's a great look and works well in both traditional and modern kitchens.

RESOURCES :

HGTV's Complete Fix-It
Author: HGTV