Mashup Monday 5: 22 Inspired Ways To Use Industrial Black Steel and Glass

From the National Archives. A tennis racket factory with black rolled steel and glass windows.

A few years ago I spotted them for the first time, the black steel and glass doors on someone’s front entryway. And then the beautiful simplicity of them on someone’s windows. They’re the same kind you see on old abandoned, brick factories. Industrial. Vintage. Simple. Beautiful. Then I saw kitchen cabinet doors using this same industrial black steel and glass look, and I thought, oh, I’m going to have to have that. And, it’s sort of like someone said, “please fall in love with the MOST expensive way to do anything, possible.” And I did.

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The problem? Since then, in planning my kitchen reno, I’ve emailed several different companies for a quote, and my pantry doors in this black steel and glass are somewhere in the neighborhood of $2000 each. For a pantry door. Yeah. So, that’s not happening. I keep thinking maybe if I stall long enough, some brilliant and driven entrepreneur will start creating off-the-shelf cabinet doors in standard sizes that I can afford (off the shelf wood kitchen cabinet doors are widely available, so why not black steel and glass?).

I’m holding my breath, until I’m saved by my own personal Hank Reardon. We’ll pay, I promise! Just not custom pricing. Apparently, there’s not enough demand. So, maybe if I get the word out, we can create more demand so a supplier will crop up and start manufacturing these bad boys. Here’s some inspiration I’ve been collecting. It’s all for you, Hank. Make it happen.

Be inspired:

cotemaison.fr

It is a neat concept to break up the space without it really being visually closed off.

 

nonagon.style

This is about as cool as it gets for a bedroom door, unless you want any kind of privacy.

 

HGTV.com, Joel Kelly Design

I adore the separation, the noise insulation, the cooking smell insulation (also, the me cursing at the stove insulation)… But, I would have to see the price tag. File this under “the most expensive room divider available.”

 

livesimplybyannie

This is a possible door option for the pantry, I just want someone else to buy it first and let me know whether it is a suitable substitute or not. Because it’s like $700-ish on Amazon for a shower door. But, it could be a good option. I just don’t want to waste that much money if it sucks.

 

goodieline.com

Cough.*** Will this cost me my first, or second born, in financing? Well worth it.

 

love.firerock.us

The part where places like this exist and are not part of my house, makes me desperately unhappy. “Welcome,” through my magnificent steel and glass door, “to the rest of my ridiculously awesome lodge with rustic stone fireplace.”

This particular fabrication company asks you to feel free to get a quote, but is nice enough to mention that, “for example, depending on options chosen, a 5’w x 8’t double door at the middle of our price range costs around $10,000 including standard dual-pane, Lowe glass and hardware, but not shipping and installation.” A statement which, inevitably, saves them time answering quote requests from people like me.

 

inspiredecor.info

I love these windows. But, the problem is… if you splurged and did the kitchen windows, wouldn’t the vinyl, double hung everywhere else in the house look like poo?

 

Instagram, Kitchens of Instagram (with credits to “studiomcgee” and “Nicolehollissf”)

This look is amazing. I just love the industrial look of the cabinets.

 

From desiretoinspire.net  Photographer Sara Niedzwiecka

This is the image that initially REALLY got me lusting after the factory steel windows look. It’s still my favorite. I love the wood cabinet frame with the inset doors.

 

Jean Allsopp with Birmingham Home and Garden

If you can afford something of this scale… This is a custom all-steel piece with wooden interior cabinetry. Sigh.

 

Nequette architects, Francis Bryant Construction

This is a nice custom look and I like that the cabinets are really just a frame with open back. What a way to make the look cohesive. Stunning.

 

Instagram, Kitchens of Instagram (with credits to “studiomcgee” and “nicolehollissf”)

This is another shot of that same, awesome kitchen. I love that the black carries over to the hutch on the opposite wall.

 

Using the quote that I got from the steel door folks, that looks to be about $12,000 in pantry doors. But, that stove is probably about the same as a new Volkswagen Jetta, loaded. So, while I may dream about winning the lottery someday, someone, somewhere has this (and a private chef that cooks in it for them).

 

Dark wood cabinets with the perfect black steel and glass overlay and moody strip lighting to illuminate your favorite kitchen collection. Yum.

 

I like these too, for those of us that dream about having a pretty Pantry but can’t QUITE get it there. I think I’d opt for antique glass though or something more traditional.

 

There it is again. Just taunting me. Tempting me.

 

Those builtins are an A+. How clever. Especially because they aren’t a true grid, but have the same appearance because of the black shelves.

 

I love it. BUT. Is this realistic for everyday use? I doubt I’d use glass shelves. But, replace those… and I’m sold. Artichoke, anyone?

 

apartment34.com

This is super cool even if it’s a mid-century modern look.

 

e78382a7-6aa8-465d-955d-3e97b08d8815
Maple Nest, Roost Curator’s Cabinet

So, I’m always looking for different ways to get the pieces I need, and I’m not above buying a piece of furniture so I can strip the doors off and use the rest of it elsewhere. This particular piece would make that door (for a 23.5″wide X 49″tall door) $797.95. That’s not quite big enough for a pantry and ridiculous for one door.

Burke Decor, Camila Sideboard in Black

This piece runs $1620, with rough dimensions on each of four doors at 23″w X 38″ish in height. So, about $400 for one cabinet door. Yikes.

 

Kathy Kuo Home, Pickford Rustic Lodge Two Tone Wood Glass Display Cabinet

Guess what, this guy doesn’t even have steel doors. Those are painted wood look alikes. So, for this one (at 83″h X 47.5″w) you’ve got pantry size doors, but in wood, for the not-so-bargain price of $3108. That being said, I do love the interior on this, so if you’re looking for a glass door pantry piece, this is a functional, refined option.

So, now that you’re in love with the look, and have confirmed that this is ridiculously expensive to do for kitchen cabinet doors, please share aggressively in the hopes that someone, somewhere will start manufacturing these at a reasonable price. I’ll be their first buyer.

Thanks for coming along and check out more of our blog here!

 

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