What is a "skinned"? The trendy trend in the design of the interior of the kitchen has already been enjoyed not only by advanced designers, but also by ordinary people who are developing a home interior design on their own.
Glass or plastic aprons are an interesting way to decorate walls. Plain, transparent or panels with photo printing are easy to install, resistant to changes in humidity and temperature, even the standard interior can be made original.
The benefits of skinning in the kitchen
An apron skinal has several advantages over the use of standard ceramic tiles or other finishing materials. The panels have a perfectly flat surface, which does not allow dirt to accumulate in the joints. The surface is easy to clean, which cannot be said about painted walls or wallpaper. Skinali can be ordered in different colors and even independently choose an image suitable for a particular interior.
Skinali from glass do not lose their attractive appearance over time, and the material itself is durable. The picture on the glass apron will not fade from sunlight and will not become obsolete with time. A variety of design options will allow you to combine skinal with furniture of different styles: from timeless classics to modern. Glass confidently leads among other materials, offering those who decide on this experiment a combination of practicality, originality and beauty.
Skinali looks great not only in a country house, where there is enough free space, but also in a city apartment. Some stories will help visually increase the area of a small kitchen. You can pay attention to the drawings in 3D format to see how the room will be transformed. In any case, the skins (photos of different options can be found in the article) deserve attention.
Cons of glass aprons
What is a skinny - a stylish and original solution or constant torment with the wiping of the smallest drops of fat and fingerprints? Traces of poor-quality care on the apron will remain in any case, so you will have to make efforts so that the kitchen always looks great. You may get tired of the wrong picture. This applies primarily to vivid images of tropical flowers, animals and exotic birds.
Glass can not be called a budget option for finishing, because a high-quality panel of a large size simply cannot be cheap.
Considering the advantages and disadvantages of skinning for the kitchen, you can come to a compromise. It is worth choosing calm plots and shades that fit well into the overall interior. The help of a professional designer will be very helpful, who will be able to put all the parts of the puzzle into a full-fledged picture and demonstrate to the future owners a really fashionable and interesting design that will not get bored with time.
Ways to apply an image
What is skinny? This is a glass or plastic panel, transparent or with a printed pattern. Classic white skins with the image in the form of large fruits, berries and “coffee” plots look good in modern interiors and are suitable for a small kitchen. Black and white pictures with city landscapes, exotic flowers and stylization will look better in spacious rooms. Such subjects go well with bright and bright furniture.
There are several ways to apply an image to a panel. Stereoprinting allows you to get a 3D image, and the film is considered the most budget option. The picture applied by stereo printing will turn out to be as deep and voluminous as possible. You can choose any drawing, the only requirement is a large extension and high quality. The skin for the apron skin is embossed, matte or transparent. Such a coating should fit snugly against the wall so that constant exposure to moisture does not lead to peeling or discoloration of the pattern.
Types of glass for an apron
Different methods of drawing a picture involve the use of different glass. Each type of base has its own characteristics. If skins for the kitchen (photos of different options in the interior are in the article) are made of simple thick glass, then the image will be applied with a film on the back of the apron. Tempered glass products are much stronger than usual, the drawing is applied by photo printing. The most reliable and durable - skinned from triplex. These panels consist of two glasses glued together. Between the glasses is an image. Aprons are made of plastic - this is the cheapest, but short-lived option, because the material does not tolerate moisture, it is not resistant to mechanical damage.
The possibilities of the decor were thrown off
Most often, for interior decoration of kitchens, panels with the image of bright colors, juicy fruits, subjects on culinary themes (drawings of dishes, cups of coffee, calligraphy of recipes, spices and so on) are chosen. Black and white drawings are in demand: from city landscapes to stylization for graphics. You can choose skins with a mirror coating, which will visually expand the space of a small kitchen.
Popular options are decorated with hand-painted or made of transparent glass. The latter look especially good if the kitchen is covered with variegated wallpaper or painted. In this case, the room does not need additional decor, and the glass panel will perform primarily a protective function. Products are made in any color, future owners can choose their own drawing (up to placing photos of family or favorite places of rest on the apron).
Optimal apron size
Masters who make glass aprons for kitchens advise choosing panels no longer than 2.5 meters. The longer the panel will be, the more difficult it will be to install the skin and not damage during transportation. If you need a long apron, then it is better to mount it from several parts. In this case, it is better to entrust the installation to professionals. This is nothing complicated, but only with a quality installation, the joints will be invisible.
The width of the standard apron for the kitchen can vary in the optimal range from 45 to 60 cm. With a plate height of 85 cm, the panel should be installed at a maximum height of 84 cm from the floor. The maximum height of the apron itself is 112 cm (taking into account two centimeters for overlap, with a furniture height of 90 cm and a distance of 110 cm from the countertop to the bottom of the hanging cabinets). If the lower modules occupy 85 cm in height (standard), then the height of the apron should not exceed 117 cm.
An important thing: at the stage of choosing the sizes and ordering the skin, you need to accurately plan the location of all outlets. Cutting the required holes with your own hands is quite difficult: you will need a glass cutter and professional precision. Therefore, it is better to think about all the details at the stage of choosing the design of a kitchen apron.
Necessary wall preparation
What is skinny? These are plastic or (mainly) glass panels, which have recently been actively replaced by standard ceramic tile kitchen aprons. They are usually made of several layers, but nevertheless the skinheads require careful preparation of the walls. So that there are no gaps that spoil the final result and complicate further care, it is best to hide all the bumps in advance. This is especially important if there are cracks or cavities on the walls. Aligned walls before installing glass panels are preferably treated with putty.
Panel mounting methods
The installation of the skin is done after the installation of the kitchen, wall cabinets and countertops. This is necessary so that during installation the headset does not damage the glass panels. Of the tools you will need a screwdriver, an electric drill, a building level, wooden slats, a marker that is rubbed with alcohol, or a construction pencil, vacuum pens (it is convenient to carry glass with them) and a hammer. Perhaps (this depends on the installation method), screws with dowels and decorative plugs or liquid nails will come in handy.
Step-by-step instruction
You can install skins with a glue or fixing method. Glue is used only on perfectly even walls. First, on the lower edge of the apron, you need to attach a rail, and then apply glue around the entire perimeter. The panels are pressed tightly against the wall with the help of vacuum handles, the support must be done on a wooden rail. Installation by mounting is as follows:
Prepare a building level, vacuum pens and pencil. Carry out preliminary measurements and mark the locations of the mounting holes.
Drill holes with an electric drill and install a wall plug.
Using a screwdriver, fix the glass panels to the wall with screws.
Close the unsightly caps of the screws on which the apron rests with decorative caps.
The process of installing the skin with your own hands is simple and quick.