Asked on Dec 12, 2015

Need ideas for curio door to replace broken glass please!!

Lin R
by Lin R
I was waxing my curio and did a Lucy, and knocked it over and broke the door glass. The glass on the sides are okay. I am thinking of using chicken wire because I am thinking that replacing the curved glass in the door will be expensive. I am not a fan of chicken wire and I know that it will let dust into the curio. I am hoping that some of you great DIYers will have solutions for me. Thank you for any help that you can provide.
  10 answers
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Dec 12, 2015
    Rather than chicken wire how about plexiglass glass. It is less expensive than regular glass and easier to work with when repairing.
    • Lin R Lin R on Dec 12, 2015
      @Janet Pizaro thank you for this idea. I need to ask my husband what he thinks as the door is curved.
  • Lin R Lin R on Dec 12, 2015
    Thank you Janet for the idea. I am wondering if it will fit in there as the door is curved. I need to ask my husband what he thinks about that.
    • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Dec 12, 2015
      @Lin R researched the info before I answered your question. It will totally work. You can google replacing curio cabinets with plexiglass and the process will come up. Good Luck
  • Kate Kate on Dec 12, 2015
    Awww, Lin. So sorry that happened. Is the cabinet actually intended for dispaly of curios? Or are you repurposing it? If it's not essential that you can see through all 3 sides, how about 1/4" hardboard? It's very inexpensive, $7.95 for a 4'x 8' panel at Home Depot. One side is very smooth, ready for priming and painting. Cuts easily with a jigsaw and since it's pretty flexible, it's ideal for that curved front. I can see a harlequin pattern working or, if you've got mad artist skills, the perfect place to showcase your work. Or, if you haven't yet gotton rid of all the glass shards, you could do a mirror mosaic on the hardboard.
    • Lin R Lin R on Dec 12, 2015
      @Kate we do put items in there for display. But your idea would be great if we did not need it for that.
  • Snapoutofit Snapoutofit on Dec 12, 2015
    Love the piece.
  • Gailek Gailek on Dec 13, 2015
    Hi. I went shopping for a dresser for my soon to be arriving 2nd son... Fell in love with a curio cabinet like your's. Ended up buying that instead of the dresser. We found a local furniture re finisher who ordered and installed a new side panel for about $125. The expected child is now 27...But it is a indication that (1( the curved glass is available and (2) this included the ordering, installation and replacing the curved moldings which didn't come with the curio...And now with the internet, I'm sure that you could get it yourself!
    • Lin R Lin R on Dec 14, 2015
      @gailek that is so good to know. My husband wants to look into the glass after the holidays, so I will weigh the options then.
  • Sherry K Kunkle Sherry K Kunkle on Dec 13, 2015
    The chicken wire is great idea and have hubby look at building small frames to attached and bow the wire and attache inside to the curio panel frames ,, then paint it the framing - chicken too . Id paint it color of inside
  • Christi Christi on Dec 13, 2015
    Maybe a pretty piece of sheer stretched fabric...
  • Janet AF Janet AF on Dec 13, 2015
    go to home depot with your measurements and buy the thinnest lexan or plexi they have I have seen it there thin enough to have a slight bend. with an extra pair of hands and a hot hair dryer you should be able to get enough bend to fit your cabinet.
  • Barbara Barbara on Dec 13, 2015
    First I'd check with a glazier to see how costly the glass might be. Never know, it might fall within budget ! I'd also ask if the plexiglass substitute would be less costly to prevent future breakage. Barring that, I'd go with the chicken wire idea. I also like Christi's idea of sheer fabric stretched on (tension rods?) The thin plexi is somewhat brittle after exposure to temperature changes and can yellow with age. We are replacing the plexi with glass in our sun porch next spring for this very reason- and to help keep the porch a little warmer during the colder months.
  • BillSmoot BillSmoot on Dec 14, 2015
    Why not consider very thin PlexiGlass? It's probably lighter than glass, cheaper and will bend