Decorative Glass: A Unique Way to Customize Your Home

From wall panels to shower doors, it can transform your decor from ordinary to extra-ordinary

By Jenni Rothrock

Looking to enhance your home's decor? Whether you're building a new house or remodeling an existing one, decorative glass can dramatically improve the look of your home, on the interior or exterior. From stunning wall panels to subtle address signs, this innovative glass can be used in a variety of applications to best reflect your unique sense of style.

There are several different types of decorative glass products on the market, each of which has its own aesthetic appeal.

Slumped Glass
Slumped glass, for example, has a very textured surface and a three-dimensional look. To create the glass, it is heated to the relaxing point and laid over top of artistic molds; the glass then conforms to the shape of the mold. The result, explains Jane Skeeter, president of UltraGlas, Inc., a manufacturer of the product, "is a very sensuous piece of polished, highly tactile glass." Available in the full spectrum of colors, in various shades of each color, the glass can be ordered in all thicknesses, making it appropriate for use in virtually any application.

Many designers and consumers choose to use slumped glass in applications where privacy is required-such as shower doors and enclosures-as the texture of the glass provides a degree of privacy, while still allowing light to travel through it. Also making it particularly suitable for bathroom applications is the fact that it is low maintenance, points out Barry Allan of Nathan Allan Glass Studios, a slumped glass manufacturer. "It is essentially maintenance-free," he explains. "It camouflages grease, fingerprints, water spots, or soap scum, and if something is on the glass, all you need to do is wipe it down with a glass cleaner."

Bath and shower enclosures, however, are far from being the only area in your home where slumped glass can be used effectively to bring a unique touch to the design. Because it can be customized to fit your individual needs, it can be used almost anywhere you can imagine. In addition to standard colors, the glass can be frosted, silvered, or painted in metallic colors to create just the look you're after. Windows and doors, as well as bathroom or kitchen counter tops, are among the product's most common applications.

Tired of the mirror over the fireplace? Dress up the area with a piece of decorative glass, suggests Skeeter. In addition to decorative wall panels, the glass also can be used as partitions to separate, for example, a living room/dining room space. Flooring, tiling, and stair treads of slumped glass are becoming increasingly popular as well, she reports.

Slumped glass also is starting to grace the driveways and stoops of homes in the form of address signs. "We can cast the owner's name and house number in the glass sign," explains Allan. Adding a light behind the glass illuminating the sign adds the perfect touch to this unique form of home identification.

Acid-Etched and Patterned Glass
Slumped glass not the answer for you? Fortunately, there are several other decorative glass products available that can provide you with an equally unique look for your home.

Acid-etched glass, which is created by dipping regular glass into an acid solution that permanently etches the surface, has a very modern look to it, points out Richard Balik of General Glass International, a supplier of the product.

Unlike slumped glass, it has a smooth surface which is more or less flat. Offered in several colors, acid-etched glass is available with a variety of designs etched into the glass surface, so that you can pick and choose which look best suits your home.

As with slumped glass, it provides a high level of obscurity and is often used in applications where privacy is important, such as bath and shower enclosures. As is also true with slumped glass, acid-etched products can be used in a virtually unlimited number of applications, from partitions to patio tables. Because of its consistently smooth surface, acid-etched glass won't pick up fingerprints, dirt, or oils, and can be easily cleaned.

For a truly unique look, try mixing it up a little. Standard designs in which part of the glass is etched and part of the glass is clear are available as well. "Acid-etched glass is very versatile," points out Balik, "and it doesn't go out of style; it's timeless."

If you're looking for glass with more texture and depth, patterned glass may be an option. Created by rolling molten glass through a roller, patterned glass has a specific pattern embossed on its surface. Available in several colors, in a variety of patterns, this glass is unique in that it can provide you with degrees of privacy, depending on the pattern. If, for example, you want to use the glass in a shower enclosure, you may choose a pattern that provides a high level of obscurity. If it's going to be used as a tabletop, however, a pattern that allows you to see through the glass may be more appropriate.

While decorative glass is typically more expensive than standard glass ("It's an investment," as Skeeter points out.), it can transform the look of your home, giving it a truly unique feel. And while it may not be for every room in the house, incorporating just the right amount of decorative glass into your decor can make the difference between ordinary and extraordinary.

Three Steps to Spectacular Design
If adding decorative glass to the decor of your home sounds appealing, there are a few steps you should take to ensure the end result is as spectacular as what you've envisioned.

1.) Consult with an interior designer to determine which type of decorative glass is most appropriate for your home. Decorative glass products are available in a wide variety of colors, textures, and patterns, and it's important to consider the decor of the entire space in which the glass will be used. Make sure that the style or pattern that's chosen enhances that space and complements the home's existing decor. Most manufacturers of decorative glass have Web sites which show their products and explain their characteristics.

2.) Visit your local glass retailer to finalize the details regarding the type of glass to be used and to schedule the installation job. Different applications require different glass thicknesses, and your local glass dealer will be able to determine how thick your decorative glass needs to be to ensure a safe and durable installation. The glass dealer will also take care of ordering the glass from the manufacturer, installing it in your home, and, of course, providing you with the final bill for the job, which will include the price of the glass and installation.

3.) Last, but not least, show off your new glass decor to friends and family, and, most importantly, enjoy the new atmosphere it creates in your home.

Source: Consumer Design Guide, Glass Magazine, December 2001