Category: Glasses

Do you dream of bringing more natural light into your home? We understand that this can be a challenge if you live in a smaller home, apartment, or condo.

One way that you can invite more light — or create the illusion of more light — is by using decorative glass partitions, interior windows, or doors. All of these options won’t disrupt the natural flow of light through your home, while still maintaining privacy and function of each room.

Luckily for you, with modern technology, there are many types of glass you can use to transform a space and invite natural light into your home.

Below we have compiled 5 ways that decorative glass will transform your space.

1. Fluted glass

The first type of decorative glass to consider is fluted glass.

Fluted glass is known for its distinctive groves that can add interesting textures and privacy in your home. Although fluted glass has a bit of representation for being old-fashioned, don’t be so quick to dismiss it. In the right space, it can bring an interesting and modern feel. It is also one of the most affordable ways to introduce decorative glass to your home.

If you want to conceal specific areas of your home like bathrooms or staircases but don’t want to miss out on natural light, consider fluted glass.

2. Frosted glass

If you want a little more privacy than fluted glass, another decorative glass option that may work for you is frosted glass. This option works best for bathroom or bedroom doors where you want to introduce natural light into dark spaces. While frosted glass is a bit more modern than other options, it tends to be more expensive because it requires a layer of transparent glass with a frosted film added to both sides.

If you want the look of frosted glass but can’t justify the cost, plastic products are often used to mimic the look of decorative glass at a lower price-point. If you decide to go with plastic, keep in mind that they aren’t quite as maintenance-friendly or durable as glass, you may end up paying more in the long run if you don’t take care of it.

3. Coloured Laminated Glass

Do you love colour? If so, coloured laminated glass is definitely the decorative glass option for you.

Highly customizable, coloured laminated glass is like stained glass for the fresh, modern homeowner. If you live in a house, apartment, or condo that has quirky interior windows, doors, partitions, and more, coloured laminated glass can add an incredibly stylish flair at an affordable price point.

4. Speckled glass

If you are looking for a glass insert for a partition or french doors, we highly recommend using speckled glass. This decorative glass is the definition of modern. While offering an exciting texture experience, speckled glass is helpful for separating common areas where privacy is not a big concern.

However, if you are interested in going with speckled glass, be aware of the price. Creating this glass requires a more specialized and technical process that costs more than the other options mentioned thus far.

5. Architectural glass frame

Carefully consider the element you choose to utilize your decorative glass. An entire glass partition can make your space feel smaller, while bay windows and archways can open a space and make it feel lighter. Think about the look you want to create and make sure your glass features work to your advantage.

Decorative glass can play a vital role in enhancing the indoor environment quality of your home while inviting an abundance of natural light into your home. Don’t know where to start? Professionals will be able to help you make an informed decision about how to provide an interesting and feel to your space.

To learn more ways decorative glass can transform your space, call Glass Showers & More at 416-800-5533 or contact us here.

Glass offers endless possibilities for transforming your home both practically and aesthetically. If you are undertaking any modernization project, you will want to consider doing so with a touch of glass.

Below are some ways glass can modernize your home.

Invite Nature Inside

Glass fixtures offer homeowners the perfect opportunity to invite nature inside, especially if you live in a small space. You can use a glass fixture around the view of something like a pond, garden, or other natural elements; glass features can enhance your living space — and even make it appear bigger.

If you live in a condo, this same principle applies to urban environments by utilizing views of urban environs — like skyscrapers — you can create a fresh modern interior aesthetic that few others have.

Here are a few glass fixtures that you can use to invite nature inside:

1. Glass walls

   You can install windows of any size in your home. This can completely alter an interior space. Add sliding or swing doors for a seamless transition between the inside and the outside world.

2. Glass floors

   Have you ever considered including structural glass floors in your home design? New types of glazing mean that glass floors can be used almost anywhere and allow you to highlight interesting outdoor elements your property may include. Glass floors are also customizable. With translucent, coloured, and even more unusual styles, glass floors are the epitome of modern chic.

3. Skylights or a glass roof

   Skylights and glass roofs offer the best of both glass floors and walls and add their own unique quality to a home. Glass roofs extending the living space by bringing in natural light and opening to rooftop patios.

Incorporate Natural Light

Natural light is vital to our physical and psychological well being, and the more you can absorb — especially in the winter — the better.

Aside from practical benefits, the natural light that glass fixtures bring into your home offers an aesthetic advantage as well. It is well known that, in any space, natural light is the best light.

North-facing rooms, for instance, generally get light that is warmer toned and will bring out the best in a dark colour palette. On the other hand, rooms with southern exposure will receive bright natural light that compliments a light palette.

When you design your spaces, consider what colours you are going for and how you can use glass to give it a fresh, modern feel. After all, natural light is free; use it to the advantage of your interior design.

Invest in a Timeless Quality

Modern designs are best not confined to one period or style. Luckily, glass fixtures can be used to create a visual impression that stays relevant for years to come.

While not all glass features will give your home a timeless quality, installations such as glass links can achieve this. If you are renovating a historical home and don’t want to compromise the unique quality of your space, modern glazing installations can bring new life and won’t degrade with time.

Think Outside the Box

If you plan on using glass to bring a modern twist to your home, have fun and think outside the box!

Glass is often associated with windows, doors, floors, and skylights; but this isn’t the entire picture. Glass can be utilized in features as small as a glass sink bowl or a large glazed table. It is really up to you how you bring glass into your home.

What you do want to pay attention to is how your chosen glass fixtures fit in a broader sense. If you are unsure where to begin, start with contacting a professional. They can help you pick and chose the perfect modernizing elements for your home.

To learn more about how to give your home a modern touch with glass, call Glass Showers & More at 416-800-5533 or contact us here.

Glass is often mistakenly viewed as a highly fragile material with limited uses. However, glass has been used for both decorative and practical purposes since its invention. With advances in technology, glass has become a very popular material in construction, interior design, and furniture. There are now several glass types and treatments available, making it easy to find a suitable type of glass for just about any application. From security to interior design, to UV protection to furnishings, here are the many different glass types and their uses.

Flat Glass

Flat glass is used for windows and glass doors. This glass is used as the base to create many other types of glass and is produced in the float process during the first steps of glass making. It comes in a basic thickness from which it can then undergo additional processing to make it safer and suitable for other uses, such as double-glazing for insulated windows and glass doors. Without further treatments, though, flat glass is fragile and prone to breaking in dangerous, sharp shards. This increases the risk of injury when the glass is broken.

Tempered Glass

Tempered glass is a popular choice for shower doors, glass furniture, and glass shelves. It’s resistant to shattering due to the special cooling process used to create it. When shattered, the glass crumbles into small, smooth pieces as opposed to dangerous jagged shards. As a result, tempered glass is safer, both during accidents as well as for cleaning up. This type of glass can also be treated with sandblasting and acid etching to create a frosted look for privacy.

Patterned Glass

This glass helps blur the transparency level, making it a good choice for doors and bathroom windows. The glass sheets are heated and then passed through patterned rollers that leave an imprint. It allows light to shine through, but also adds a textured feel to the glass that adds more depth and clarity when compared to the frosted effect of blasting. The transparency and clarity of the glass remain intact, so it has more sparkle and creates an interesting effect when light falls behind it. The level of transparency varies based on the intricacy of the pattern design. Patterns can create different effects such as Jack Frost, trickling water, mottling, swirls, and even the appearance of broken glass. The glass is not only an excellent option for privacy walls and showers, but also creates highly detailed textured glass tables and desks. It can also be used for customized glass door inserts in combination with metals and wood, or it can be inserted on walls as textured glass protection to reduce wear and tear.

Mirrored Glass

Mirrored glass is used for wardrobe doors, bathroom mirrors, and closet doors. It comes in a variety of styles and colours made by applying metal coatings to glass. Common colours include silver, chrome, gold, and aluminum, but other finishes can appear marbled, smokey, and tinged with hints of other metallics. Mirrored glass can also be used as a wall treatment to create a feeling of openness as well as backsplashes in kitchens and bathrooms.

Coated Glass

Coated glass uses include double-glazed windows, as it has been modified to provide insulating qualities as well as to cut down on UV rays. Home windows today are coated, as they help improve energy efficiency. With new thermal windows made of coated glass, you can improve thermal efficiency, which can help reduce energy consumption and the cost of heating and cooling your home.

Tinted Glass

As the name implies, tinted glass contains a tinted glaze consisting of metal oxides. Tinted glass uses include doors and windows to provide privacy while allowing light to shine through. Tinted glass is also used to reduce the glare of the sun, making it a good choice for south-facing rooms, as well as rooms where viewing screens are used. It can reduce UV rays, which means furnishings, curtains, and rugs will not fade, and your family can be protected from the harmful rays of the sun.

Sandblasted Glass

As mentioned above, sandblasting can be applied to glass to provide privacy for areas such as bathrooms or to create a decorative effect. Commonly referred to as frosted glass, it can be used in any number of applications, whether it’s for practical purposes such as privacy in offices, bathrooms, and showers, or as an interior design feature. The glass is blasted at high pressure using an abrasive that leaves behind a frosted appearance. Sandblasting is ideal for larger glass projects, as it is more consistent across larger areas than other techniques such as acid etching.

Acid-Etched Glass

Acid-etched glass uses acid instead of blasting to create customized designs on glass walls and other glass features. It adds privacy with the same look as sandblasted glass, allowing light to filter through. The acid is used to remove the glass surface to create the white tones. Designs can also be created using a non-reactive substance, such as wax. Acid-etched glass is preferable if you are looking for a complex design. It’s less prone to fingerprints when compared to a finish such as sandblasting. As well, it’s often more affordable than sandblasting.

At Glass Showers and More, our team of glass experts can explain the various glass types to help you come up with unique ideas for your home or office. Click here to contact us today.

Decorating your office is important for creating strong first impressions. Whether you are interviewing top talent or entertaining clients, you want your office to make a statement about your success. Decorative glass offers an innovative solution for your interior design. It’s a customized design feature often overlooked despite its ability to create unique, intriguing features. Glass design elements allow you to tap into the latest trends from green terrariums to waterfalls. Whether you want a simple wall protector, partition walls, furniture, or intricate glass etching and sandblasting designs, here are the best uses for decorative glass in your office:

Eco-Friendly Natural Light

Today’s businesses are focused on social consciousness. Using decorative glass in your office allows you to support your commitment to the community by making your operation more energy efficient. Many buildings and offices are using glass walls, ceilings, flooring, and staircases to help harness the natural light coming into the workspace. Replacing solid walls with glass allows you to filter natural light efficiently throughout a workspace, so everyone avoids the harshness of overhead lighting commonly used in offices. It makes workers happier while increasing energy efficiency. Outside offices with windows can use etched or sandblasted glass to provide privacy while still allowing natural light to reach the inner workspace.

Statement Walls

Glass can be painted to create statement walls using your company colours. This custom look keeps you true to your brand and allows you to create focal points, whether it’s behind your reception desk, in your halls, or in your meeting rooms. You can colour the glass itself, or apply glass over your statement walls with murals, logos, and other artwork.

Wall Protection

Wear and tear can make your office look worn and poorly maintained. You can use glass as an easy-to-clean layer of protection in major traffic areas. To combine form and function, you can choose customized etching or sandblasting to create a striking effect that takes bland walls and turns them into a distinct décor feature.

Decorative Balustrades

To create a high-tech contemporary look, glass balustrades offer a chic and stylish appearance that’s simplistic yet impactful. As mentioned above, they can allow natural light to enter the inner areas of the office. As well, they offer an unexpected design feature that can be pure and clear or highlighted with a myriad of dramatic design features from frosting to bespoke logos.

Floors and Stairs

For a truly ultra-modern look, glass floors and stairs create a futuristic impression that’s both elegant and sophisticated. They can be used in several different settings to create a light-filled workspace that is airy and easy on the eyes. Floors can be crystal clear or accented with various colours or finishes. Not to mention that they’re surprisingly durable and easy to clean. Etching and sandblasting can make them less slick without taking away from the one-of-a-kind look they bring to your space.

Break Rooms

Office kitchens keep people close to work while providing a perk, especially when the coffee is free, and the snack cupboard is full! Break rooms with sinks and counter space can be jazzed up with a glass backsplash with custom colours to reflect your brand. Or it can be used to create a relaxed atmosphere where staff can take some time away from their desks. Available in custom colours and finishes, your design options are endless.

Staff and Client Bathrooms

While office bathrooms don’t usually include showers, many offices today are opting to offer full bathrooms to help support their employees’ healthy lifestyle choices. Workplace showers are growing in popularity, as they allow staff to bike and walk to work without worrying about being sweaty all day. Showers can also be used by those who wish to work out on their lunch hours, allowing them to refresh themselves before they get back to work. Showers with frosted glass allow workers to shower in private. They are attractive and practical, as they are mould and mildew resistant. However, glass can also be used to create stunning client bathrooms with glass counters, backsplashes, and even elegant, modern frosted partition walls between stalls.

Bespoke Furniture

Bespoke glass furniture provides one-of-a-kind pieces that make a statement. From conference tables that appear to hover in meeting rooms, to ultra-modern, sleek desks for executive offices, glass furnishings can be designed to reflect a number of design styles. Simple touches such as glass coffee tables and lamp tables keep smaller spaces light and airy, while prominent walls can be made more interesting with elegant hall tables and large-scale mirrors. Glass furniture can be left clear to provide the illusion of space, or painted or frosted to add more design detailing and a little more substance. Display cases can also be designed to show off your wares, the materials you use, antique industry-related finds, awards, and more.

Office Partitions

Instead of the dreary cubicle walls used in office spaces, glass partition walls provide privacy and soundproofing while also maintaining the illusion of open-concept workspaces. As already mentioned, glass walls are the ideal solution to bring in more natural light to workspaces, but they can be used in any area a wall would commonly appear. Walls can be set up floor-to-ceiling, or at any height required. Frosting or paint can be used for privacy, while etching can be used to create a more defined design element. As well, etching can be used to define departments using text, logos, or motifs.

Open Elevator Shafts

Glass elevator shafts create open spaces while providing intriguing views of the building and its surroundings. Elevator shafts do not have to be outward-facing to create an exceptional architectural feature. Elevators in the center of your lobby, or even on a single floor, can have glass walls installed.

Visitor Workstations

You can create a section of visitor workstations where clients can make calls, have access to a desk and computer, or plugin to recharge their own devices. Ultra-modern work “booths” made of glass provide privacy without taking away from the look of your modern office. You can also provide additional workstations to accommodate the nomadic office worker who might need a quieter space to work in open-concept offices, or for mini brainstorming sessions, one-on-one interviews, employee reviews, and offline conversations.

At Glass Showers and More, our team of glass experts can help you come up with unique designs to complement your office. Click here to contact us today.

Glass offers a surprisingly innovative material with a number of very attractive applications. From stunning shower enclosures and decorative partition walls to impressive stairways and gleaming kitchen backsplashes, glass can be used for both functional and decorative purposes. Because of its fragile nature, glass must be treated to reduce the risk of breakage. Laminating and tempering are the two most common types of glass treatments used for both residential and commercial applications. Here, we explore the pros and cons of each to help you decide which is best for your needs.

What’s the difference between laminated and tempered glass?

Laminated glass provides added strength using a thin, clear layer of plastic sandwiched between two layers of glass. Should the glass be shattered, the damage is minimized as the glass remains in its frame. This creates a highly durable glass ideal for many uses, including the windshield in your car. Tempered glass, on the other hand, is strengthened through a controlled thermal or chemical treatment to increase its durability and is safer if broken.

The Pros and Cons of Tempered Glass

Tempered glass has many pros, including:

• Safety: When shattered, tempered glass reduces the risk of injury as it “crumbles” into small, smoother pieces, as opposed to untempered glass, which tends to have larger, jagged, and sharp pieces. Tempered glass is often the glass of choice where damage due to vandalism is possible, such as in public spaces, for decorative windows in shop fronts and revolving doors.
• Fast Clean-Up: Tempered glass makes cleaning up not only safer but also faster. The small pieces can be swept up without the fear of injury, and the remaining pieces can then be vacuumed.
• Strength: Tempered glass is very strong due to the process used to make it.
• Resistance to Heat: Tempered glass is more heat resistant than other forms of glass as the process used to make it allows it to withstand higher temperatures. It’s a common choice for areas where heat might be a factor, such as labs and buildings with strict fire codes. Tempered glass can resist temperatures of up to 200–300 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Mitigates Risk: Because tempered glass is designed to avoid injuries, using tempered glass can mitigate risk for lawsuits, as it reduces the chance of serious injury from broken glass.
• High Quality: Tempered glass is clear, and the process to temper it doesn’t interfere with its transparency.
• Design Friendly: The nature of tempered glass allows us to use it in several designs that help enhance your home or business. From colour application to etching, we can create customized tempered glass projects for a wide variety of uses.
• Affordable: Tempered glass tends to be more affordable than laminated glass, depending on the design, size, and thickness.

Just keep in mind when purchasing tempered glass, all design and functional features must be included at the time the glass is prepared, such as holes, sizing, etc. This means that should adjustments be required, the glass must be made again from scratch.

The Pros and Cons of Laminated Glass

Laminated glass has some different advantages from tempered glass, including:

• Security: The glazing material used for laminated glass makes it very durable. Because it remains in its frame when smashed, it offers added security, making it an ideal choice for main levels in homes and businesses.
• UV Protection: The versatile glazing material provides 99% UV protection, which is perfect for rooms in homes or businesses with direct sunlight. The protection can help reduce or even eliminate the fading of furnishings and carpets.
• Sound Proofing: Laminated glass offers additional soundproofing and can be even more effective with double glazing. It’s ideal for businesses that might want to reduce sound travel, whether it is from outside sources or noise coming from their business.
• Harder to Shatter: As mentioned, laminated glass is used in car windshields as it does not shatter. This reduces the risk for injury and makes it an excellent choice for many applications, including buildings in areas prone to severe weather conditions, as well as protection against break-ins or vandalism.

A downfall, however, of purchasing laminated glass would be the price point and not as design-friendly. Depending on the budget and the use of the glass, it might make more sense to go with tempered glass.

How to Choose Between Tempered and Laminated Glass

As you can see, both types of glass have their advantages. Looking at their similarities, both types of safety glass are available in a variety of thicknesses and colours/tints, offer pristine clarity and durability, and are easy to clean up when shattered. On the negative side, laminated glass tends to be more expensive. When choosing between the two, you need to consider how the glass will be used.

Laminated glass is recommended when:

• The size of the glass does not allow for tempering.
• Additional safety and UV protection is required.
• The glass is forming a structural element of the project, such as glass flooring.
• Price is not as much of an issue.

Tempered glass is recommended when:

• Your budget is limited.
• Quick delivery is not an issue.
• The glass is not necessarily needed for structural support.
• UV protection is not an issue.
• The size of the glass panel is available in tempered glass.

Both types of glass can be used for a variety of applications. However, if you’re considering getting glass for your home or business, tempered glass might be the better option. It’s more affordable overall, still provides security, doesn’t leave sharp edges once broken, and can be used for a variety of designs. At Glass Showers and More, our team of glass experts can recommend the best product for your needs. Click here to contact us today.