BEYOND THE WINDOWS AND MIRRORS

No other building material possesses the beauty, quality, and versatility of glass. Throughout the ages, designers and architects have created classic and dramatic projects with this versatile material in both industrial and residential buildings.

As one of the oldest materials in the building industry, the origins of glass many centuries ago are a bit murky. There doesn’t seem to be any one particular inventor, and the invention itself may have been quite accidental. There’s no doubt, however, that it has been, and will continue to be, a vital element in any building project.

The use of glass as a design element in homes has evolved over the years. With its transparent quality, it allows more natural light into a room, while also making a room appear larger. Glass can also be combined with wood and other metals to create doors, shelves, tables, cabinets, walls, or any other creative applications that can be imagined.

Although there are different techniques for making glass in all shapes and sizes, it consists of natural and abundant raw materials, including sand, soda ash and limestone,which are melted at very high temperatures. These are then cooled to form the solid structure of glass.

“The most functional use for glass in a home is the windows, and there have been many design changes in those over the years,” says Mike Butler, owner of Ottertail Glass & Custom Shower in Fergus Falls. “For one thing, they went from single pane to dual pane to triple pane, and now we’re back to dual pane because the low ‘E’ coatings have gotten so good. The warranties are also longer, and companies offer many new options with different tints and even shades in between the glass.”

Besides the practical purposes glass provides in building projects, there are many other interesting and fun applications for glass that homeowners can consider.

“The most functional use for glass in a home is the windows. There have been many design changes in those over the years.”

Mike Butler Owner, Ottertail Glass & Custom Shower

Decks, Stairs, & Railings

“We also develop several types of customized glass for decks and railings,” says Butler. “We had one project with a swimming pool where we designed and built a glass railing all around it. It worked beautifully and the homeowners loved it.”

Both outdoor and indoor stairways can benefit from the use of glass on either the stairs or the railing. It’s an innovative way to add an updated or contemporary look to a home, while also letting extra light into the area. Another option is combining the glass with wood, leather, or steel for more of a textured look.

“It opens up the view, especially if a home has a high deck overlook,” Butler continues. “Many people are surprised to find out that using glass can be comparable or even less costly than cable and wood systems, especially on upper levels, where you don’t want to sacrifice that view.”

“Many people are surprised to find out that using glass can be comparable or even less costly than cable and wood systems, especially on upper levels, where you don’t want to sacrifice that view.”

Mike Butler Owner, Ottertail Glass & Custom Shower

In the Shower

Glass shower doors are nothing new, but custommade, high quality glass shower doors are an important aspect of many homeowner design plans.

“Upgrading the shower area in the master suite has become more common or trendy over the years, and we’re seeing that many homeowners will give up other options in the house to get that master suite upgrade,” says Butler. “One new direction we see now is that homeowners are considering adding custom glass showers in every bathroom in the house, not just the master.”

According to Kerri Vastila, Chief Financial Officer at Gull Lake Glass Inc. in Brainerd, one new shower door style that has been requested lately is a garden shower door.

“One new direction we see now is that homeowners are considering adding custom glass showers in every bathroom in the house, not just the master.”

“One new shower door style that has been requested lately is a garden shower door.”

Kerri Vastila Chief Financial officer Gull Lake Glass Inc.

“The garden shower door is a style that looks like a window pane with black grids and hardware,” she explains. “It’s a very classy look that goes along with the black and white theme that is currently very popular.”

The barn door sliding shower door is also a popular style that Vastila says is garnering interest.

“There are a few options with the rollers,” she says. “Some have a smaller look, while others are more of a bulky appearance. Then there’s another barn door style that has a few different looks, one with a single door that slides, and another that allows both doors to slide. All of our shower doors at Gull Lake Glass are custom, so we are able to mix and match to get whatever look someone wants.”

“The garden shower door is a style that looks like a window pane with black grids and hardware,” she explains. “It’s a very classy look that goes along with the black and white theme that is currently very popular .”

Kerri Vastila Chief Financial officer Gull Lake Glass Inc.

Mike Sahli, owner of Alex Glass & Glazing in Alexandria, agrees that glass showers doors seem to be increasing in size and popularity.

“It’s been really fun to see how the modern touch of glass has been used in homes and buildings to open up spaces,” says Sahli. “Most glass shower doors lately have been going frameless, with large free-standing panels and doors, and minimal hardware, giving very sleek designs to a bathroom.”

Those completely frameless shower screens are made of tempered glass, which is also called safety glass. During the manufacturing process, it’s heated and then cooled very quickly, making it much stronger than untreated glass. For decades, all custom shower doors were only 1/4 inch thick. The frameless style, along with most glass shower doors, are now made with thicker glass – either 3/8 inch or even 1/2 inch thick – providing added strength and stability.

Although not widely available yet, another new option for bathrooms is the broader use of colorful mosaic glass tiles that can be installed as a partition in the shower areas.

“It’s been really fun to see how the modern touch of glass has been used in homes and buildings to open up spaces.”

Mike Sahli Owner, Alex Glass & Gazing

In the Kitchen & Beyond

Sahli says he is seeing that more and more homeowners are finding innovative ways to incorporate glass, not only in the shower areas, but throughout the entire house.

“The kitchen is another area where glass can make a statement,” he says. “Cabinets with a mixture of wood and glass have become more popular, and glass can be used for countertops or islands.”

A glass backsplash is a way to make that design statement, but it’s also a practical solution, according to Butler.

“Keeping the area clean behind stoves, sinks and mixers can be difficult, especially with tile grout lines,” he says. “With a glass backsplash, you can paint the wall, still put up the tile design – or even shiplap or brick – and the glass can be installed right over the top. It can be custom designed to fit around the counters and cabinets.”

A wide range of glass textures, patterns and transparencies are available for any room or space on the interior or exterior of a home, Sahli adds.

“Whether it’s adding a glass entry door to a wine cellar as a distinctive design choice, or including glass and mirrors in an in-home gym or exercise room, those areas can instantly be made to look more modern, open, and spacious. From glass partitions in place of walls, to bookshelves in a home office, the possibilities are limitless.” L&H

“The kitchen is another area where glass can make a statement. Cabinets with a mixture of wood and glass have become more popular, and glass can be used for countertops or islands.”

Mike Sahli Owner, Alex Glass & Gazing