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Colorado Homes Magazine

Exciting New Uses for a Timeless Material

By: Stephanie Janard

The Rossetter Family

By: www.evergreenchamber.org

Evergreen Glass INC

By: Stephanie Gerringer

Residential Decotative Glass Repertoire

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By: Chrisina Lewwellen
Homeowners get creative with applications Christina Lewellen
April 20, 2009

Perhaps because it is viewed as a natural, green material, or perhaps because of its design flexibility, glass is popping up in homes across the country in traditional applications such as shower doors and tabletops, as well as more recently popular applications such as kitchen backsplashes, vessel sinks, vanity tops, interior doors and even floors and staircases.

“Glass overall is a growing trend,” says Alexsandra Guinan, principal, GlassKote USA, Bridgeport, Conn. “[Designers and homeowners] are not scared to incorporate more and more glass in homes and living environments.”

Mel Gordon, president, Gordon’s Glass, Warminster, Pa., agrees: “People are planning new uses for glass,” he says. Bathrooms, for example, have become such a focal point of a home that people are spending more money to upgrade these spaces, he says. “Frameless shower doors used to just be for the wealthy, but now everyone is putting them in.”

As homeowners and designers stretch their creative muscles, suppliers are more than willing to keep up. “Glass and shower doors are getting more custom,” says Linda Garman, director of marketing communications, Basco Shower Enclosures, Mason, Ohio. “If someone comes to us and says, ‘I want to match this,’ we can provide it. We’re able to customize and do just about anything that’s doable in a shower door.”

Much of the buzz around decorative glass is cumulative, says Cathie Saroka, marketing director, Goldray Industries Ltd., Brooklyn, N.Y. “Decorative glass is a trend that gains momentum because once people see what it can do, it sparks even more creativity.”

With all the color and texture options, decorative glass offers a substitute to other materials, Saroka adds. “Glass as a material is incredibly flexible,” she says. “We can simulate other materials like metal and wood. It used to be that sandblasting was the only option but people didn’t like that because of the maintenance issues. But now the possibilities are endless.”

Maintenance—or the relative lack thereof—is another strong selling point for homeowners. “Glass is easy to clean and always looks good,” Guinan says. “It’s non-porous and hygienic [so there’s] no mold or germs. Glass doesn’t fade or look shabby after a few years, requiring re-painting like walls or other materials where discoloration or grout lines occur.”

With shower doors, there are two primary approaches, Garman says. Homeowners either opt for clear glass with little framing material to show off the tile work in the shower, or they design a shower door that serves as its own focal point. “Oftentimes, the enclosure is the largest thing in the room and can really make a decorative statement,” she says.

In the kitchen, glass offers a contemporary feel and an easy way to add color without the maintenance and cleaning issues that come with traditional ceramic or stone tile, Gordon says. “It’s a real slick look,” he says.

“Glass gives a feeling of being high-end or up-market,” Guinan adds.