An Official Publication of the 2009-2010
Greater Houston Builders Association
Remodelors Council
Houston Remodeling Guide 2009
An Official Publication of the Greater Houston Builders Assciation RemodelorsTM Council
tips for using custom glass
Glass brings versatility to residential design
The owners of this Memorial home did not like the small and dated his & her master baths and closets. Premier Remodeling was awarded a prestigious Star
Award by combining five separate rooms into one large master bath and one
equally large closet. Countertops by Stone Evolution, plumbing fixtures by
Elegant Additions and KIVA, tile by Emser and design by My Design Team
& Premier Remodeling.
f you’re looking for the latest design trends for your new home or remodel, then
consider glass. This versatile material is being used in places that you may
not expect, as part of the most current new designs.
What makes this familiar material perfect for today’s styles? Glass is “green.” It’s made from a renewable resource, it’s recyclable, and it’s degradable. Its non-porous characteristics make it very practical, especially
from an anti-microbial standpoint. It is easy to clean and is very durable.
But, the very best reason to use glass is the unlimited design potential. Glass
isn
’t just for contemporary styles. It complements all décor preferences and coordinates well with other natural materials like granite,
concrete, marble and wood.
Glass can be used just about anywhere, but here are some ideas to give your
design a proven punch.
•For a custom stairway, glass balustrades or infills can be matched with metal or
wood supports. Patterned/textured glass, leaded overlay, and laminated glass
are all great choices to bring personality to your stair rail. But before your
designer puts pen to paper, consult a glass designer to be sure your railing
will meet safety standards and to get suggestions on how to save yourself some
dollars on the finished design.
•Consider using glass for a backsplash or shower interior. Glass is perfect for those areas where grout lines are a cleaning nightmare.
Panels can be as simple as a back-painted piece of flat glass, or as complex as
a piece of carved or cast glass with an intricately colored design.
•In a frameless shower design, try an irregular pattern along the top edge of the
glass and/or add a carved and painted design to the glass. Carving glass allows
you to add color to your design, but unlike with cast glass, the background can
remain clear to show off a custom tile design.
•Glass countertops are an effective way to accent your kitchen, bath or bar area.
The glass can be opaque, semi-transparent, or entirely transparent, and
thicknesses range from one-half inch to one and one-half inches. One of the
advantages of using transparent or semi-transparent glass is the ability to
under-light for a dramatic effect
in accent lighting of a space.
Specialty glass products come with a custom price tag. So, as one last tip, don’t rely on your designer, builder or remodelor to ball-park a price for custom
glass in their bid. Seek out a reputable glass designer, and get pricing
specifics while in the design phase to be sure your end product will meet your
budget.
Michele Rosner
SGO Designer Glass of North Houston
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Fort Bend Publishing Group 2009
