Light Bright

By Stacee Sledge
Log Home Living, October 2004

Baths, kitchens and beyond. Discover new ways to incorporate glass into your home’s master plan.

Glass is usually thought of as a transparent shield that separates us from the great outdoors. But it can also be used in a myriad of imaginative ways around your castle — from unexpected sink and furniture designs to durable and decorative countertops and shower enclosures.

Today’s glass artisans and manufacturers are pioneering the way for a melding of glass and timber, which (you guessed it) marriage rustic and modern styles. And if you’re worried that glass accents or large sections of the clear stuff is galaxies away from your budget, fear not. Glass accessories are less expensive than you think, and the new options are boundless.

Why Glass?
“The use of glass in log homes is an excellent way to introduce light and movement within the heavy log walls of rustic homes,” says Stephanie Gauthier, resident designer at Wisconsin Log Homes. “And since glass can be formed into almost any shape, it’s also a creative way to incorporate organic shapes into the design.”

Adding glass to a rustic home also offers a great way to break up the long horizontal lines and draw the eye up to interesting rooflines.

But there are other reasons to consider incorporating glass into your space. For example, it’s an excellent choice if you’re concerned about energy efficiency, according to Stephanie. “Using glass in a log home is a way to continue “green” home design,” she says. “And glass products are 100 percent recyclable.”

Opaque glass also offers UV protection by filtering light, which protects your carpets and furnishings from the effects of excessive direct sunlight.

And finally, using glass in your log home can actually save you money. Strategically placed stained glass panels, for example, can usher light into just about any room, which cuts electricity costs by lessening your reliance on lighting.

Old Standbys
Etched and stained glasses have been used successfully in rustic design for decades. Frosted images depicting wildlife or mountain landscapes on panes of glass have become common — and maybe a bit of a decorating cliché. But new techniques have created possibilities for more intricate and original designs, especially with the advent of computer-generated designs coupled with knife-plotting or photo-resist methods.

Both stained and leaded glass also have found a comfortable niche in log homes, according to Gauthier, who says they offer a subtle but sophisticated way to add your own sense of style. “A stained glass inset in a door, a unique splash of color tucked neatly above a window or high on a gable is a charming accent,” she explains. “You also can install a large stained-glass window over a whirlpool bath to provide natural light, color and privacy.”

In the Kitchen
Glass-fronted cabinetry has been popular for many years, but other gleaming glass elements are also finding their way into rustic kitchens.

Companies such as Glassworks in Seattle, Washington, provide striking options for countertops by using a variety of glass-making methods. One example of the company’s work is a rounded kitchen counter measuring eight feet with a “chipped” edge. Elevated above a more traditional granite or marble countertop, this new surface adds dimension to the variety of natural elements in the room as well as extra space for displaying collectibles in an otherwise functional work zone.

For a more traditional look for your countertops, panels can be made of thick sheets of glass, broken and re-formed in an oven and finished with polished edges, which produces a flat, shiny surface reminiscent of marble or other polished, gleaming stone.

One more reason glass makes a fitting countertop choice in your rustic home? It’s a heavy-duty material that’s easy to clean. When cast, it can be as resilient as granite and less porous than marble.

In the Bath
Glass has always been a primary element in the bathroom, but innovative twists on old ideas have pushed the scope of rustic design in new directions.

New glass-sink designs are especially impressive, with an array of bowls, vanities, textured countertops and pedestals available to home owners. A shallow glass basin or trough set on a glass vanity shelf looks as if it’s floating off the log wall.

A stunning example of glass mimicking natural form is Glassworks’ waterfall sink. Usually constructed at 3 feet wide and 2 feet deep, the custom piece gives the impression of a sleek shimmer of water tumbling over the lip of the vanity. Think of it as functional artwork you can display and appreciate in any prominent powder room.

Shower and tub enclosures are also prime places for using sculpted glass. Fire polished so that it isn’t abrasive like etched glass, the surface of sculpted or heat-molded glass is smooth and easy to keep clean, and its thickness allows for an array of decorative-edge options.

Stephanie also suggests dividing the functional areas of the bath with glass blocks to avoid splitting an already small room into even tinier quarters. Consider using colored glass blocks— available in vibrant blue and green hues—to bring a gorgeous lake effect to the bath.

Finally, glass light fixtures can wash a room with light rather than reflect off of glossy fixtures (frosted styles work best). Bits of colored glass also can be inserted into a tile wall (think rich mosaics), for a minimalist look or an elaborate glass mural.

Other Living Spaces
Glass accents don’t have to be relegated to the kitchen or bath.

Another way to show your personal style is to bring more glass into your home’s entry. “Adding sidelights, transoms, palladians, and other glass window features opens up and welcomes guests like a big smile,” Stephanie says.

Glass designs can work wonderfully in every room of your rustic home, particularly with room dividers, tabletops and furniture pieces—even stunning cast glass stairs that use color to imitate smooth stone. Not only are there tons of possibilities, but glass artisans are happy to help you come up with new ways to use this versatile material.

And don’t forget the importance of a well-placed skylight, which can spill natural light through a cathedral ceiling in the great room or kitchen. After all, says Stephanie, “in a rustic log home, it’s all about bringing the outdoors inside.”

It stands to reason that glass works so well in log homes; after all, it’s a natural material made of sand, lime, and soda ash. And in the same ways that the log beams in your home speak to the characteristics of strong, soaring trees, glass harkens to the ocean’s beaches, bringing with it texture, light, and movement.

So, dispense with the notion that windows are the only places where glass can coexist with those rich wood hues. When you’re finalizing floorplans and mapping out each room of your home, ask yourself a simple question: How can I add more panache to this space with glass? You’ll be delighted by how many opportunities there are for your home to truly shine.

Sidebar: Decorative Glass Techniques

Glass can be transformed from the clear, immaculate panes we most often envision into breathtaking decorative pieces of color, texture and intrigue. Several options to consider:

Stained
Stained glass that has been cut into pieces and reassembled to form a picture or decorative design.

Etched
Created by masking a pane with a stenciled design. Pieces of the mask are then removed while the glass is sprayed with aluminum oxide or other chemicals to achieve a frosted look.

Fused
Crafted by jointly heating pieces of glass to temperatures high enough to cause them to melt together and permanently blend.

Slumped
Formed by heating a sheet of glass until it softens and changes shape with the help of gravity.

Cast
Created by heating a sheet of glass and allowing it to become molten. Once the glass if fluid, it’s poured in
to a mold, cooled and released.

Stacee Sledge is a professional writer who lives in Washington State .

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