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Tuesday, April 24, 2018

A GUIDE TO GLASS SHOWER DOORS


For a spa-like feel, this material may be clear but the choice isn’t always
frameless glass shower doorsNancy and Aram’s bathroom renovation

It wakes you up in the morning. It calms you down at the end of a hard day. The shower has, at last, stepped up next to the tub—separate and equal—to become a focal point in the bath. However, there’s more to a fabulous shower experience than a multi-spray shower head and pretty tiled walls. You will also want to consider the shower door, which sets the tone for the shower’s overall appearance and harmony with your bath’s décor.



Getting started

You may decide to place the shower next to the tub because it looks nice, or because you don’t want to make major changes to the water lines. Perhaps you only need a shower in a space with limited square footage, so you want to put it in the corner. Wherever the shower ends up, your design will require one of the following door mounting options:


  • Framed
  • Semi-framed
  • Frameless
  • Freestanding

The style you choose can be based mostly on your taste. However, before committing, you will want to consult with your contractor to assess the bathroom space for quirks. After all, not all bathrooms are made alike: dimensions vary from ceiling-to-floor, plumbing lines wander, walls and floors are not always plumb. Your contractor can help you determine the best location for the shower, including making sure that the walls can bear the weight of frameless doors.


Selecting door styles
The door you select will depend not only on your preferences as to the style and movement of the door but also any space restrictions. Is there room for the door to swing open? Or can the width handle sliding doors? Placement of controls on one or two walls and the width and height of the shower enclosure will also factor in. 

Consider the following options:


  • Sliding: two panels fit in a frame and slide in either direction to open and close
  • Swing or pivot: a single pane attached to a wall swings open from the left or right
  • Door and panel: one narrow pane is fixed to the wall while next to it, a panel is fixed with hinges to the other wall and operates as the door
  • Butterfly or bi-fold: two equal-size panels are hinged at the center to open inward
  • Fixed: a single pane of glass attached to the wall holding the showerhead protects the bathroom from splashes; the rest of the shower opening remains uncovered



Choosing the door mounting
Once upon a time, framed was the only way to go. (Remember those shower doors when you were growing up?) With the widespread popularity of open design, semi-frame and frameless have caught homeowners’ attention. Improvements in mounting systems, including thicker glass supported by sleeker, stronger hinges, means you can have a shower that seems to float or even disappear. Your choices come down to four solutions:

Framed: This product features a metal frame around all four edges of the operating doors. In addition, metal channels framing the shower opening allow for hinges that attach swinging doors or the gliding motion of sliding doors. Framed glass doors are created to fit standard shower openings. The appearance doesn’t have to be standard, though. Manufacturers offer a range of looks, from super contemporary clean-lined chrome to matte black in a windowpane pattern from Coastal Shower Doors that will conjure your own private Downton Abbey. Duravit makes a glass enclosure with two self-locking doors that fold against either wall when not in use, so the shower disappears entirely.

Special details notwithstanding, framed can be the thriftiest way to go and the easiest to install. The glass panes are typically a 1/4-inch thick.

Semi-framed: This option may include framing around the entire shower opening but not around the actual door panels. It also typically features 1/4-inch glass. Semi-framed lends itself to some creative trends in headers, like exposed industrial-style hardware with rollers and bars that suggest barn door hardware.

Frameless: Not completely without hardware, frameless is still the way to go if you want an open, seamless, truly spa-like effect for your shower. Advances in hardware engineering and glass manufacturing make this type of installation appear to float. Glass panels attach to hinges that then attach to walls. There is commonly a combo of a fixed panel and a swinging door, both made of 5/8-inch safety glass. Besides the hinges, the only hardware is the door handle and possibly a towel bar, though after going to all this trouble, why would you want anything to block the view?

Frameless door mounting: This style lends itself to a curbless shower treatment. With no ledge to step over, it’s a good universal design.

Freestanding: At the very high end, you will find freestanding shower enclosures. They consist of a shower pan with a four-sided metal framework in which glass panels fit, one of them a door.  If you can afford the hefty price tag, you can have this shower up and working in a couple hours.


Finishes
Finally, you will choose a finish for the frame and its accompanying pieces—hinges and hardware. A good rule of thumb is to choose the finish that matches your shower head and any other shower fittings, like a hand shower or jets. Of course, the choice is up to you, and here, too, is a range—brushed, nickel, oil-rubbed bronze, and ever-popular chrome.
The less framework for the door, the thicker the glass. Standard glass shower doors come 1/2- or 3/8-inch thick; frameless doors should be 5/8-inch thick. All must be made of safety glass, which shatters into small pieces when broken, not into lethal shards.




A word about glass
All edges of your shower door should arrive finished or polished. Styles for the appearance of the flat surface include:
Opaque, a holdover from the previous century, is good for those seeking privacy. Ask to see a manufacturer’s offerings in this category, which can range from pebbled to brushed to the appearance of raindrops.
Clear glass remains a strong trend. For good reason: it promotes the open appearance in a bath while showing off sleek shower fittings and surface treatments of tile or stone.
Tinted glass is created during the manufacturing process and comes in subtle, natural tones like gray, bronze, and blue that complements America’s favorite color in the bath—white—as well as stone, tile, and metals for faucets and shower heads and controls.
Etched glass permits privacy with opaque designs etched onto clear glass. Patterns available can be figurative, like images from nature, or abstract. Custom designs will cost you more and must be special ordered. The etching is on the outside face of the shower.
The shower door—a seemingly small yet often overlooked feature—makes a huge impact on the look and feel of your bathroom. As you make your decision, think about how you shower, and what’s important to you as you experience your daily bathroom rituals. You want the shower to feel like it’s part of the of the bathroom. The right glass shower door can do that.

Turn your shower into an at-home spa with features like body sprays, steam, and more!

Thursday, April 19, 2018

Benefits of Glass Tabletops

2:32 PM // by Glass Company // , , , , // 5 comments

Have you thought about the role your wood furniture plays in the look and feel of your home?  Whether it’s an antique end table, a funky new coffee table or a majestic dining room table - your wood furniture is essentially the statement piece for an entire room.
But keeping that special, conversation starter clean can be quite a daunting task.  Some cleaners can attract dust, while others can leave a greasy film.  And then there’s the issue of preserving the color and detail that makes the piece unique and extraordinary.  It’s enough to make your mind spin. 
Yet, before you throw in the towel on your lump o’ timber, consider a glass tabletop.  A custom cut and sized piece of glass on top of your wood table may just be the answer to your wood woes.  There are actually a lot of benefits to a glass tabletop that you may not have even thought about.

Glass tabletops can be stylish.

The glass tabletop edges can be custom cut to give your tabletop an elegant and sophisticated motif or a fun and trendy vibe.

Glass tabletops can protect against harmful UV rays.

Your skin isn’t the only thing the sun can damage.  Tinted tabletop glass can provide your nice wood furniture with a sunscreen, of sort, that will protect and prevent sun damage.

Glass tabletops can prolong the life of your wood furniture.

Water rings, scratches and even sun damage can age your wood furniture prematurely.   A glass tabletop can protect from daily wear and tear and can help safeguard the characteristics that make the piece special.

Glass tabletops are easy to take care of and keep clean.

All you need is a dry, clean cloth and a spray bottle full of water or glass cleaner to keep your glass squeaky clean and shiny.

And of course, Switchable Privacy Glass can help you with all of your custom glass tabletop needs. 

Monday, April 16, 2018

Custom Mirrors

Mirrors serve several functional and aesthetic purposes. They reflect light and images to make a small room appear larger. They also give you a way to double check your appearance before you leave the house.
Standard mirrors are available in bulk at big box and home improvement stores, but what if you have a specific look in mind? After all, you probably want to purchase a mirror that reflects your home’s current decor, not build your furnishings around whatever mirror you happen to find in stores. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, consider designing custom mirrors to fit your needs best. Here are some popular options to inspire your next custom mirror project.

Oversized Bathroom Mirror

If you have a double vanity in your master bathroom, the existing mirror might be lackluster. You can make a statement by ordering an oversized mirror to match the custom dimensions of your double vanity.
Reflecting the room back at itself makes the entire bathroom look larger and feel more impressive. Customize your bathroom mirror with a frame for a high-end look you can’t get from bulk-produced mirrors.

Mirrored Wall

Hallways are a great place to decorate and showcase your tastes with pictures and framed art. But have you thought about adding an entirely mirrored wall? This unique feature makes your home stand out and creates the modern spin you might be looking for.
A mirror spanning entire hallway wall from floor to ceiling makes it feel less claustrophobic because the reflection makes the hallways appear twice as wide. You can still hang artwork and family pictures on the bare side for the personal touch you want in your home.

Full-Length Mirrors

When you want to dress for success, you can’t beat full-length custom mirrors. These come in many varieties. Some are swivel mirrors set in stands that make them portable. Others simply lean against the wall. Still, others mount to the wall as a permanent fixture, some of which reach all the way from floor to ceiling for a bold statement. From thin, unobtrusive frames to thick wood or metal frames, your options are limitless when you customize a full-length mirror.

Custom Mirror Safety Features

Since custom mirrors tend to be large and impressive, they require certain safety features to ensure an uneventful installation and safe day-to-day use. For example:

  • Frameless mirrors should feature safe rounded edges to prevent cutting yourself.
  • Large bathroom mirrors should feature safety backing to keep glass fragments in place in case of accidental breakage.
  • Heavy duty mirror hangers should be used for a secure installation that prevents the mirror from falling.

Do not hesitate to contact our managers to get the information regarding the mirrors


Thursday, April 5, 2018

How to Make a Bathroom Look Bigger

12:15 PM // by Glass Company // , , , , // 1 comment

You can turn your existing bathroom space into a room that is more aesthetically appealing and functional for far less money then a bathroom remodel would cost.

Here are a few key tips that will have you on your way to proudly displaying every square foot of your bathroom: 




  • Remember that less is more. Decorate with just a few pieces so the area appears more spacious.
  • Open up your space with a glass shower door. For smaller bathrooms, this may make your space appear 30-50% bigger by simply replacing a shower curtain with glass. A shower enclosure will help you minimize dividing lines that can make the space seem smaller than it is. Not to mention, it also creates a feeling of luxury and increases your home's value. As an added bonus, glass is easy to clean.
  • Install a wall-to-wall mirror to give the illusion of the space. Although a nice vanity mirror can go a long way, you may want to consider upgrading to a mirror that spans the width of the wall and reaches up to the celling. This can make your bathroom feel twice its size. 




So, there you have it! Three easy fixes to make your space work for you. You and your guests will enjoy these bathroom updates while being budget-friendly at the same time. 




Contact us today to start planning your bathroom update.
Our Phone: (646) 693 5775

Tuesday, April 3, 2018

How To Choose Custom Glass Table Top For Your Home

8:01 AM // by Glass Company // , , , // 1 comment

Thinking about custom glass table tops?
The kitchen and dining room can be described as the most important room in your home as it is the place where most families come together to share meals and make lasting memories. Therefore, you should have a dining room table that is both beautiful and comfortable for your family. A glass table top is a perfect solution as it is both timeless and elegant. However, there are several considerations that you should be aware of while choosing a custom glass table top. 
Below are just few tips to make things easier for you.

Custom Cut Glass Table Tops

One of the most important decisions you need to make is deciding what shape or how big your custom glass table top needs to be. You should first decide on how many people you need to accommodate and what shape would be best suited for your dining room.
A rectangular or oval table will provide a lot of seating, but a square or round table will be more intimate as smaller groups of people can easily interact.
You can also customize the thickness, finish, color or polish on a table to suit your needs and fit with the style and décor of your dining room.
Tempered glass is a great option if you need a stronger table, especially if you have kids.
A thinner glass will provide a more delicate and refined look whereas a thicker glass will provide a more durable table better suited for heavy use.
Glass experts can help you decide on the best custom glass table top to fit with your home and your family’s need so that the most important room is both elegant and comfortable.

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