Not Just Window Dressing
By Lea Currie
Glass used to be the quiet part of a home – something to be seen through and not heard. Exterior windows and a mirror or two were its limits. But now – without shouting for too much attention – glass is adding itself into the interiors of homes and changing how we look at this versatile design element.
“People tend to think of glass as something you just look through,” says Monica White, Sales and Business Development Manager for Fort Rouge Glass. “But it actually changes how you experience a room. It can tie spaces together in a really natural way.”
Bringing glass inside can quietly shape how a room looks and functions. It naturally makes a home seem larger, adds more natural light, brings attention to architectural details and creates a sense of calm and comfort.
These coveted features have helped glass transition from an accent piece to an interior design element in its own right. From the entryway and kitchen to bathrooms and living spaces, glass elements can soften transitions and reduce visual breaks between spaces. Frameless shower enclosures turn bathrooms into spa-like retreats. Interior glass doors and partitions give separation where you need it, without making everything feel closed in. Glass railings on staircases feel lighter and more refined.
Glass has always preferred to blend in rather than compete and that’s exactly why it has a timeless quality to it. While colours, finishes and decor trends continually evolve, glass stays remarkably adaptable. It works with traditional millwork just as easily as modern architecture and doesn’t overwhelm the surrounding design.
“More and more, people want materials that aren’t shouting for attention. Glass fits that. It adapts and it holds up as styles change around it,” says White.
The transition toward glass as more of a feature element in home design is something Fort Rouge Glass has seen unfold throughout nearly 60 years working with homeowners, builders and designers on custom glass installations.
Glass may have once sat quietly in the background, but it’s no longer just something you look through and it deserves to be seen.
For more inspiration and information on custom glass solutions, visit frg.ca.
