Clear Intentions
Designing with glass to reveal, reflect and conceal
by Lea Currie
Good design isn’t just about what to add to a room – it’s about knowing when to put something in the spotlight and when to let it fade away. Glass gives homeowners that flexibility. It can spotlight an architectural feature, soften a busy view, reflect light or create privacy without closing off a space. Few materials can do so much while still keeping a room feeling warm and open.
Fort Rouge Glass guides us through a few ways this versatile material can help you shape your space.
Show off the staircase: A glass railing keeps sight lines open, allowing the architecture of a staircase to become part of the room without the visual interruption of a traditional railing.
Put collections on display: Turn everything from books and ceramics to glassware and treasured keepsakes into a design feature with a glass-front cabinet. Give those cherished pieces the chance to be appreciated rather than hidden behind a solid door.
Soften the view: When privacy matters, patterned and textured glass can obscure what’s behind it without completely blocking light. It’s an elegant solution for doors, cabinets and partitions.
Reflect the room: A custom mirror can do more than provide a place to check your reflection. The right size, shape and finish can bounce light around a room and become a design feature in its own right.
Hide the clutter: Keep the bathroom from feeling boxed in with a glass shower. It can define the space and offer a cleaner visual line without making the entire bathroom feel divided.
The beauty of glass is that it doesn’t insist on being the centre of attention. Sometimes it puts something on display. Sometimes it deliberately takes something out of view. And sometimes, its most impressive trick is making the boundary between the two almost disappear.
Fort Rouge Glass has been part of the Winnipeg community since 1968. What began as a small hardware and glass store has grown into a Manitoba-based company specializing in custom glass solutions for homes and businesses.
For more inspiration, visit Fort Rouge Glass at frg.ca.
