Glass trends for bathrooms

Glass trends for bathrooms

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Glass trends for bathrooms

Glass trends for bathrooms

If there’s one room in the house that needs frequent updating, it’s the bathroom. No matter how good you are to your bathroom, it takes a beating. The water, humidity, cleaning and just plain use really take a toll on the bathroom. Here are a few glass trends to keep your eye on when planning your next bathroom remodeling job.

Usually, the materials we use in home construction aren’t meant to get wet. That poses an automatic problem for bathrooms because the bathroom is all about water! Because it’s impervious, glass is an absolute natural choice for the bathroom. Whether you’re talking about tiles, countertops, shelves or shower doors, glass is your go-to material because it can take whatever you dish out.

Glass trends taking shape


The most recent trend in bathroom materials has been stone. Stone is an awesome surface choice, but there are just some things that stone’s not good at. (Ever try to shine a light through stone?) Stone gets all A’s in durability, but it can be porous, which poses a problem in a water-happy place like the bathroom. Keeping stone surfaces sealed and clean can be a chore.

Glass, on the other hand, doesn’t absorb any organic materials, so it can be wiped clean over and over. It also doesn’t stain, so cleanup usually requires ordinary household cleaners and sanitizers.

Glass tiles come in a variety of colors. If you’re feeling particularly daring, transparent tiles look great on the walls, or on backsplash duty. You can also use glass tiles in the tub surround, on the walls or on the floors.

Traditional tiles are square or rectangular, but shaped tiles are coming on strong. Hexagonal shapes, subway tiles and patterned tiles are all making a pitch for use in the bathroom.

One benefit of working with glass in the bathroom is that it blends well with other materials. Whether you’re aiming for a natural look using wood, or a sleek and sophisticated one that uses granite or marble, glass is versatile enough to complement a wide range of other materials.

If you’re looking for more information about glass trends, please visit the rest of our site. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store .

Photo Credit: Debtex70, via Flickr.com

Glass room dividers are hot

Glass room dividers are hot

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Glass room dividers are hot

Glass room dividers are hot

One way to incorporate glass into your design plan is by using glass room dividers. You can find pre-printed, pre-painted or just plain glass room dividers. If you intend to use a large sheet of glass, it’s a good idea (maybe a requirement?) to use tempered glass. Tempered glass can be custom sized before it’s treated, and it can be painted after heat treatment. Tempered glass is stronger than ordinary plate glass, and will resist shattering, cracking and other impact damage.

Decorate glass room dividers with Glassprimer™ glass paint

You can also use patterned glass, glass block and frosted glass to create privacy. Frosted glass can be expensive, so for larger frosted glass installations, you may want to consider using Glassprimer™ glass paint with a frosted effect to create a cost-effective, opaque coating that transmits light. Glassprimer™ glass paint is available in virtually any color and can cover more than 250 square feet for about $1 per square foot.

The advantage of using Glassprimer™ glass paint over traditional acid etched glass is that with Glassprimer™ glass paint, you can “frost” your glass using any color. Traditional etched glass modifies the surface of the glass, but doesn’t create any colored effect, unless the glass is already colored.

Glassprimer™ glass paint is also highly UV-resistant, which means that it can be used in locations that receive direct sunlight without fear of delamination, chipping or fading. When applied according to the manufacturer’s instructions, Glassprimer™ glass paint comes with a 10-year warranty. Glassprimer™ glass paint can also be used on other porous and non-porous surfaces, including tile and stone. You’ll get the same great results!

Glassprimer™ glass paint doesn’t simply dry on the surface of the glass. Instead, the paint is designed to create a nanoscale bond with the surface of the glass. This nanoscale bond is what ensures that the paint will stay in place permanently, even in conditions that cause ordinary paints to fail. Once bonded to the surface, Glassprimer™ glass paint resists humidity and UV light – two of the most common culprits in interior paint failure.

Glassprimer™ glass paint is easy to clean up, too. Using ordinary paint thinners, you can remove Glassprimer™ glass paint from high-volume, low pressure paint sprayers, paint rollers and paint brushes easily. It’s also a low-VOC compound, so you won’t be dealing with lingering paint vapors in your home or commercial space.

If you’d like more information about decorating with Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit the rest of our site. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store .

Photo Credit: Rachel, via FreeImages.com

Glass emerges in bathroom trends

Glass emerges in bathroom trends

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Glass emerges in bathroom trends

Glass emerges in bathroom trends

New trends are emerging in bathroom design, and they definitely incorporate glass. Consumers have some definite preferences for their bathrooms, and calm happens to be one of them. So how do you “calm” a bathroom? Here are a few tips for channeling your bathroom’s inner spa.

Glass can help create calm luxury

Color. One good way to bring order to the chaos of your bathroom is through color. Using neutral colors, natural colors or a monochromatic color palette can help bring a measure of calm to your bathroom. Light colors and soft lighting can also help you get that spa-like feeling.

Open shelves, open vanities. Open shelving creates storage while maximizing space. This is true especially in small bathrooms. Consider open wire or glass shelves to create space for towels and other standard bathroom items. Clever use of space in vanities can allow for significant storage while disguising and discouraging clutter.

Privacy. Creating privacy in a bathroom can be a challenge, especially when the bathroom contains a window. Glassprimer™ glass paint can help turn an ordinary transparent window into a permanently frosted glass that affords complete privacy without significantly reducing light transmission. In addition, glass painted with Glassprimer™ glass paint offers superior UV-protection. By rejecting UV radiation from the Sun, you can reduce the temperature in the room by eliminating heat buildup. This helps you maintain comfort and reduce energy consumption.

Parity. Most homeowners focus their expenditures on the master bathroom, but you can carry themes (and materials) through to other bathrooms in the house. By using similar materials in multiple spaces in the house, you can not only save money, but create continuity in your decorating theme. This could mean using the same color palette, paints, glass or tile, and other materials in multiple bathrooms (or other spaces) in your home.

If you’re looking for additional glass inspiration, please visit the rest of our site. If you’re ready to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store .

Photo Credit: Hotel Le Plaza, via Flickr.com

Get professional results from glass paint

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Getting professional results from glass paint

Getting professional results from glass paint

Most people don’t paint for a living, and they worry about making mistakes with premium paints. The good news is that Glassprimer™ glass paint is easy to work with, and even rookie painters can get professional results from glass paint. Consider these tips if you’re looking to get professional results from glass paint projects on your home-improvement list.

How to get professional results with glass paint


There’s an old saying about using the right tool for the job, and nothing is truer when working with glass paint. Getting professional results from glass paint depends upon using the right tools for this job.

High-volume, low pressure sprayer


A high-volume, low-pressure (HVLP) paint sprayer applies paint evenly and quickly to any surface. It’s especially good for working with glass paint, but you can also use an HPLV sprayer with any paint. This is a tool you’ll get a lot of use from, no matter what surface you’re painting, or what paint you’re using. Aside from producing professional results with glass paint, they also reduce the amount of paint you use per coat by as much as 40%. Reducing the amount of paint also means improving the drying time between coats. Not only do you save money, you also save time. An HVLP paint sprayer is a great investment for the do-it-yourselfer, and if you paint regularly, you’ll get a lot of use from this particular tool.

HVLP paint sprayers can also be used to apply other coatings, like stain, lacquer and varnish. Hardware and home improvement stores carry HPLV paint sprayers, so they’re easy to find. One word of caution – keep your paint sprayer clean for trouble-free operation!

Paint rollers


You can also apply glass paint with a paint roller. Provided you choose the right kind, you can also achieve professional results from glass paint. Because you use solvent to clean glass paint from your tools, you’ll want a paint roller that’s solvent-resistant. Mohair rollers provide the best overall coverage and are solvent resistant. If you’re planning to paint with a roller, be sure the roller core is also solvent resistant. Also pay attention to the thickness of the nap when you’re selecting a roller. The thicker the nap, the more paint it will absorb. Choose a roller with a thin to moderate nap to avoid collecting too much paint.

Work slowly and don’t oversaturate the roller with paint. You will get highly professional results by applying thin coats of paint. Wait for each coat to dry completely before applying the next coat. Rollers tend to apply thicker coats, so a little patience will go a long way!

Paint brushes


You can get professional results from glass paint using a solvent-resistant mohair paintbrush. As with rollers, the trick to getting professional results from glass paint is applying thin coats of paint. Brushes work best for small area jobs. If you have a lot of surface to cover, consider using a sprayer or roller instead. You can find mohair brushes in the paint section of home improvement and hardware stores. As a word of caution, avoid dipping the brush more than about halfway into your paint tray. Keeping the paint on the tip of the brush will give better control, better results and make it easier to clean up!

If you’d like more information about glass paint, or would like to purchase glass paint online, please visit our online store.

Photo Credit: Jaco Jahluka, via Flickr.com

Backpainted glass on furniture

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Backpainted glass on furniture

Backpainted glass on furniture

Glass is a very durable, versatile protective surface that works just as well on furniture as it does on walls. When you think about backpainted glass, you naturally think about backsplashes, but you can make a variety of improvements to furniture using custom cut, backpainted glass.

Place backpainted glass on just about any furniture surface to update the appearance of your piece. Try this on any table or desk that’s in good structural condition, but has a worn or damaged top.

Glass topped dining room table


Wooden dining table tops are notorious for picking up water damage, heat damage and scratches. Did you find an antique wooden table that you’d love to have in your home, but don’t want to spend the time and effort to refinish the surface? Try this trick instead.
A glass shop can custom-cut and temper a sheet of glass to fit your table. You’ll want to make sure the sheet is heavy enough to resist sliding, changes in temperature, and the occasional dropped dish or glass. Backpaint one side of the glass using your favorite color, or even create a pattern with the paint. When the paint has cured, install the glass on the tabletop. You can secure it with silicone glue, or if the glass is heavy enough, it will sit safely on your table. Clean and sanitize the tabletop using ordinary cleaners and enjoy your table for years to come!

Cover a desk top with glass


Few things are more majestic than a desk with a glass top. Furniture makers rarely make ornate desks anymore, but you can find these old gems in resale and antique shops. The desk is probably still in good shape, but these pieces are often stored improperly and may have a top that has been stained, scratched or even delaminated. Start at the glass shop and have them custom fit a piece of glass to your desk. You can use a sheet of regular glass, but thicker glass will work better in this application. Backpaint the glass top, using a spray applicator. You could also paint with stencils or try a frosted effect. Once the paint has cured, place the backpainted side of the glass on the desk surface and get to work!

Glass topped coffee table


Nothing is more at home than a glass top on a coffee table. You can put your drinks or dishes down on the table without worrying about picking up water rings from glasses, or discolorations from heat. Tempered glass is the best choice for this project. As with the other projects, start with the glass shop and obtain a piece of tempered glass that’s been cut to fit your coffee table. (Tempered glass must be cut before tempering, since you cannot cut tempered glass.) Apply a coat of Glassprimer™ glass paint in your favorite color. The paint will be cured in about 24-72 hours. You can place the glass top directly on the coffee table without attaching it to the surface, but you may want to use a silicone glue or mastic if you have children, pets or just tend to run into the coffee table a lot! A coffee table is small enough that you can redo this project whenever you change the color scheme of your room.

If you’d like more information about glass paint, or would like to purchase glass paint online, please visit our online store at GlassPaint.com.

Photo Credit: Clarence Risher, via FreeImages.com

Glassprimer™ on HGTV

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Distributor website www.glasspaint.com

Be sure to watch Glassprimer™ paint Team on HGTV TV series “Color Splash” with Host David Bromstad starting mid July 2010.

We are expected to be airing on HGTV for 2-4 years in.

  • Watch how Glass Paint is applied…
  • Watch back painted glass installs…
  • Before and after reviews…

Picking just the right paint for your home

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Here at Glassprimer.com we want to provide you with resources other than just your Glass Paint needs. So that’s why I wanted to just take a moment and provide some helpful tips on interior painting. Having a room, or an entire house, repainted on the interior is one of the most effective and least expensive ways to really bring new life and style to your home.

Painting the interior of your house is a big job and there are a lot of things to take into consideration. In this short space I just want to quickly go over a few things to keep in mind when selecting your color. You have a lot of different ones to choose from. It is always a good idea to pick a color that complements what is already in your room. If you’re moving into a new place and don’t have any furniture, tile, or other set pieces that are already in place I recommend gathering them first. It is easier to find paint that matches all the items in your room than it is to match all of the items to the paint. You can go about the choosing process in several different ways.

You can go to the paint store and look at their selection of paints for something that fits your decor. Most larger paint stores will allow you to go through this online, but I encourage seeing it in person before you make any final decisions. If you’re more of a free spirit and would like to take color from somewhere else, for example, a piece of artwork or a vase–you can read about an iPhone App that allows you to do just that.

Once you have a paint in mind get samples so you can bring them home and see how they look there. Lighting has a large effect on how we see color so it is a good idea to view the paint at all times of the day. In addition to the paint color that you fall in love with bring several lighter and darker shades along. Because of the difference in light that I mentioned you could wind up with several really different impressions.