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Glass isn't just for windows anymore

Glass isn’t just for windows anymore

Glass isn't just for windows anymore

Glass isn’t just for windows anymore

The emergence of glass as a primary building material has left some architects and artists wondering about the exact limits of glass. In most cases, glass is used for fenestration (windows) and for exterior façades on commercial buildings.

But glass is more versatile than that, and some architects are experimenting with exactly what glass can do. Artists have known for thousands of years that liquid glass can be formed into virtually any shape. The shape hardens as the glass cools. A talented artist can make just about anything.

In the industrialized world, however, function is preferred over form, so glass adopted a highly functional role in architecture. A process to make uniform sheets of glass, known as float glass, has been around since the 1950s. If you want glass panels, float glass is ideal, but few people have experimented with what they can create with float glass.

An MIT researcher aims to change that, and has created geometric structures out of float glass panels. The panels are bound together with UV-activated bonding agents, and are changing ideas about what you can do with a flat piece of glass.

The pieces are impressive, and range in size from viewable to habitable, but there’s no doubt that float glass panels are exceptionally heavy. When joined together, a large number of panels may exceed practicality.

That hasn’t stopped some designers from rethinking what can be done with glass. MDRDV recently completed a new façade for the Chanel store in Amsterdam. The storefront is made from glass bricks that were designed to blend in with the surrounding architecture, and to complement an existing brick façade on the building’s upper floors.

It’s safe to say that with the advent of secure bonding materials, you may begin to see more creative uses for glass in architecture in the near future.

If you’d like more information about 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: el genio del dub, via Flickr.com

Bring on the glass in your home

Bring on the glass in your home

Bring on the glass in your home

Bring on the glass in your home

The allure of glass is inescapable. It offers an upscale, contemporary look and yet, the material is common and affordable. Whether you work with glass on the inside of your home, or use it as a way to interface with the environment around you, you can’t go wrong with glass.

Contrary to popular belief, glass is durable. When we think of glass, we think of its fragility, but when selected and supported properly, glass will last for years, and look good while doing it. If you put glass in your home in those areas that are likely to take a knock or two, the solution is to use tempered glass. Tempered glass is widely available, affordable and will stand up to the bumps and bruises that would challenge ordinary glass.

Tempered glass is an ideal medium in the kitchen and bathroom. It’s heat resistant, easy to clean and can tolerate changes in temperature that ordinary flat glass can’t. Glass doesn’t readily absorb anything, so it can be cleaned and sterilized easily, using ordinary chemicals. You can also set it in doorways and window walls for extra security.

You might be thinking that the ultimate upside of glass – its transparency – is also a downside. Sometimes you don’t want to see through something – especially if it’s a backsplash or a countertop. That’s where Glassprimer™ glass paint comes in.

Glass doesn’t readily absorb anything, which means that ordinary paints – which rely on absorption to stick to surface – won’t work on glass. Glassprimer™ glass paint is specially engineered to bond to the surface of glass. Once it is cured, Glassprimer™ glass paint will not delaminate, chip or fade. It permanently alters the surface of the glass to ensure that the paint stays put.

Glassprimer™ glass paint allows you to backpaint a glass surface, which covers the surface below it (or behind it), and leave the intact glass surface facing outward. You get the benefit of a glass surface and the color options and coverage you’re looking for.
If you’d like more information about 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: Pulpolox, via Flickr.com

Endless Summer: Consider a Glass Greenhouse

Endless Summer: Consider a Glass Greenhouse

Endless Summer: Consider a Glass Greenhouse

Endless Summer: Consider a Glass Greenhouse

If the prospect of saying goodbye to summer has you down, consider building your own glass greenhouse to help you get through the winter blues. A small greenhouse can support a wide range of flowering and edible plants. It also takes advantage of the natural phenomenon of solar heat gain.

No one disputes the healthful benefits of a good dose of sunshine, but in the winter, heat is what most people are after! Heat is generated by the invisible light frequencies in sunlight, and those invisible rays can turn a greenhouse into a warm winter oasis.

Your greenhouse can be decorative, practical or both. If you live in a climate where snow is the norm, there may be a couple of winter months where your greenhouse is out of commission. Otherwise, you may have a fully functional room that’s both sunny and warm, even when the ground is too cold to grow anything.

Greenhouse kits typically allow you to build a temporary structure. The structure may stand year-round, but it may not be robust enough to stand up to high winds or heavy snows. You can build a permanent greenhouse, however, that can withstand these off-season hazards. You’ll also reap the rewards of a little winter sun!

Whether you use your greenhouse strictly for potting, planting and starting, or you use it as a way to get a little winter refreshment, having a greenhouse on your property offer some significant benefits. While it’s not likely to increase the value of your property to potential buyers, it may increase your enjoyment of the property if gardening, planting and landscaping appeals to you.

You can also decorate your greenhouse, and if it catches too much sun, you can also diminish the solar heat gain by using a glass coating like Glassprimer™ glass paint. Glassprimer™ glass paint is durable, and is suitable for use on either indoor or outdoor projects. It’s highly UV-resistant, so it will withstand the effects of direct sunlight, and you can cover a glass surface for about $1 per square foot.

If you’d like more information about 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: Jinx McCombs, via Flickr.com

Using glass in interior design

Using glass in interior design

Using glass in interior design

Using glass in interior design

Glass is an ideal material for decorating. When you want to open a space, glass allows light to flow through the space, and naturally makes it look larger. Even though glass is the “go-to” material for this kind of application, glass has many other desirable decorating characteristics.

Transparency is insanely attractive, but you can do a lot with opaque glass. Glass has a tactile quality that other materials don’t have. It’s cool, smooth and solid. It can be heavy, and it’s elegant in a way that no other material is. When you want opacity, there’s no better way to achieve it than with Glassprimer™ glass paint.

Glassprimer™ glass paint comes in virtually any color, and you can create opaque and frosted glass looks for about $1 per square foot. That’s actually less expensive than traditional frosted glass. Traditional frosted glass is created using either a chemical process or sandblasting the surface of the glass.

If you’re not going for opaque, you can also achieve a dramatic translucent effect using Glassprimer™ glass paint. Translucence allows light to shine through a non-transparent surface.

From a decorating standpoint, you can do a lot with translucent and opaque architectural glass within an interior space. Walls, furniture and doors can all be made of or incorporate glass. Glass walls in a conference room can be augmented with Glassprimer™ glass paint or UV-inkjet printing to ensure privacy while still allowing the distribution of natural light.

Other features, including reception areas, walls, partitions and other similar structures can also be augmented with Glassprimer™ glass paint. Glass is a highly cost effective and versatile material, and can be used virtually anywhere – walls, floors, ceilings, doors, walkways, staircases and more.

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

Photo Credit: Thomas Hawk, via Flickr.com

Glass headlines interior design trends

Glass headlines interior design trends

Glass headlines interior design trends

Glass headlines interior design trends

Updating your existing space can be a challenge, but these new interior design trends may help you get started on your grand plans. The great news for fans of the classic look is that it’s always welcome! Interior designers are falling back on the tried and true in a big way. Glass is being used to bridge the gap between classic and contemporary.

If you’re looking at new windows, the word is, “Go big!” Floor-to-ceiling glass windows are at the top of the designers’ wish lists. In addition to flooding an area with natural light, they lend an open, airy and contemporary feeling to just about any space. They’re a great way to smudge the line between interior and exterior. When nestled in a door-wall, they can also turn an indoor room into an outdoor room in a snap.

Great glass walls are easy to dress, too! Floor to ceiling curtains, shades and portable room dividers can give privacy when desired. They can also be stored when it’s time to let the sun shine in.

Great glass without the windows

If new windows aren’t in the budget, you can incorporate glass in other ways. Glass panel surfaces and tabletops accentuate simple, yet sophisticated designs. Paired with neutral colors on the walls and natural flooring, you can pull together an outstanding look for one room or the whole house!

Worried about losing out on color by adding too much glass? Don’t! Glassprimer™ glass paint is a specially formulated paint that comes in virtually any color. You can use Glassprimer™ glass paint to add a splash of color to a room. Backpaint backsplashes, countertops or cabinet faces to update a kitchen easily. Glassprimer™ glass paint is easy to apply and cleans up like ordinary paint. Once cured, Glassprimer™ glass paint won’t fade, chip or peel and can stand up to direct sunlight.

For more information about 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: Jeremy Levine, via Flickr.com

Why we're so attracted to glass

Why we’re so attracted to glass

Why we're so attracted to glass

Why we’re so attracted to glass

There’s something about glass that just lends an air of elegance to a room. Whether it’s large windows, a glass room divider, a sweeping glass staircase, or a glass table top, glass just gets our attention.

Visually, glass is appealing because you can see through it. It transmits light, which allows it to open up a space. The openness of a space has a direct impact on the way we feel, and that works well – especially in a home.

For all of its power, glass is also delicate. Everyone’s broken glass. Without a doubt, glass has its limits, which makes its presence in staircases, room dividers and large windows all that much more magical.

Design is evolving to incorporate much more glass. Commercial and residential spaces can both take advantage of glass, and incorporating glass in remodeling is becoming more common.

Outdoor rooms often rely on glass to bridge the distance between a home’s interior and its exterior. Commercial interiors rely on glass to transmit natural light. Studies have shown that exposure to natural light makes employees more productive and happier at work, and helps to better regulate the body’s internal “clock” and a variety of metabolic processes.

Using glass definitely has its upsides, but it also brings concerns about temperature, increased energy consumption and energy losses. One way to combat this is by using specialized coatings on glass like Glassprimer™ glass paint.

Glassprimer™ glass paint allows the transmission of natural, visible light, while rejecting UV radiation, which tends to heat up a space and the objects in it. Controlling light is very important in controlling heat gain and reducing energy consumption. Proper engineering can also help reduce energy losses at night.

Glassprimer™ glass paint makes a permanent bond with glass surfaces. Once cured, the paint will not chip, fade or peel, even in direct sunlight. It’s suitable for both interior and exterior use, too! If you’d like more information about 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: Phil Manker, via Flickr.com

Intrigued by glass cabinet fronts? Us too!

Intrigued by glass cabinet fronts? Us too!

Intrigued by glass cabinet fronts? Us too!

Intrigued by glass cabinet fronts? Us too!

Kitchens seem to age faster than the rest of the house. Maybe it’s because we spend so much time in the kitchen, or maybe it’s because the kitchen is one of the hardest-working rooms in the house. In any case, updating the kitchen is on just about everyone’s to-do list.

One quick, easy way to refresh kitchen cabinets is by laminating them with glass, or Plexiglas™. Glass just works well in the kitchen. It’s easy to clean, requires no special care and can add an elegant touch to a space. As an added bonus, it can open up a space – a plus for small kitchens.

You can use glass or Plexiglas™ in the kitchen to similar effect. Glass can be cut into virtually any shape and comes in whatever size you’re looking for. Plexiglas™ has the added benefit of being lightweight. If you’re working with solid cabinetry, and you just want to update the fronts, using a lightweight piece of glass to laminate the fronts may work out well.

If your cabinets are older, or not as rugged as they used to be, Plexiglas™ can give you much the same look minus the weight of glass. Both glass and Plexiglas™ bond easily using silicone adhesives, and they can be painted in virtually any color, using a paint like Glassprimer™ glass paint.

Glassprimer™ glass paint is easy to apply to precut glass or Plexiglas™, but it’s also rugged enough to stand up to cutting after the paint’s been applied! You can get exceptional coverage for about $1 per square foot, so it’s economical as well.

In addition, Glassprimer™ glass paint bonds permanently with both glass and Plexiglas™. It will not chip, fade or peel once it’s cured, which means it will stand up to whatever you’re dishing up in the kitchen!

Whether you intend to backpaint backsplashes, countertops or cabinet fronts, Glassprimer™ glass paint is your go-to decorating choice in the kitchen. 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: Jenny Addison, via Flickr.com

Glass Countertops Can Add Upscale Touch

Glass Countertops Can Add Upscale Touch

Glass Countertops Can Add Upscale Touch

Glass Countertops Can Add Upscale Touch

If you’re looking for a way to elevate your kitchen’s game, consider adding glass countertops. Glass is an ideal medium for use in the kitchen, whether you put it on the walls or counters.

Glass countertops sound expensive, and perhaps even a bit dangerous, but you can get specially crafted thick glass that’s intended for use as a counter or bar surface. Make no mistake about it: glass countertops are heavy, so you’ll need to have a very sturdy base to hold them up.

You can buy glass for countertop use in thicknesses of 4″ or greater. Glass is ideal for countertop use. It resists scratching and doesn’t fade. When tempered, it can tolerate significant changes in temperature, and it’s impervious, so it won’t absorb bacteria and other unpleasantries that you’re likely to encounter in the kitchen.

Glass can be cleaned up with virtually any household cleaner and can be sanitized easily. In slab form, you don’t have seams to worry about, so grout failure, discoloration and staining don’t come into play. The glass surface itself is also unstainable.

You can back paint glass countertops very easily, using a product like Glassprimer™ glass paint. Simply apply paint in the color of your choice, and choose the number of coats that will achieve your desired saturation. Once the paint has cured, flip it over, install it painted-side down and you have a working surface, ready to go!

The paint is ideal for kitchen duty. It won’t peel or chip like ordinary paints will. The kitchen is a high-humidity environment, so paints (even wall paints) typically delaminate, chip and fade with regular cleaning. You won’t find that with Glassprimer™ glass paint because the paint actually bonds permanently to the surface of the glass. It’s also highly UV-resistant, which means it won’t fade, even in direct sunlight.

If you’d like more information about glass countertops, or using glass paint in the kitchen, please visit the rest of our site. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store .

Photo Credit: Nancy Hugo, CKD, via Flickr.com

Glass design trends: Outdoor rooms

Glass design trends: Outdoor rooms

Glass design trends: Outdoor rooms

Glass design trends: Outdoor rooms

If you haven’t heard of outdoor rooms, that’s ok. You’ve certainly seen them. They’re spaces that blur the boundaries between a home’s interior and its exterior. Outdoor rooms may make extensive use of glass – big glass – and create a space that’s both livable and lovable.

Connecting with the outdoors is desirable, no matter what climate you’re in. Outdoor rooms may incorporate arbors, or they may use or extend a home’s existing structure. They often feature large, operable windows and doors that cover an entire non-load bearing side of a home.

Glass is ideal for outdoor rooms

Outdoor rooms may accommodate a variety of activities, but entertaining is certainly high on their to-do lists. They may feature kitchens, relaxation spaces and lots of fresh air and sunshine.

Outdoor rooms need to be rugged enough to tolerate sun, rain and seasonal weather, so materials that can stand the test of time are favored. Natural materials like stone and wood fare well in outdoor room designs. Manmade materials, like pavers, glass and concrete also work well in outdoor spaces.

Just because a material is natural doesn’t mean it can’t be decorated. The great outdoors can be brutal, so you’ll need materials that can stand up to the things that Mother Nature dishes out. Glassprimer™ glass paint is an ideal coating for outdoor projects.

While Glassprimer™ glass paint is designed to work with glass, it also works well with other impervious materials like stone and metal. In addition to durability, Glassprimer™ glass paint offers incredible UV resistance. That means your colors will stand up for years, even in direct sunlight.

Glassprimer™ glass paint bonds permanently with the surface it’s applied to, so it won’t chip, fade or peel, even in direct sunlight or high humidity. Because the paint is rugged, it also cleans well.

If you’re looking for more inspiration for your outdoor room, please visit the rest of our site. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store .

Photo Credit: Ben Freedman, via Flickr.com

Open up to glass interior doors

Open up to glass interior doors

Open up to glass interior doors

Open up to glass interior doors

If you’re looking for a clever, elegant way to open up a space in your home, consider installing glass interior doors. Glass interior doors significantly improve light transmission throughout the space, and make a small space appear larger.

Glass interior doors define sophistication

Glass interior doors don’t work for all applications, but you can purchase both frameless and framed glass interior doors for your space. Most glass interior doors aren’t made from clear glass. Instead, you’ll find a number of frosted or etched, silkscreened or printed glass interior doors that look amazing and fit into most design themes.

Although glass interior doors seem like they’d be most at home in a modern interior design, you can find them throughout all major interior design trends.

French doors, for example, are often made of glass or feature significant amounts of glasswork when used in interiors. The glass can be clear, frosted, beveled or even colored. True French doors are wood framed and include glass panels.

Single hung doors can successfully incorporate glass panels. They can be used in virtually any interior space, but may be most at home in the “public areas” of a living space. Glass doors may be used to close off a dining room, pantry or laundry area, but they can also be used successfully in bedrooms, closets and offices.

Frameless doors are definitely modern in character. Frameless glass interior doors can be used virtually anywhere to make a dramatic statement. Frameless glass can (and should) be tempered for use in high traffic areas, and in areas like kitchens and bathrooms. Frameless glass can also be etched, frosted, painted or printed to increase the amount of privacy while still permitting significant natural light transmission.

Glass interior doors can also be successfully used as “pocket” doors, or suspended from a top rail to slide across a doorway. In many cases, a top-hung door is printed, painted or silkscreened to provide privacy in bedrooms and to disguise closet storage.

If you’d like more information about decorating with glass interior doors, please visit the rest of our site. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint for use with a glass interior door or for any other glass painting project, please visit our online store .

Photo Credit: Feather River