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Improving the view in your dining room

Improving the view in your dining room

Improving the view in your dining room

Improving the view in your dining room

Depending upon how your home is laid out, you may be able to “open” your dining room by adding one or more glass walls to it. If you use your dining room regularly, or do a lot of entertaining, a glass-walled dining room may visually enlarge your space, and help you and your guests connect to the surrounding environment.

Whether you opt for framed or frameless glass, your dining room will take on a totally different feel. Natural light will make any meal or gathering more enjoyable, and will quickly become the favorite hang-out spot in your home.

You’ll want to consult a structural engineer to determine exactly how much glass you can incorporate into an existing structure. If you intend to add a dining space onto your home, an architect can help you determine the best placement for the glass.

A glass-walled room works best for properties that have some space around them, and that have an enjoyable view. Some homeowners take the concept of a glass-walled dining room one step farther, and install operable door walls that allow them to open up the entire space for dining and entertaining.

Glass will work well whether it’s used as part of a wall or as a ceiling. Glass walls on three sides will create a conservatory or greenhouse effect and can make for a very pleasant dining and entertaining experience.

Careful control of light and heat can be achieved with products like Glassprimer™ glass paint. Glassprimer™ glass paint is engineered specifically for use with glass and other non-porous structures. The paint bonds permanently to the surface of the glass and will not chip, fade or peel, even when exposed directly to sunlight. Glassprimer™ glass paint can be used for both interior and exterior applications. It is guaranteed to last for 10 years when applied according to the manufacturer’s instructions on interior projects.

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: David Cedrone, 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

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

Mosaic glass tiles are trending in design

Glass tiles are trending in design

Mosaic glass tiles are trending in design

Mosaic glass tiles are trending in design

Glass in all of its forms is going strong as a design trend. The latest entries in glass decorating include glass tiles, patterned tiles and mosaic tiles. There’s nothing new about mosaics, or even patterned tiles. They’ve been around for hundreds (and in some cases, thousands) of years. But homeowners are incorporating them into their kitchens and baths.

Whether you go for glass on the floors, walls or even the ceilings, glass tiles are a hit in a big way. If you’re not good at laying down a bed of mortar, or don’t have the patience to line up little tiles, consider creating a back painted surface instead.

Back painted glass is easy to make, easy to install and easy to maintain. You can use back painted glass on the wall as a backsplash or just an interesting surface. You can also use it to reface cabinets or create beautiful countertops.

Glass is easy to clean and it’s impervious to bacteria. That makes it a natural choice for heavy-duty areas of your home like the kitchen and bathroom. If safety is a concern, you can use tempered glass, which is heat- and shatter-resistant. You can also get thick glass custom-cut for use on countertops.

As an added benefit, you can enhance the already-dramatic appearance of glass through lighting. Worried about color? No problem there, either! Glassprimer™ glass paint is specially formulated to adhere to glass surfaces. Paint one side of the glass using your favorite color, and once the paint is dry, flip it over and install it with the unpainted side facing outward.

You’ll get an exceptionally easy-to-make and easy-to-care for surface for your home that will perform flawlessly for years. Making back painted glass is an ideal do-it-yourself project that requires no special skills and ordinary supplies!

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

Photo Credit: Claire Thompson, via Flickr.com

Incorporating glass bricks into your plan

Incorporating glass bricks into your plan

Incorporating glass bricks into your plan

Glass bricks in the Michigan State Capitol floor

Glass bricks are common, yet they can impart an extraordinary look to a space. Glass bricks were first developed in the early 1900’s as a way to add light to industrial manufacturing spaces. They’ve been used continuously since that time in a number of innovative ways.

Glass bricks are versatile

Glass bricks are right at home in the trendy industrial look, owing to their industrial origins. You can use glass bricks to create a room divider or replace an existing window. The benefit of using glass bricks in windows is that the bricks will allow nearly full transmission of natural light, while preserving privacy. This is a great solution for urban spaces where having a window doesn’t equate to having a view!

Glass bricks are also a great solution for bathroom and basement windows. Again, these are spaces where light is welcome, but full view may not be. Standard glass bricks come in nominal 8″x 8″ dimensions. “Nominal” means that the bricks are slightly smaller, but when they’re set in the recommended 1/4-inch mortar, the finished size of the block and mortar are 8″ x 8″. You can find glass bricks with smaller and larger dimensions, usually available by special order.

Glass bricks have an R-value of about 1.75-2.0, which puts them in the same range as thermopane windows. Glass isn’t known for its heat insulating ability, but you won’t gain much by going with standard windows.

Unlike regular window glass, you can use glass bricks to make both interior and exterior walls. Used inside, glass bricks can be found in room dividers and walls to allow natural light to penetrate a dark, interior space. They can also be used to create privacy in bathrooms, offices, conference rooms and other similar spaces. Glass bricks also have some sound insulating qualities, thanks to the brick’s hollow interior space. Used on exterior walls, glass bricks can create more attractive, light filtering windows. They can also be used in structural spaces to create exterior walls.

Glass bricks can also be used to create walkways and floors. When lit from below, the glass bricks can create dramatic floor space in both interior and exterior applications.
If you’re looking for some additional glass decorating inspiration, please visit the rest of our site. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store .

Photo Credit: Mitten State Photog, via Flickr.com

Incorporate Glass Into Outdoor Kitchen

Incorporate Glass Into Outdoor Kitchen

Incorporate Glass Into Outdoor Kitchen

Incorporate Glass Into Outdoor Kitchen

If you do a lot of summertime entertaining, an outdoor kitchen is probably high on your list of desirables. Outdoor kitchens have become exceptionally popular, and offer some dramatic advantages. Since your food prep space is outdoors, you’ll need to select materials that can take what Mother Nature dishes out.

Glass is a natural outdoor choice

Some surfaces are obvious choices for an outdoor kitchen. Impervious surfaces like glass and ceramic should be first considerations. These materials will not only perform well and endure, they’ll also look very natural among your other material choices. Natural wood, stone and brick are also likely choices for use in your outdoor kitchen.

The placement of your outdoor kitchen is important. Most outdoor kitchens are located near the house, to minimize the cost of running plumbing and electricity to the kitchen fixtures. In addition, you may be able to extend the existing roofline of your home to incorporate your outdoor kitchen into your home’s profile.
If you don’t intend to locate your outdoor kitchen next to your home, you can find other places that are suitable to host your outdoor kitchen. Other activity centers – like swimming pools, gazebos or beach fronts – can provide the ideal location for an outdoor kitchen.

Regardless of where you locate your outdoor kitchen, your choice of materials should reflect your outdoor hosting needs, and the reality of your outdoor environment. If your outdoor environment is predominantly sunny or very humid, you’ll need highly durable materials that are UV-resistant and weather resistant.

Whether you choose glass, stone or tile for your countertops, Glassprimer™ glass paint can help! Glassprimer™ glass paint is specially designed to work with hard-to-coat materials like glass, metal and stone. Glassprimer™ glass paint bonds permanently with glass surfaces, to provide a durable, UV-resistant coating that will perform beautifully for years.

If you would 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: Media Director, via Flickr.com

Using glass in the industrial look

Using glass in the industrial look

Using glass in the industrial look

Using glass in the industrial look

One of the hottest design trends is industrial. The great news is that you can incorporate a lot of materials, including glass, into an industrial design for your home. The industrial look offers simple utility in all of its raw glory.

Done right, pure “industrial chic” produces a warehouse look. The great news is that industrial is flexible and can be combined with a number of complementary features and materials that transform the basic style from raw to polished, from sterile to earthy, or from simple to sophisticated.

Glass is a versatile player in industrial decorating


What can you expect from industrial? Here are a few characteristic traits of the industrial look.
True industrial features open ductwork and exposed pipes. To be honest, there’s nothing attractive about open utilities, except that they offer a great opportunity for decoration. Ductwork can be painted any color, and it can lend a splash of color to an otherwise drab ceiling. Open ductwork can also allow you to take advantage of additional ceiling height. Copper pipes can be polished and sealed to show off their gorgeous natural color. The unfinished nature of industrial can also create decorating opportunities with brick, wood and large wall spaces.

Industrial also allows you to use materials in unorthodox ways. Pipes, metal, glass, wood, brick and other commercial fittings combine to make shelves, stairs, furniture, surfaces and other household items. Variations in metal finishes can add color and texture to the mix.

If you intend to incorporate glass into your industrial design, consider glass countertops, backsplashes and cabinet fronts. As a bonus, you can paint glass with Glassprimer™ glass paint. The paint is designed especially for use with glass, and makes a permanent bond with the glass surface. The permanent bond means that the paint will not peel, chip or fade, even when exposed to direct sunlight.

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: Ed Merritt , via Flickr.com

Glass paint in the kitchen

Glass paint in the kitchen

Glass paint in the kitchen

Glass paint in the kitchen

Glass paint is remarkably durable, and is designed to stand up to even the toughest environments. Glass paint works well in the kitchen, where temperature and humidity can be very hard on ordinary paint.

Tempered glass and glass paint

You don’t have to spend a lot of time in the kitchen to realize that cooking can generate a lot of heat and humidity. Heat and humidity are both very hard on paint – especially water-based paints that are commonly used in homes. Oil-based paints are more durable, but they generate a lot of unpleasant odors as they cure. In addition, the kitchen – including the walls – must be cleaned frequently. Countertops, backsplashes and walls all suffer from being part of the food preparation environment. Any surface you include in the kitchen must be tough enough to stand up to heat, humidity and regular cleaning.

Glass is a go-to surface. Europeans have used glass surfaces in their kitchens for years, and it’s easy to see why. It’s impervious to bacteria, easy to clean and can be sanitized infinitely without damage. It doesn’t fade or wear the way other surfaces do. But it’s not indestructible!

You may have noticed that glass isn’t exactly flexible. Its rigid structure is vulnerable to rapid changes in temperature. Ovens and cooking surfaces can generate temperatures 6-10 times greater than ambient air temperature within a few minutes. That puts glass surfaces in danger of damage from expansion. If the glass molecules heat up, they’ll expand and crack the surface of a glass object.

Fortunately, tempered glass is designed to withstand rapid changes in temperature. If you intend to use glass surfaces in your kitchen, you’ll want to choose tempered glass. Not only will it protect your glass surfaces from temperature-related damage, it’s also better able to withstand impacts from dropped items.

Glassprimer&153; glass paint is specially formulated to bond to all types of glass, including tempered glass. You can add backpainted glass safely to your kitchen, knowing that it will not chip, fade, peel, bubble or crack, even in the high humidity and elevated temperatures in a kitchen. Glassprimer&153; forms a permanent bond with the surface of the glass, so your kitchen surfaces will look great for years!

You can use a combination of tempered and non-tempered glass when decorating the kitchen. Non-tempered glass is lightweight, and works well on cabinet fronts and backsplashes where heat and impacts are not a concern. Because of the way tempered glass is made, it can’t be cut. If you need to cut into the glass to make electrical outlets and switches accessible, use non-tempered glass or consult with a glass shop about your options. If an electrical outlet is directly accessible from the stove, you’ll want to consult with an electrician to move it prior to starting your glass project.
If you’d like more information about working with glass paint, please check out the rest of our site! If you’d like to order glass paint, please visit our online store.

Photo Credit: Laser Burners, via Flickr.com