4 ways to incorporate glass effects into a home

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Spaces are no longer single-purpose or functionally separated. The kitchen is a place to cook food, but also to play a board game with the family or finish your notes from the office. Beyond hygiene, the bathroom may be a spa-like setting with a soaking tub for relaxing to music or reading a good book.

People are looking for fluidity of experiences within their homes. The blurred line between leisure and labor is becoming indistinguishable as modern design increasingly combines function and style. Homeowners growing desire for both simplicity and quality of materials paves the way for glass (or glass-like materials).

Caution! Glass can be tough to incorporate into a design because it is breakable. But don’t let this stop you.

Tempered glass or, even better, a glass-alternative material such as acrylic allow you to achieve the desired look without the fear of cracking or shattering in high-impact areas. Below are 4 ways to incorporate glass effects into a home.

1. Cabinet Doors and Millwork

The immediate visual effect of glass is modern spaciousness – making the kitchen or bathroom feel large and fresh. Its transparency not only adds interest, but also allows you to display items behind the glass where they can be easily located without searching through every cabinet and drawer.

Historically, glass cabinets were framed by a thick wooden border or finished with black or gold grids around cabinets and doors. These frames are no longer needed for functionality, so contemporary installations can form clean expanses of glass using frameless cabinet designs.

If you want the sparkle of glass, but need to hide clutter, explore non-transparent options. From slightly opaque to patterned to back-painted glass, each style adds its unique effect in modern design.

Learn more about RAUVISIO crystal acrylic surface

2. Backsplash and Wall Panels

A glass backsplash or wall panel can be back-painted to match other tones in the space, or used as a contrast. To enhance the sparkle of the glass-like material, include patterned glass or strike a contrast with super matte cabinetry. Glass also pairs well with metallic accents including fixtures and appliances.

3. Shelving and Organization

Glass is increasingly finding its way into offices and closets as sliding doors, shelving and even stylish wall panels such as those used in designer retail spaces. There’s a significant movement away from the typical blank white canvas toward dark and neutral colors reflecting a moodier tone. The mirror-like reflective quality of glass or glass-like surfaces in these spaces allows the darker tones to be non-confining.

4. Combined with Lighting

LED lights can be installed into glass, or the surrounding enclosures, to illuminate objects inside or on top of the surface. Borrow a page from high-end retail stores by using glass-light features to spotlight curated items such as dinnerware, serveware or glassware.

Glass is easy to clean and adds a shine that contrasts beautifully with wood textures or metals. Its surface is dynamic and enhances the contemporary feel of modern kitchens and bathrooms. Keep an eye out for the emergence of glass in 2019 and check out the REHAU glass lines including RAUVISIO crystal™ acrylic surface and Vetro-Line™ glass tambour doors.

REHAU can help you keep up with the latest glass trends and design a home that is both contemporary yet timeless. Learn more about RAUVISIO crystalacrylic surface here.

By Erin Slupe, REHAU Communications

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