Interior Design Today - Episode 021

Interior Design Today

Welcome to the Interior Design Today radio show with Mary Knackstedt.

In our 21st episode, Mary talks about glass. Glass everywhere! It seems that glass has become an important material, but why are we surprised? Don't we realize that the main material of our time is silicon. We went through the brass age, the iron age, and all the other materials, and now we are supposed to be mining glass, or silicon. It's the strongest material we have. It's hard to imagine, but glass is stronger than steel. When we're building with fiberglass and using some of those materials in our automobiles and other items, it really is an item of strength. Now we're seeing it become so fashionable in all types of furniture items and finishes. We are now doing some beautiful tiling in glass. We haven't seen this type of thing done for many years. Now it's not just one type of glass tile, but many many others.
We have to look at where is the appropriate place to use it. Perfect for a shower wall, a bathroom wall, or a decorative wall. I saw someone putting it on a kitchen floor; no, it doesn't belong there. On the whole, it's very fragile. It will crack, it will break. I've used it on countertops. One of my favorite countertops for kitchens today is a very nice thick glass with a slightly textured finish so that it shows no marks. It is totally kosher, and it is the cleanest countertop you could have. The beautiful thing is that you have options of underlining it with different colors, textures, or patterns. It is so easy to take care of and work with. The edges and details are all quite important. One makes it practical, the wrong one makes it a problem. Obviously, it depends upon knowing your materials.
Installing glass on shower walls or other areas that don't mark or spot. There is no longer a need for a squeegee because now we have glass that doesn't sport or mark. We are also seeing this used in high rises and other places where it won't collect dirt or spots. Isn't it wonderful the innovations that we have today and the opportunities that we have to work it into our designs?
As you consider your material, just think of the many opportunities. Of course your glass can be treated if it's being used for windows so that it reduces the heat or light impact, but when it comes to light, it doesn't totally reduce fading. Any type of light will cause textiles to fade, whether it's your lamp or something coming from the exterior. This is something that we do need to consider.
Look at glass with a very different light and consider some of the opportunities of where you can use it to enhance your interior in a very practical way. Yes, of course, there are safety issues. I've noticed at the Barnes Foundation museum, the way they did the door design. They had a thin glass panel from the top of the door to the bottom. Of course, taking care of ADA and other safety measures, but adding a very interesting decorative effect. Really wonderful how we can use glass, and it can be very safe and most affective. Not just fiberglass draperies, not necessarily, although there are a few being used. Look at it as a building material, an architectural material, and a decorative material. You'll see more of it, and fortunately, in so many different ways.
We're using a laminated glass right now in a project. It is two layers of glass with a pattern infused in the center of it. It's very practical and very beautiful. Think about the way you can use glass in your interior to really enhance some of the details of your space. It's a new material, an old material, but it's out there everywhere. It's different, and it's beautiful. Look at its opportunities, and I'm sure you'll find a spot where you would like to add glass as one of your features.

Please subscribe to the video or audio version of the radio show via iTunes or listen to it at http://interiordesigntodaypodcast.blogger.com via the following MP3 Link.