Use of stained glass in modern interiors

Decorating your own home is not an easy task. One way is to use glass patterns. How to use stained glass in the interior and we will discuss.

About techniques for creating stained glass images

Stained glass is a type of fine art, which uses colored glass to create pictures and images. In the old days, glass was available only for wealthy people, and paintings made of colored glass so generally cost an incredible amount of money. Today, not too complicated and expensive techniques have been developed that make this pleasure quite affordable. There are several different techniques for creating such products:

• Set and mosaic stained glass. Composed of pieces of glass. They differ in that in the mosaic, the fragments have the same shape and size, in the set, they are cut to the desired size and can have a different shape. Fragments are fixed in metal frames (lead, copper, brass). One of the varieties – paechny – the picture is obtained with the help of tin partitions. This is one of the most ancient techniques. A more modern one is Tiffany stained glass. In them, the fragments are collected on a copper tape, due to which they have a smaller mass.

  

• Fusing pieces of colored glass into a single whole (fusing or sintered technique). This is a new and relatively inexpensive technique.

  

• Etching technique. With the help of hydrofluoric acid, the color is etched on those places that should be more transparent. With this technique, two-color images are obtained. More complex technology of layer-by-layer etching allows you to make not only multicolored, but also volumetric stained glass.

  

• Painted stained glass. Images are created using special transparent paints, which are fixed at high temperatures (by finishing firing).

  

Stained glass techniques are different, but they all require special skills and knowledge. Some also require high-temperature ovens.

Methods of imitation

The complex technology of creating stained glass windows is reflected in their cost – it is not a cheap pleasure at all. Therefore, in parallel with stained glass technologies, imitation methods have been developing since ancient times. The very first – glue a thin sheet of painted paper on the glass – turned out to be very short-lived. But modern technologies allow you to get more similar and durable pseudovitrazhi:

• Poured polymer contouring. It is created with the help of transparent colored polymers in two stages. At the first, contours are drawn on the glass. After polymerization, the space between the contours is filled with colored compositions.

  

• Film stained glass. To create contours, self-adhesive lead tape is used, with the help of which the contours of the drawing are drawn. Then the space is glued with colored stained glass film.

  

• Overlay stained glass. Imitates a prefabricated stained glass: on the base – transparent glass – glued colored glass. This technology is much easier, as the strength is provided by the “substrate”.

Ways of imitating stained glass are technically simpler, which makes it possible to produce some, not too complicated drawings, non-professionals. At the same time, the products look good, which is the reason for their popularity.

Where stained glass can be used

Originally, stained glass windows were made exclusively on windows. The technology was difficult even for the creation of flat-shaped products, and even about some shaped products was out of the question. Now the area of application of stained glass images is much wider:

Use stained glass in the interior should be very carefully: it is a very bright element of decor and it must match the entire environment. Or rather, on the contrary – the environment is designed taking into account the pattern and colors that are used in the stained glass.

Stained glass in the interior: where and how to use

To make the room with stained glass elements looked harmonious, the shape and size of the product, the theme of the pattern, colors – all this is selected in accordance with the environment. Products made in this technique, always attract attention. And this in the design should be taken into account, do not overload the interior with other bright details. If you look at the photos of interiors with stained glass, you will notice that the colors and details are repeated in other furnishings, decor, accessories.

On windows

First of all, stained glass windows appeared on the windows. They were made for palaces and churches many hundreds of years ago. Naturally, the subject matter was appropriate – mostly depicted scenes on religious themes. The pictures through which the light poured were impressive and inspired reverence and awe.

Modern stained glass windows, which are used in the interiors of houses, apartments and offices, are more universal in theme. They most often depict landscapes, flowers, plants, geometric or plant patterns. And the impression they make all the same – very beautiful, the play of light and shadows mesmerizes and want to consider everything closer. A special effect gives light that pours through stained glass images in a semi-dark room.

If the windows face the street and you do not want what is happening inside to be the property of outsiders, it is not necessary to use curtains. You can install a window stained glass patterned stained glass window. Silhouettes will be visible, but no more than that.

The disadvantage of using patterned and colored glass throughout the glazing area is the insufficient amount of light that will pass through such windows. If you care about illumination, the central part can be left plain, and the ornament let only on the edges – along the perimeter, only at the top or on the sides – it’s up to you how you like it.

When choosing a pattern of stained glass images on the window, in addition to transparency must still pick up the colors. Stained glass is an element of the interior and the colors in it should be consistent, the same as those present in the interior or neutral (transparent, white, gray, beige, black).

It is also worth paying attention to the theme. In the kitchen, for example, appropriate will be fruits, vegetables, for the children’s room you can find a fragment of cartoons or fairy tale characters, for the bathroom is suitable water or sea theme. In “common” rooms the best choice is neutral themes (nature, cityscapes) or geometric patterns.

In the doors

Stained glass in the interior of a modern private house can often be seen in the design of the entrance group. A small fragment can be inserted into the door leaf, the same motif is repeated in the surrounding windows.

If such an abundance of stained glass fragments seems like overkill, you can leave the patterns on the sides or only at the top.

Ideas for stained glass and techniques are used in a variety of ways, but geometric patterns prevail, which can include some fragments of flora and fauna – a flower, a leaf, a butterfly, etc.

Geometric patterns are made up of fragments of the same shape, which simplifies the process of their creation. Due to this, the price for such products is lower than for “paintings” without repeating elements. This does not mean that there are no thematic patterns or can not be. They are, and sometimes complex, but they are not available to everyone. Some drawings for the design of the entrance group you can see in the photo below.

Interior doors are also sometimes made with stained glass inserts. The size of the inserts can be different – almost the entire surface of the door leaf, only a narrow strip or circle, oval, etc.

In furniture

Furniture facades are also decorated with stained glass. Too complex drawings are not used – not the same scale, and the effect will not be so bright. Therefore, for the most part, use geometric patterns with plant elements or without them at all.

Decorate stained glass inserts most often kitchen furniture, and more specifically – the doors of hinged cabinets. They are at eye level, which allows you to appreciate the beauty of the decor. In other furniture such decoration is more of an exception than a rule. Such an object will overly draw attention to itself and it will be difficult to “balance”. And in operation there will be a disadvantage: heavy doors, which can be damaged if not carefully handled.

In partitions and on the walls

In modern interiors you can see stained glass on the walls – in the form of panels with lighting or in interior and zoning partitions.

The panel is a picture, but the material of the image is colored glass. To highlight this decorative object and maximize the effect, make backlighting. Previously, installed external lamps with a directed beam of light (as illuminate ordinary paintings). But it is more effective to hide the backlight between the wall and stained glass. Today it is not difficult, as there are LEDs and LED strips, with which you can organize a diffused or directed stream of light.

Partitions with stained glass inserts are a good idea. With their help, you can solve two problems. The first is to let natural light into a room without windows. If you make glass inserts in the walls separating the corridor, during the day it will be possible to move around without light. And in the evening, the light from the rooms will allow you to walk without stumbling.

The second challenge is to make zoning partitions “lighter”. Modern trends – only conditional division of large rooms into different functional zones, studio apartments make us look for new solutions. One of them is a partition made of glass or with glass inserts. Glass can be ordinary with patterns, but much more spectacular (and much more expensive) stained glass.

Ceiling stained glass

Ceiling stained glass windows are, for the most part, light fixtures, but built into the ceiling plane. They are usually built into suspended systems and, most often, in plasterboard. In apartments, such products are very rarely left without illumination. Another thing is that they give a little light: colored and patterned glass transmits light in insufficient quantity, so without other lighting devices can not do without.

Without backlighting, stained glass on the ceiling can only be in a private house. In this case, through the ceiling into the room gets daylight. But the cost of such a decoration will be very high – the design must withstand the onslaught of bad weather. One solution is a cassette ceiling (make a strong metal frame). For reliability, a thick glass is installed on top, which takes the main load.

Stained glass is used in hallways and corridors. In such passageways, with a large number of doors, it is difficult to think of another spectacular way to decorate. Especially since stained glass in the interior of the hallway, with a full guarantee to divert attention from the shortcomings of the layout.

Drawings for stained glass

Photos of interiors with stained glass

Creating an interior without experience and relevant knowledge – a difficult thing. And creating an interior with stained glass windows is even more difficult: too it is a bright element that must be coordinated with other items and elements of decor. Therefore, it is desirable to have a sample, on which you can be guided. For these purposes, we have collected photos of interiors with stained glass elements.