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Tag: bathroom remodel

Seeing is Believing: The Benefits of Glass Shower Doors

Written by Glassworks of Tucson on . Posted in Custom Glass, Residential Glass Services, Shower Doors.

Picture it.  The room is a five-star resort’s answer to personal hygiene. The water’s spray is cleansing and soothing.  A ledge displays fancy products all in a row for your convenience.  The area seems so spacious with glass surrounding you.  The shower has become a stellar experience.  Now look closer through the steamed glass door.  You’re not at a resort.  You are at home!

Are you surprised that panels of glass can make such a difference?  They can, and they do!  Other homeowners have discovered that upgrading their bathrooms with glass shower doors makes a difference well beyond their walls. Improvements turn a simple, common shower in the morning into a luxurious spa treatment.  Because of that, few are surprised that such changes to their bathroom increase the value of their house. 

That’s not the only reason that glass shower doors have become all the rage.  Let’s take a look at other benefits.

The Bathroom Seems Bigger

Some showers can make you feel claustrophobic.  You move the shower curtain aside hoping not to get sprayed.  You climb over the side of the tub hoping not to lose your balance.  And, then where are you?  In a narrow space that somehow seems like it’s gotten smaller. 

A glass shower door reverses all of that, playing a trick on your eyes.  The bathroom hasn’t actually gotten any bigger, but it seems like it has.  Seeing is believing.  Glass enlarges the space.

The Area Seems Brighter

Some shower stalls seem dingy and dark.  In order for the floor outside the shower to remain dry, the shower curtain keeps out the natural light.  Even with the bathroom light on, the experience might seem stifling.

A glass shower door does not keep out any natural light.  In fact, through the glass, you can see beyond the shower.  Natural light streams in and opens up the space.  Seeing is believing.  Glass brightens the room.

The Shower Seems Warmer

Nothing worse than that cold blast of air after your toasty 8-minute shower.  Grabbing for the towel is never fast enough to stave off that chill.  And once you’re cold, gone is the warm relaxation of the shower you just took.

Glass shower doors don’t actually increase the temperature in the room, but they do keep the breezy circulating air from its arctic touch when you step out of the water.  The tell-tale steam on the glass gives you a sense of warmth, too.  Seeing is believing.  Glass keeps the draft away.

Let’s face it, when it comes to the basics of home construction, things haven’t changed that much over the years.  Floor plans often show the kitchen next to the dining room with the bedrooms down the hall.  To modernize an older home, many homeowners have learned how much newer the place looks when changes are made to the bathroom. 

Give your home a makeover by starting in the bathroom.  We’d be glad to show you our selection of glass shower doors. Call Glassworks of Tucson now at (520) 721-7893, and we’ll schedule an appointment for you.  Or, you can visit our showroom to find out more. Start your day with a shower at your own resort without paying those five-star daily rates!

Add Design to Your Bathroom: Consider a Pony Wall

Written by Glassworks of Tucson on . Posted in Pony Walls, Shower Doors.

A pony wall can open an otherwise enclosed area, adding both a decorative and a functional design. Let’s face it. Many bathrooms are constructed in such a tight and compact area, that they can bring on a stifling sense of claustrophobia. Installing a pony wall can transform a tight spot, making it airy and open. This simple design can boost the surrounding decor, creating a much more pleasant environment.

So what is a pony wall anyway? Even though it’s also been called a knee wall or a half wall, there really is a pony in this story. Back in the 1800s, a farmer named Walter Clydell decided he needed a change in his barn. He had trouble seeing his horses with the tall-walled stalls. (Say that fast for fun!) He designed shorter walls, and he was happy with the results. His design idea spread throughout his community in Nebraska. Rumor has it that horses were happier with their expanded view since they could see the horses in the other stalls. Your bathroom would shrink in size if you added a pony, but not if you added a pony wall. Let’s take a look at why installing a shorter wall might be an ideal way to revitalize your bathroom.

Separates the Functional Areas

As you well know, bathrooms have specific functional areas. Mansions may have separate areas with doors in-between for those individual functions – using the john, washing the hands, and washing the body. Those of us in smaller houses, however, often have only one room with no dividing lines. If you are sharing the facility with another person, it can seem quite cramped. Ironically, a pony wall can give you a sense of more space. The room is opened up when the shower curtain or the tall glass wall is removed.

Opens the Layout of the Bathroom

The bathroom remains the same. You haven’t added any square footage. The ceilings haven’t become higher. Even so, the layout seems to be changed. By dividing the room, it somehow seems more open. How? It’s been divided horizontally and not vertically. The pony wall creates a barrier, but not one that reaches the ceiling. The shower and the rest of the bathroom are connected but separated. Because of that, the remodeled bathroom has an open look and feel to it. Depending on the materials used in construction, the pony wall can offer the same amount of privacy as before. Only a fool would request a glass that includes magnification!

Adds Storage Space

If you are like many, you’ll take full advantage of an empty surface. A pony wall could become the place where shampoo, conditioner, and Dr. Teal’s shower soap is stashed. Perhaps preferring decor over function, the surface of the wall may become a shelf for flowers and plants. The humidity from the shower would certainly help them thrive. Or maybe you like to hear the symphony when you suds up. With a nearby outlet, you could plug in your Bose radio and set the dial for KUAT, our local classical station. Or, if your sense of home decor approaches a minimalistic style, you could leave the surface empty with nothing on it.

A pony wall adds dimension to your home’s comfort station. By upgrading your bathroom, it becomes a pleasure to enter the room for whatever your reason may be. The design of the short wall offers a privacy separation and with your choice of glass or tile for the wall itself, the room becomes a sight for sore eyes.

Glassworks of Tucson can help you make this happen. Their expert designers know how to improve the look and function of your bathroom. Just call them at (520) 721-7893 or visit their showroom to find out more. Add a pony next to your stall – no, add a pony wall!