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Tag: custom glass

Get Rid of that Shower Curtain!

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

Just look at the bathroom above.  Nicely done, until you notice the shower curtain.  Admittedly, shower curtains are useful.  They keep the spray on you rather than soaking the surroundings.  Often, depending on the tilework and wall coverings, they can match quite nicely.  Even still, these curtains age your bathroom and in that way, devalue your home.  Other options might brighten and lighten up the area, making this room a more pleasant one to visit.

Practical Matters

Speaking of visits, it turns out that we spend quite a bit of time each day doing just that.  According to the Bathroom Habits Survey Research (MaP Toilet Testing) the average American spends 30 minutes a day in the loo.  That’s more than 182 hours a year, and depending on how long one lives, that could equal 1 to 1-½ years, just taking care of business.  Based on that, sprucing up your bathroom is a worthwhile investment.

Back to shower curtains.  Shower curtains come in all sorts of lengths, widths, and textures.  Some use a plastic liner – the “real” shower curtain – with the outside curtain being more of a pretty covering than anything related to keeping water in its place.  People often purchase ornamental specialty hooks to hold up the curtain.  Nonetheless, a shower curtain is still a shower curtain and a remnant of bathrooms from decades ago.

Oddly enough, after all these years, scientists still have not figured out why shower curtains blow inward when the water is on.  So, people still put up with having the liner cling to them if they get too close.  Ironically, we step into the shower to clean ourselves off, and we might be stepping into something dirty.  Shower curtains that have not been properly maintained are breeding grounds for mold, mildew, and bacteria.

Something Better

Get rid of that shower curtain.  Instead, invest in a glass shower panel.  Your bathroom will get an immediate facelift, the glass allowing more light into the shower area.  The glass panel will also showcase the stone, tile, marble, and other wall coverings you have in your shower.  These panels also do a much better job of keeping the water where it’s supposed to be.

Shower panels modernize your bathroom, sprucing up your other bathroom interior design.  Glass is more hygienic, needing only quick maintenance to keep the glass clean.  A fixed panel adds style and functionality to a traditional shower door or an old-fashioned shower curtain.  Your upgraded shower will add a touch of elegance to your bathroom, making the room seem bigger, brighter, and more open.

We’d be glad to help you pitch your shower curtain.  Either come visit our showroom at 3847 N Oracle Road here in Tucson or invite us to your home so we can discuss options and take the necessary measurements. Contact Glassworks of Tucson at (520) 721-7893, and together, we can upgrade your bathroom once and for all.

Oh, and did you know that the average person spends an hour a day in the kitchen?  We’d be glad to show you how a breakfast island or a glass top for your table could make a dramatic difference in that room, too . . .

First things first.  Let’s just take care of the shower curtain.  Call us at (520) 721-7893 to schedule an appointment.  We look forward to working with you!

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

Written by Glassworks of Tucson on . Posted in Custom Mirrors, Interior Design, Mirror Doors.

Want a bigger room?  No need to bring in a carpenter’s crew and pay big bucks for a remodeling job.  Just add a mirror!  That’s not the only reason to add mirrors to your walls. Let’s take a look at several ways mirrors enhance a home, so you can reflect on which reason would convince you to add a mirror.  

Space

When one has a somewhat cramped bedroom, a mirror closet door can create the illusion of double the square footage.  Not only does it double the size of the room, but this optical illusion doubles all within its view.  Closet doors are often unsightly, especially after years of use and abuse.  Not only does a mirrored door create a sense of more space, but the doors look modern and aesthetically pleasing.  Also, ironically, the inverse nature of the reflection provides a visual balance to the room itself.

Light

Mirrors reflect light, whether it be from a man-made source or by Mother Nature through a window.  By adding more light to a room, the area seems brighter with more ambiance.  A well-placed mirror can double the light in a room without any additional cost to the monthly electricity bill.  To increase this benefit, a mirror can also include its own source of lighting.  Apparently, the combining of mirrors and light has even inspired songs – Justin Timberlake sings that “the light on a mirror reflecting the light back at me…is the law of reflection.”

Decor

Mirrors can be like a piece of artwork.  Not only do we check our own level of beauty in a nearby mirror, but a beautiful mirror speaks for itself.  Mirrors can be framed, detailed, or even painted on.  Decorators have even enhanced an otherwise blank wall with a collection of designer mirrors.  A well-placed mirror can add beauty to an otherwise lonely and unadorned corner of the house or spruce up a bathroom. 

Mirrors aren’t just functional, although it’s handy to have one to double-check one’s appearance.  A well-placed mirror can braid space, light, and decor, enhancing the other qualities of any room in your house.  We can help you add mirrors in any shape or form.  Just call Glassworks of Tucson at (520) 721-7893 or visit their showroom to find out more. Once your mirrored surface has been installed, that room will become the fairest of them all.

Shower Doors Matter

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

Shower doors can turn bathrooms from hum-drum into spectacular.  Imagine the difference between a faded vinyl shower curtain and this custom radius shower door.  That’s right – fancy shower doors can be made with curved glass.

Custom shower doors aren’t for everyone’s budget, though, but choosing the right one is not just a monetary matter.  Various considerations need to be made in order not only to create the ambience one wants but also to make the best fit for the bathroom area.  Let’s take a look at what a person must consider in order to select the right shower door for a bathroom.

First, Measure Up

Bathrooms come in all shapes and sizes, so one must take a close look at how much space there is and how that space is configured.  For instance, the most common shower enclosure takes up the least amount of space.  If a bathroom is of modest size, one wouldn’t want to select a shower enclosure that swings open, for instance, requiring more space to do so.  On the other hand, those with larger bathrooms often consider installing a walk-in shower.

Second, Keep the Water In

Evaluating the amount of usable area in the bathroom leads one to the next layer of decisions to be made.  Which shower enclosure will work best?  

When space is somewhat limited, the shower has often been built in a confined space.  In this case, a Bi-fold Door works well since the doors are inward-opening.  If there’s more space in the bathroom to create a contemporary focal point, a Sliding Door is an excellent choice for a stylish yet practical look.  A Pivotal Door shower enclosure can also fit into a more modest-sized bathroom, and the large grip handles provide easy access to the shower.  

With more space, one may select a Pentagon shower enclosure that fits neatly into a corner and tucks away the shower in a curved way maximizing space and creativity.  A Walk-in uses standing panels that create a splash-proof haven of light, air, and water.  A Quadrant enclosure also fits into a corner in a classic modern design.

Third, Where Does It Go?

Some bathrooms have more length than width; others are of ample size in both directions.  A trained eye combines the details to determine whether the ideal place for the shower would be in the corner, in the center of a wall, or encased by walls all around.

Shower enclosures come in different shapes and sizes that need to be matched with the positioning of the shower.  Without a major remodeling project, this choice of where the shower should go has already been made when the house was built.  Those in the middle of construction can make those decisions about the bathroom in their new house before the brick-and-mortar sets.   

And Last, Look Through the Glass

Glass comes in a variety of thicknesses.  Most showers use a thinner glass that is cost-effective but still keeps the water off the floor.  Some prefer to use thicker glass since it’s easier to clean and more durable.  Thicker glass, as you might have guessed, is heavier, though, requiring much more support because of its massive weight.  

Custom glass can also add a creative touch to the shower door.  Some glass is frosted for privacy.  Other glass can be etched with designs.  One style of glass appears to have raindrops trapped inside.  What is most important, though, is that the glass is sturdy and dependable.

Shower Doors Matter

Yes, shower doors do matter, and that’s why Glassworks of Tucson will send an expert from our team to your home to answer your questions when you make these decisions. We want every detail of your shower to be well-suited to your bathroom. More than that, though, we want you to be so pleased with the results that taking a shower will not just be a daily routine.