Tag: shower enclosures

Get Rid of that Shower Curtain!

Written by Glassworks of Tucson on March 1, 2023. 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!

Add Design to Your Bathroom: Consider a Pony Wall

Written by Glassworks of Tucson on April 11, 2022. 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!

Shower Doors Matter

Written by Glassworks of Tucson on February 25, 2022. 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.