Life & Work

Stained glass lights up homes

glass

Stained glass decor. PHOTO | FILE

Stained glass is no longer just found on windows and doors, the delicate art is climbing walls in living rooms and on stair railings.

The bespoke pieces create dynamic atmospheres, bringing life to a home whether one is looking to have a cosy rustic or modern appeal.

Peter Thiong’o of Stained Glass Décor says demand for the coloured glass is growing drastically.

“More people are looking to make their homes more appealing,” he said.

Anselm Croze of Kitengela Hot Glass says that stained glass creates statement pieces of almost anything around the house and even outdoors.

“The much thicker version gives you more options than the normal one which is just three millimetres thick,” he explains.

It is hard to tell that the elegant end products which range from fences, doors, chandeliers, even furniture are made from recycled glass.

‘‘Anything that uses plain glass can be replaced with stained glass. This includes kitchen shelves, door tops, wooden tables, chairs, cupboards, wall brackets; it all depends on what the client wants,” said Mr Thiong’o.
The price varies depending on the item, design and colour.

Those with intricate designs at Kitengela Glass average between Sh50,000 and Sh65,000 per square meter of stained glass. While the simple designs done by Mr Thiong’o cost between Sh10,000 and Sh20,000 per square meter.

Even though the glass can complement almost any interior or exterior setting, Mr Croze emphasizes the need to visit a client’s space to better customise the pieces.

Outdoor and indoor lighting

Stained glass act as a perfect lampshade for bulbs inside the house as well as those in the porch, gazebo, pergola or staircase.

Depending on the location, the lampshade can be made of complete the medieval stained glass which now has a modern twist or incorporated with metal.

Having stained glass shades, whether cylindrical or box-shaped in your home sets it apart. Such shades illuminate beautiful gardens , especially during the night functions.

“You can have a chandelier hanging from a stable tree, portable lanterns placed around the garden or hanging of poles or just simple lampshades fixed off one’s wall,” he said.

lamp

Unlike outdoor lighting which is a bit restricted in terms of design due to the need to protect the electrical system from rain, indoor lighting offers home owners enough room to add clustered designs on a lampshade.

These glasses flourished in medieval churches, but glass makers have added a modern touch and the colour can hold for years. Incase of breakage, the stained glass is replaceable.

Stained glass can also be attached to the walls as brackets, (partial lampshades) allowing just enough radiance to flow or on ceiling lighting.

If you want the room to be darker than normal, use multi-coloured glass which tends to “swallow” much of the lighting.

In skylights, Mr Thiong’o advises use of clear roofing above the reinforced stained glass skylight to protect it from whether elements. You can also create the impression of a skylight without actually building one; use wood before placing the stained class cover.

Door tops and doorways

Aside from lighting, stained glass can also be used to give life and add glamour on doorways leading to living or dining rooms. The different shades of stained glass is placed straight on the wall, but it can also be mixed with coloured tiles to give the impression of a mosaic design.

“Stained glass on door tops have a functional effect of allowing some light to get in while still allowing a sense of privacy,” Mr Thiong’o said.

Railings and screens

The decorative glass is also becoming an architectural option to partitioning of large rooms instead of constructing walls.

In open plan kitchens and dining rooms that spill over into the living room, stained glass can be used together with metal frames to partition.

Decorative art

Aside from these, stained glass can be used as standalone art on the walls. Different pieces of stained glass are formed into a three dimensional art piece of a flower or an animal and then placed on the wall with wooden or metallic framing.

“You can even place lighting behind it so as to bring out the colours,” Mr Thiong’o said.

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