Ideas & Tips

Corporate Rental Property Renovation? The right glass makes all the difference

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Published Date: 2013-10-18

Gleaming Glass Doors: Opening up to the Outside World

If you're in the midst of a corporate rental property or business renovation and you've encountered a décor block, open yourself up to a whole new world of possibilities presented by glass doors, walls and partitions. Not only can you enhance the spatial feel of a room by swapping out solid wood doors with gleaming glass ones, but you can also increase the natural lighting that saturates the space – which allows you to cut back on artificial and electric lighting and can help you reduce your energy bills! With so many choices, it can be difficult to narrow down the look you're going for. But by having a few different selections compiled in one place, you have a head start on narrowing down the perfect glass door for you. So here's a glimpse at some of the great glass options to suit any style.

From the Inside Out...

A cool idea for dividing a space – in this case, separating the kitchen from the rest of the living area – is a glass door hanging from rails installed above the door frame. The frosted finish provides an extra layer of privacy without completely preventing the light from seeping through. Or perhaps this ultra-modern glass partitio n is more your speed. With free-swinging access from either side, you can block noise without blocking the rooms off from each other. Unlike the hanging door on rails, which is a great space-saver, this type of full-sized partition requires ample floor space to open and close the door.

...To the Outside In

Of course, there's nothing wrong with a classic! This timeless French door adds a touch of tradition that can be transformed into any style you select with the addition of a "window" treatment like curtains or drapes or even brought down to earth with natural bamboo shades. Photo credit: solrac_gi_2nd from morguefile.com Beveled Glass: And you don't have to stick with straight-up clear glass inserts. Use beveled glass, you can add texture and interest by playing with your glass finish choices. Shower Doors and Enclosures: Another smart renovation using glass is a simplistic bathroom update: replacing plastic and vinyl shower curtains with a beautiful glass shower door or enclosure. White: An all-white bathroom is only enhanced by the addition of glass and mirrors, which make the entire room appear larger and brighter. Dark: For a different, more masculine/grounded look, consider a frame-less shower door like this one. After all, when you have a killer view, the last thing you want to do is kill it by blocking it with a solid door. Cabinets: While you're swapping out your interior and exterior doors with glass, don't forget about those smaller cabinet doors.  Glass cabinet doors are a wonderful way to show off your fabulous dinnerware or introduce accent colors through your china into a streamlined or monochromatic kitchen. *TIP: Make sure you keep the inside of the cabinets organized – since you can see straight through the doors, you can diminish the overall look with messy and cluttered shelves. Now what? So what are you supposed to do with those old doors once you've swapped them out? Why, repurpose them as glass-topped tables, of course!  For an antique touch that combines something old and something new, place a custom cut piece of glass atop your door to create a unique coffee table that is sure to be the focal point in any room. *TIP: When you renovate your first house or small business, what better way to memorialize such a monumental step than transforming your front door into a table you can carry with you forever! And don't forget about the favorite cousin to glass: a mirror! Repurposing an heirloom door with a custom-cut mirror and a colorful coat of paint is a way to maintain a reflection of the past while moving forward into the future. What are some of the types of gleaming glass doors you've encountered along your décor journey? Shahab Shokouhi is a glass design expert at Dulles Glass and Mirror, an innovative manufacturer of glass table tops, glass shelves, and all other glass and mirror products. Follow Dulles Glass and Mirror on Pinterest to see how they're changing the way glass products are manufactured, customized and delivered.