Back Painted Glass

Decorative glass is a hot home design trend. In the high end New York condo market, spiral stair cases and glass flooring are a must have for buyers. Because designers are pushing the limits of this unique product, it’s no longer only being used in traditional settings. This creative process is changing the way we think of glass.

Glass selection is a critical first step in any project. Don’t use standard plate glass because it gives off a greenish tint and would alter the look of your color. Instead, look for lead free and low iron glass. Once you’ve selected the appropriate glass, you’re on to picking a color, and you can choose from a wide selection of colors similar to those found in a paint fan deck. Your color is painted on the back of the glass, baked on, and sealed, resulting in a vibrant color that gives off a glow. If you’re planning to use back painted glass behind a stove or sink, it’s a good idea to use tempered glass for safety.

With the push for more green building these days, glass is starting to play a greater role in today’s home because it’s considered a natural material. It’s being used in kitchen backsplashes, fireplace surrounds, floors, and staircases. Last week, I previewed a home and a wall clad with a back painted glass panel caught my eye. The cool blue color seemed to float on the wall. I’ve found that decorative glass used in a sufficiently large scale in a home gives off a calming influence. Back painted glass is a sleek, contemporary look but can also work in more traditional settings.

Glass is a great alternative to the traditional tile backsplash. It’s easy to clean, and there are no grout joints to attract bacteria and dis-color with time. A kitchen backsplash can receive a barrage of grease, and a smooth surface is easier to clean. Nobody wants to spend hours reaching over a counter to scrub food stains from an irregular surface. Some products, like brick or stone, are attractive and lend a hearth-like feel, but maintenance suggests they might work better in other areas. Glass offers a sleek contemporary look that does not fade or require a lot of maintenance.

Back painted glass is similar to Vitrolite which was popular in the 1920′s. Today’s design trends often draw from what was popular in the past. The wide range of colors available in decorative glass products can be applied in products from flooring to wall covering to fireplace surrounds. Perhaps you should consider working with decorative glass on your next home improvement project.