What glass for transoms?

[JoceAndChris]

More bathroom questions - I'm sorry! It is so useful to get the ideas though!

The glass that's in there at the minute is probably 1930s, I see no evidence of or history of a lot of change in this cottage and especially glass has only been replaced where it got broken. We know this room was made into a bathroom in the 30s hence this panelling that we're going to replicate for the rest of the room.

I like most of the 30s alterations in this house but not this choice of glass! I find it very utility and just ugly really.

What could I use it it's place? Plain wobbly glass? Etched glass with a simple star pattern?

The house is 1810 which is a bit early for some of the pretty Victorian etched designs I think.

Any ideas welcome!

 

[88v8]

I think that's what used to be known as Small Artic (perhaps sic).
Bog-standard privacy glass of the 30s onwards. Not sure if it's still available. Large Artic vanished years ago.

Options... leaded lights, although modern leaded lights always look modern to me.
Or coloured glass.
http://www.creativeglassguild.co.uk/cat/glass/textured-glass
Or etched... that pub look. But it can be very attractive.
http://www.creativeglassguild.co.uk/cat/glass/victorian-etched-frosted-glass
Or
http://www.leadbitterglass.co.uk/

One can go quite berserk, if one allows one's imagination full rein.

But ........ if you go for decorative glass, remember it only works if there is a light differential:
When you are in the room, it must be lighter outside.
So, when you are lying in the bath, will you be looking towards the glass? Presumably if you keep the bath that way round, you will.
And can you backlight it with a good spread of light? Not single blobs of light, but a spread such as well-shaded wall lights. So, the lighting outside the room becomes all about providing back-light, rather than illuminating the passage or whatever is out there.

If you are outside the room, it must be lighter within. Day and night. When you are outside, will you really see it? I mean really see it? Or, after a while, not really?

It's good that you are also considering lighting. Period decorative glass and period lighting must go hand-in-hand.

Ivor

 

[JoceAndChris]

Hi Ivor that's really interesting, thanks for your post! I'm absolutely intrigued how coloured glass would look! Soane used it for amazing effect.
I agree with you that the leaded lights look very modern.
And I love the etched, but it is so Victorian. Difficult!

The following pics will help make sense of the space and how I look at these horrible arctic glass panels all day long, not just in the bathroom. The house is built into a hill, the ground floor has this bathroom leading off the hall along with bedrooms and receptions. Downstairs are kitchens. Upstairs is one attic bedroom.

It used to be a door into a food prep area ( a chafing room??) but in the 30s became a large airing cupboard and bathroom. You see how whatever I put there is going to affect the light into my hall.

Very interested in yellow coloured glass!

 

[88v8]

Mmmm, lovely house, envy envy.

So, you could hang a small and diffuse light just outside the bathroom.

There are indeed lots of options with glass.
http://www.tatra-glass.co.uk/index.php
In our previous bathroom we had a sash door with red starburst centre, blue and yellow margins and red corner stars. It was beautiful.
Yes, Victorian. But if you had such an arrangement in there now, would you be hankering to take it out? Does period correctness always trump* beauty?

Ivor

* other words are available

 

[JoceAndChris]

I'm so glad I had this chat with you Ivor! It's opened my mind. I completely agree that beauty trumps historical authencity. We've never regretted having that Latin motto carved into the plaster under the battlements for example even though there was no precedent. I think here is an opportunity to do something really lovely and creative. I think we''ll just do wood panels in those glass sections that lead onto the airing cupboard - as there's no point having fancy glass there. And have a stained glass man make something pretty for the two panels that give onto the hall.

This would be so lovely replicated. I might even be able to stencil it onto coloured glass myself.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Smashed the horrid old glass out now! And have a firm plan. The one on the left where the cushions are - that's the airing cupboard behind - Chris is going to fit plain glass and box in the back with a door accessed from said airing cupboard. This means this one can be a display like a shop window, with old pharmacy jars or taxidermy snakes or whatever. The ones on the right I want to have amber glass with white etched stars to create this type of coloured effect.

If anyone has used a good stained glass maker or glass artist I'd be interested to hear!

 

[88v8]

It's good to have a plan !

I used to have a super taxidermed mongoose & cobra, but no room for it here.
I do love taxidermy... beauty preserved. And with modern chemicals there's less need for a glass case. Was very tempted by a board's head at The Revival but as OH pointed out, in a cottage where one can't swing a cat, one certainly can't accommodate a boar.

Glass artists... I think Tatra would be able to give you a few recommendations.
http://www.tatra-glass.co.uk/index.php

Ivor

 

[mims&pip]

That amber glass should look wonderful! Also loving the pharmacy jars/taxidermy idea. We used to have a huge - sadly repro - leeches jar......wish I'd not ebayed that now :roll: Original ones are even nicer! Let me know if you want me to search the local antique shops here.....

Taxidermy isn't to everyone's taste of course - but I'm afraid we're not very PC and have a red squirrel as well as something I believe to be a stoat. Not to mention the butterflies & moths I started collecting as a student. We only have around twenty-five now, but at one point we had a couple of hundred frames, but when we sold up in Hants our buyers were interested in purchasing anything we wouldn't have space for in our new home so (again regrettably) we let them have best part of our collection. Would really like to build it up once more as we're leaning back to a more eclectic look in our decorating style these days

Can't wait for more bathroom updates!

Mims x

 

[Flyfisher]

How about replicating the diamond design of the Windows in your entrance hall and doors? It would be consistent with the house but would still allow you to use coloured, obscured or any combination of glass pieces to put your own stamp on things.

 

[JoceAndChris]

That's a lovely idea FF, would look superb and very in keeping. I just fear the bill though. Those wooden diamonds are fiddly and time consuming which is why you no longer see them on houses! If anyone does know a carpenter who could replicate please let me know. It would look pretty though!


Loving the sound of your collections Ivor and Mims! I know it isn't to everyone's taste but I think it looks well in a period home!

 

[JoceAndChris]

Re reading this, to my shame I’ve done nothing about this in well over a year! But it needs doing!

Anyone got any recommendations for stained glass artists? I have now sent emails to three but I’ve just picked them randomly.

I’m still wanting yellow glass with white stars.

It occurs to me I could just order the clear etched glass ( Victorian pub style) and stick yellow window film over. Anyone used the window film? Does it stay on nicely?

Here is how the room looks today. So pleased with how it’s shaping up. Tiny, but I hope jewel-like!

https://imgur.com/gallery/E7yJT

 

[Abi Cott]

I've used window film a couple of times. How well it stays on and looks good largely depends on how well you apply it. How easy it is to apply vastly varies with price.

Don't buy the cheap stuff.

 

[Salty]

My mums cousin does some stained glass artistry. She is in wales, but i am not sure if she has retired from creating - i will check

 

[JoceAndChris]

Thank you Salty.

Window film sounds like it could be good, thanks Abi. Just slightly worried it may look like window film, rather than actual yellow glass.

Had this nice message back now from one of the stained glass artists I emailed

Hi Jocelyn,

Thank you for your enquiry. How about the attached?

If this is not suitable we can source yellow glass at the size required and have it sandblasted with stars.

Kind Regards



I wonder what his quote for yellow glass sandblasted with stars is going to be!!!