Glass Paint Opens Design Possibilities
Photo: Glober Furniture
Today the design options available to architects, interior designers,
contractors and furnishings manufacturers have been broadened
significantly due to the development of waterborne coatings formulated for
direct application to clear glass in a wide variety of hues and colors.
BY KEN BURTON
FINISHES UNLIMITED
Bronze room dividers, silver credenza tops, sea
foam shower enclosures, black bedroom suites,
rose hued doors and taupe staircases, to name a
few applications, are all produced using painted glass.
These products may not have been what the folks had
in mind who first used glass as a construction material
back in 100 AD, but they’re a reality today.
The smooth, sleek, reflective, transparent qualities of
glass have prompted a continuing search for new applications but most of these efforts had to focus on clear glass.
Stained glass has certainly found its place but the majority of creative efforts have been focused on clear glass for
walls, room dividers, counter tops, bath/shower enclosures,
doors, furniture and even staircases. The results are frequently breathtaking, but in reality, the glass has usually
been used to complement, emphasize or provide a dramatic showcase for the versatile use of other materials. The
glass itself is often given additional visual enhancement
by being beveled, flat, miter-edged and sand blasted.
The initial formulation and application research for
glass paint was not undertaken for the interior design
field. Rather, it was started to find a waterborne coating
to replace solvent-based paint used to coat small, painted glass, tabletop items used in restaurants.
Later, the technology was reformulated to produce a
clear coating to protect etched glass windows, mirrors,
doors and furnishings. For example, etched glass entry
doors quickly become dirty as people put their hands on
the glass surface when opening or closing them. In restaurants, smoke, grease and food particles settle onto frosted
or etched glass banquet dividers. Even workers installing
glass can leave dirt, oil and other marks. A clear coating
was developed that protected the etched area on glass
surfaces and made it easy to clean.
Now much larger sheets of glass can be enhanced with
a variety of colors, hues and even metallic appearances
by applying waterborne paint developed specifically for
this use. As a result, painted glass can become the focal
