Art Deco Mirror, hand etched carved and painted. "Symmetrical Waves"
One of the perfect items in a home or hospitality decor where a beautiful etched, carved and painted custom design is applied to, are MIRRORS. In addition to a bathroom or vanity, custom mirror is also fantastic for residential entries or foyers, for creating a spacious and open feel, through which a custom art piece can be made.
"Cascading Vines", beveled mirror, etched and carved on the front surface.
"Vibrance" etched, carved bathroom vanity mirror with beveled edges.
"Golden Cypress", etched, hand carved and painted decorative mirror.
Limitless textures and patterns can be etched & carved as a mirror frame. The design can be applied on either the front or back surface, depending of course on the design elements as well as the desired effect. Etching on the front will create a double image, which in some cases is undesirable, in other cases, perfect!
"Adria's Vanity", etched, carved and painted bathroom vanity mirror.
"Cheyenne" mirror frame, hand carved and painted beveled mirror.
We often create glass wall art pieces using mirror. Landscape scenes etched or carved on the front surface of the mirror are stunning works of art. Mirror comes in a variety of colors, but they aren’t “limitless”. There’s bronze, grey, black, peach, green and blue .. but they don’t create limitless “shades” of each color. There’s just a standard basic selection. The good news is that we can apply any custom color to the surface to create the desired effect, complimenting the surrounding decor.
Oval Mirror beveled etched and carved glass, bathroom vanity mirror.
Decorative round mirror with etched, carved & painted glass overlay pieces. Fern leaves are etched and carved on the front surface.
Art Deco Mirror, hand carved and painted frame design in brilliant magentas, reds, blues and greens.
At Sans Soucie, we never get bored because we are continually creating new designs and textures to perfectly suit each individual project and piece for our clientele. After over 30 years, we DO of course have a vast array of design archives, but custom designs are still created and always will be!
When most people think of the term “etched glass window” they likely picture n their mind a white, frosted effect on the glass, which of course is completely accurate. There are, however, different forms of and techniques for achieving etched glass. At Sans Soucie Art Glass, we use a number of various related terms that help us to be more specific with our clients, about the different effects we apply to the glass and various techniques we use. For example, etched glass can be SOLID, and/or it can have SHADING. In this article, we’re going to show examples of both.
A very accurate example of a true "etched glass window", this window features a border of roses, that have been ETCHED AND SHADED, with the background solid etched glass. These privacy windows do not diminish the amount of light coming into the room, but they do beautifully reduce GLARE.
Etched Glass Bathroom Privacy Windows, featuring a Diamond Grid Pattern. The etching comes up just far enough on the window to glass to provide the privacy level needed. The top portion is left clear, allowing for visibility which creates a really nice, open feel in the room, while still having the privacy needed in the tub and shower area.
A solid etched design, means that the glass will feature some sort of a design “element”, if you will, that is brought out using clear pinstripes, or there’s a design element (such as text, or a company logo) that’s left CLEAR on the glass. (As seen on the glass panel partitions at the Long Beach Renaissance Hotel, “Renaissance Waves”, below. The background has been solid frosted and the waves are left in clear glass. This would be referred to as a “solid etched glass design”).
Etched Glass Door Inserts, SOLID ETCHED rectangles provide a nice degree of obscurity with contemporary feel.
Etched Glass Panels, restaurant dividers that have been solid (reverse) etched, with an irregular chiseled top edge. This glass is installed inside the Long Beach Renaissance Hotel, in Long Beach, California.
I went through our Windows Gallery this morning, and searched out some of the best examples I could find of a simple, true, “etched glass window” and have posted them in this blog. I’m also demonstrating by placing photos next to one another, of what a SOLID etched glass looks like, verses an etched glass design that also features SHADING. Take a look at the photos of the etched glass mountains: The first photo shows a SOLID ETCHED GLASS technique, the second shows mountains that have been ETCHED AND SHADED. The solid etched, will provide a bit more privacy than the mountains with the shading. “Shading” the glass, is where the sandblast artist leaves a degree of clear glass, lightly fading out the white frosted glass at the edges of design elements. This really creates a beautiful, two dimensional look, EVEN tho this glass is not CARVED. Carving (as seen in the photo of the ROSE) is where the glass is actually sculpted with a design. The artist sandblasts longer and creates a 3 dimensionally, sculpted “relief” texture into the glass.
Etched Glass Window SOLID ETCHED, negative or reverse etching method. This is a shower window, etched for privacy in a Mountain Landscape design.
Etched Glass Window SHADED .. glass is surface etched with shading to create a two dimensional effect.
This photo really represents well, what an "etched and SHADED" design element will look like. These Iris Flowers and Leaves or Reeds are etched and shaded, while the background is solid etched, or frosted. Just a small degree of privacy was needed, in the lower portion of these multi-lite windows.
An Etched Glass Window, with an Acorn Border design in clear glass. A classic example of a "reverse or negative sandblast".
At first glance, these sidelites may appear to have Monsterra leaves that are solid etched only, but if you look closely, you'll see that there's some light shading between the leaves.
An Etched Glass Window with a clear ironwork motif. This window will provide some privacy when viewed from a distance, but of course when the glass is closely approached, visibility will be possible through the wide clear bands.
Carved Glass Window: My final example, this window is made up of a heavy glass pane, suitable for carvng. The flowers have been beautifully SOLID CARVED. There is no shading, but the glass is not merely "etched", but three-dimensionally sculpture carved. The details in this glass, are absolutely stunning. Click on the photo for additional images of this (as well as all the windows featured in this blog!)
Click on the links below to see a collections of etched glass windows, using the various techniques:
Sans Soucie Art Glass Studios can create a custom glass table top perfectly suited with the custom carved painted design you’re dreaming of! Different table types like a glass top dining table, carved sofa table, glass cocktail table and a painted glass end table can feature a contemporary design, to a more traditional motif .. whatever your home decor, a custom design will be created to suit it!
Round Glass Table Custom Carved Edge
Carved Sofa Table Ocean Current Design
Round Glass Table Carved Painted
Any size and shape can be custom cut and polished, such as an oval glass table or round and rectangle glass tables, and even small glass table tops are custom cut, beveled, etched carved and painted. Glass table bases and glass table legs of different styles and configurations are also custom made to fit and coordinate with the selected glass shape and custom carved and/or painted design.
Glass Dining Table, Carved Painted Orange Bubbles around the border
Art deco glass typically featuring geometric shapes and formations are very popular and over the years we’ve created some really unique pieces in this modern design style. Custom designed borders are indeed the most popular choice, however a beautiful custom element added to the center of the table is a fantastic addition to a glass dining table top, since of course when dining, the edges of the table are covered with plates, utensils and glasses!
Table tops are typically a thicker, heavy glass which is what’s needed in order for us to deep carve the design in to the glass (as opposed to just etching the glass surface which is all that’s permissible on a thin glass surface), so in most cases, the design is carved into the glass, creating what many people would refer to as a cut glass table. When the design is cut or carved in the glass, it creates a sculpted effect where the design actually looks like its “free floating” in the glass.
Glass Kitchen Table Bar Counter Glass, "Triptic" Design by Sans Soucie
Carved painted glass table tops and glass table bases takes the design to a whole-nother level! Adding color to the carved texture in the glass is truly stunning and brings out even more detail and richness in the design. Colors are custom mixed to pull and compliment the colors of your home or office decor.
Glass Top Dining Table and Glass Table Bases, Southwest Border Design
On our Web Site, we’ve created a way for you to view different types of glass tables by TABLE TYPE, and DESIGN STYLE. Click on these links to see:
Frameles Glass Shower Enclosure etched and carved with "Rugged Retreat" design by Sans Soucie.
Originally designed and created early on when we first began exploring the art of etched and carved glass many, many years ago, one of our most popular “signature designs” was birthed: The abstract design, “Rugged Retreat”. This abstract texture will compliment and coordinate with a very wide variety of design and architectural styles and is custom designed each and every time, for each individual piece of glass, whether it be for a window, an all glass frameless door, shower, or divider panel or partition, so it is constantly changed and adapted.
Frameless Entry of etched and carved glass Rugged Retreat design.
Etched, carved glass Sculputre in "Rugged Retreat" design.
The word “abstract” is defined as “nonrepresentational”, and that’s a very good description for this design. It does, however at times, and on some pieces, seem to take on the feel of hills or mountains with it’s various peaks and valleys within. The movement in the design is “contradictory’ … the top features waves that border or outline the top edges, with the bottom section showing wide wavy “swoops” that also climb and descend.
Tub window glass etched and carved with Rugged Retreat.
These are free standing shower partitions, that were crated and shipped out of state, so this photograph is taken at our Studio. The panels are chiseled irregular at the adjoining edges.
As with all our designs, Rugged Retreat is executed a number of different ways, depending on what it’s being applied to, and also at various levels of privacy, depending on the need.
Frameless Glass Entry, bronze glass etched and carved with Rugged Retreat design.
Door Glass etched and carved with Sans Soucie Rugged Retreat design.
Sans Soucie Art Glass creates a number of etched glass products for the bathroom that will turn ordinary bathroom items into stunning, personalized custom glass works of art!
Custom Vanity Mirror, etched/frosted irregular edges, with an added colored glass pinstripe to the inside.
Shattered Glass Bathroom Vanity made up of Black Mirror, Low Iron Starphire® Clear Glass. Top edges of backsplash are chiseled irregular.
Custom Glass Tub & Shower Partition. Glass is etched and carved, with painted glass overlay pieces.
Frameless Glass Shower, etched carved glass overlay pieces and chiseled irregular top edges.
Custom beveled mirror strips, overlay pieces on the mirror border that have been etched, carved and painted in animal print motif.
Decorative Glass Bath Partition, etched and carved in ocean wave design.
Custom beveled mirror with etched glass ivy leaves and vines.
Decorative Glass Shower Etched and Carved with Egret, Bamboo and Lilly Pads & Lotus Flowers.
Shower in illuminated art, inside a custom etched and carved frameless glass showers and shower doors by Sans Soucie! There’s no limit to the design possibilities .. we create what YOU want to see! Each shower is custom designed to suit your tastes and meet your needs! We create designs from very simple pinstripes, where just a touch of detail is desired, to more decorative designs, like Abstract Glass Patterns or Textures, or even Landscape Scenes that bring the “outside in” .. coordinating with the area your home is located in.
Decorative glass window, etched for privacy for tub & shower area.
Bath Vanity Glass, Etched & Colored Glass Cherry Blossom Branches & Blossoms. Glass is lit from beneath.
Decorative etched glass shower enclosure panels, etched and carved with Hibiscus flowers, Ferns and Tropical Leaves. Background is gluechipped for added obscurity.
A truly stunning and eye catching effect is created with our custom glass counter and vanity glass. Glass can be edge lit, or simply spot lit from beneath and of course adding color to the carved glass design will really make a statement, and pull from the colors of the surrounding decor items, like tile and wallpaper. Our transparent colors can be matched to your decor.
Decorative glass tub window, etched carved glass hibiscus flowers, with a butterfly and a gluechipped glass background, for added obscurity.
A Shattered Glass Counter is a beautiful custom option, which can be made to fit any size or configuration bath vanity. Shattered glass is typically 3 layers of 1/4″ thick glass, resulting in counter top that is 3/4″ thick. The center layer is tempered glass, that when “drilled” through, shatters and creates that gorgeous, multi-facted “diamond like” appearance that sparkles brilliantly! A fanastic option we suggest is making that bottom layer, a layer of mirror! Mirror comes in a multitude of different colors, which again would coordinate to any color scheme. Using the mirror, adds dimension and multiplies that gorgeous “sparkle effect!”
Frameless Glass Shower, etched with Mountain Landscape Scene,
Decorative glass bath vanity top. Etched, carved and painted glass with a Shoreline Edge on the top surface.
Etched Glass Tub Window. Geometric squares and waves design.
Freestanding shower partitions are another fantastic custom glass item for your bath. A plain glass partition in and of itself is pretty, but adding one of our Custom Etched, Carved Glass Edges really finishes off the piece, adding a beautiful, custom look. Sans Soucie creates a number of custom glass edges that we apply not only to shower dividers, but also to frameless, all glass shower enclosures, custom glass shelving and table edges.
Bathroom shelves, glass with chiseled irregular edges, installed over commode.
Sans Soucie also creates custom bathroom shelving, great for small areas like over the commode.
Contact Us for any questions your may have or about any custom glass project you are working on and let us help you create that custom work of art glass you’re looking for! Visit our Custom Designs Gallery to see hundreds of examples of our work, and visit our Pricing Page for dozens of example prices.
Decorative Glass Shower Enclosure. Carved and etched glass half circles and diaganol bands. Outside edges are sculpture carved, insides of the shapes are lightly etched, or "misted".
Decorative glass window etched for privacy over tub, in Flamingos Landscape scene.
At Sans Soucie Art glass, we’ve been creating contemporary decorative etched glass designs since our beginning! The look and feel of contemporary design in art and architecture has continued over the years to remain a popular and preferred design style. In our desert area, I would say it began to make a really major comeback starting about 7-8 years ago.
"Sun Odyssey", decorative etched and carved door glass.
This stunning glass entry gate is made up of white laminated glass, with stainless steel header and footer with a swooping steel handle, running diagonally curved across the entire height.
Clean sleek lines define this stunning breakfast table set. The stainless steel base contains crystal clear glass chunks that are lit from inside the base. The outside perimeter has been etched or frosted solid.
“Contemporary” is defined as “living or occurring at the same time” and “belonging to or occurring in the present”. I remember first seeing this design style in furniture and homes as I was growing up in the 70’s.
Etched glass design features bands that expand in width as they move from the center of the design outward.
Simple yet elegant. etched glass rectangles on Courtyard Door Glass
A stunning etched and carved glass shower enclosure with geometric shapes of half circles and bands. The outside perimeter edges have been sculpture carved, with the insides lightly frosted or misted for a nice contrast.
As degagefurniture.com puts it, “In furniture, modern or contemporary style basically evolved in the 20th century. Extraneous design and decorative accessories began to be phased out: ruffles, tassels, extra drawers, intricate carvings and the like were gone. Instead, designers began to focus on form and function and the new theory that less is more. Lines became cleaner, and designs became simpler. Furniture began to compliment a room rather than overwhelm it, and grew more and more functional to boot. Modern style’s pleasing design and practical advantages propelled the movement forward to the leading design trend that it remains today.”
Sleek pinstripes are featured in this Glass Entry of etched glass with clear pinstriping
Etched, decorative glass cabinet inserts, with a gorgeous contemporary overlapping circles design. Design is carved and the background has been etched or frosted solid for complete obscurity.
Horizontal etched and lightly frosted bands are featured on this door glass, that is cut at angle for a really contemporary look.
Carved squares on an etched glass background are featured on thesse grey door glass inserts and transom window. The center section has a "clear" background.
I’m featuring a number of our most popular contemporary designs, as seen on our etched & carved door glass, window glass, showers, custom glass tables, and custom divider glass. These decorative glass designs can of course be modified to suit the size and style of any project.
A really fun and even perhaps "whimsical" design, this window features swirls and shapes that are lightly frosted, with the background etched solid.
If you’re interested in seeing more contemporary and/or geometric designs, be sure to take a look at our Geometric Designs Gallery in our Custom Designs Gallery. There are literally dozens more like this to see!
A decorative glass window is the perfection solution for areas in your home where privacy is needed, but so is light! Take a look at the windows featured in this blog that demonstrate different designs, and even different sandblast methods, that demonstrate how that can be achieved.
"Lilly Pads & Lotus" Tub Window
At Sans Soucie Art Glass Studios, we incorporate a number of different techniques to create the looks and textures that we want. What’s also wonderful about our custom glass designs, is that any design can be executed a whole host of ways. For instance, where the highest level or privacy is needed, we’ll implement a solid frosted background, whereas if only partial privacy is needed, we’ll apply a “lightly misted” background, which means that we have just lightly sandblasted the background and some visibility or level of clear glass remains, creating just the right amount of obscurity.
"Iris Perch" Entry Window Glass
And then again in some instances, we’ll combine the two! An example of implementing both a solid frosted or solid etched background along with a lightly misted background, is seen on the beautiful “Lilly Pad & Lotus” Tub Window. The gorgeous lilly pads and lotus flowers have been 3-dimensionally sculpture carved (solid) into the glass, which of course makes those areas completely solid white. Since the glass was carved, the edges will pick up light and illuminate brighter than the other carved areas. They’re floating in “water” that flows throughout the design that is both solid frosted and misted. There’s enough contrast in the two shades of white frosted glass to see a difference.
The “Iris Perch” entry window demonstrates glass that has been sandblasted too 100% density. The design elements which include iris flowers, leaves, a flower pot and beautiful bird, have all been sculpture carved and the background is solid frosted.
"Lazio" etched, carved & gluechipped glass window
Another background option where privacy is needed, is a gluechipped texture background. Gluechip is a beautiful texture that sparkles with all the different chipped glass formations and creates a beautiful contrast. This is seen on the “Lazio” window. The design is a carved glass wrought iron theme, that has been sculpture carved along with some areas that are misted and the background is gluechipped. This entry window really sparkles and coordinates perfectly with the various wrought iron gates and pieces that are in the surrounding area of the window.
Living in the beautiful Coachella Valley, which is completely surrounded mountain ranges, desert and mountain scenes are a very popular and beautiful design for tub and entry windows. They of course “fit” the area and always will, and will never go out of style! We’re showing two different technique styles in the photos featured. The narrow window “Mountains Pinstripe” is what we call a “pinstripe” method, but could also be called a negative sandblast. The design elements in this method are brought out by using clear pinstripes. The pinstripes are typically no more than approx. 1/8″ wide. This method requires TWO cut lines when creating the template, so the labor involved is actually more than when we do an “etched and shaded” version, which is what’s shown on the wider tub window, titled “Mountains Shaded” in our Tub Window Gallery of our web site.
Facebook
Twitter
MySpace
Flickr
YouTube