Chennai
Glass has gone from being a mere utility material to being an integral aesthetic element in living spaces.
Over the years, interior spaces have become suffused with design, material and color. Despite the fast pace of these changing trends, some elements have remained relevant, becoming classics. Glass is one of them it needs no renaissance and has been part of interiors greatly by its virtue of appearing not to occupy any.
While interior designers agree that glass has always been a part of interior dEcor, they also acknowledge the broadening gamut of its type and usage. Thusail, marketing manager, Glass Decors, says “We have seen a steady increase in the use of glass, which is gradually becoming a vital aspect in interior designing. Although somewhat expensive, wherever people prefer glass because of its aesthetic appeal as well as the wide range of utility benefits it offers.”
The many types of glass available today allow for variety in design. Thomas Rajan, managing partner, Classic Flooring and Interiors, talks about the versatility of glass, in terms of design as well as a concept. “Glass interiors are elegant. The best feature of glass interiors is that one can control the color theme while maintaining the brightness of the room. Glass can be found in various degrees of translucence and this can be used create an illusion of space while maintaining privacy. This can usually be seen when it is used for staircases and partitions since glass makes the whole space nonintrusive. In homes, muted shades of pastels and tones of blue and grey are used to lend a soothing ambience. But because colors seem to vary when translucent light comes into play, the palette grows.”
Apart from partitions, windows and décor items, glass is mostly ued for lighting purposes. Hemanth, director, Meridian Lights and Light Sutra lighting studios based in Chennai feels that light is the soul of a building, which is why glass is an irreplaceable part of interior décor. “Tinted or stained glass can add an aesthetic touch to facades and windows. Because apartments are limited in size, use of clear glass in lighting makes them look stark. This is where colored and translucent shades play an important role as they minimise glare and better the ambience of a room,” he says. Another reason for the increased use of glass in living spaces is the growing awareness of the ill effects artificial lighting and the fact that glass allows for creative manipulation of natural light.
Anu C J, a reader, says, “Because ours is an independent house with a high ceiling, we used a glass chandelier to fill up the space. The combination of metal and glass makes it an interesting an intricate piece which is always a conversation starter. Our dining room too has suspended glass lampshades that are a mix of textured and plain glass pieces. I feel the material is such that is makes the room look contemporary and cozy at the same time.”
Source – Reshma S, Times Property, The Times of India, Chennai