Stained Glass: It's not just for windows anymore

Wagon Wheel. Instead of hanging in a window, this piece is mounted on a narrow light box above a fireplace mantle. Much as one would hang a painting. The light box provides perfect illumination.

Rising Sun. Two panels - the designs mirror each other. Used in a set of cafe doors.

When most people think of stained glass, it's usually glass that's installed in door or above a window in a transom.

However, used creatively, a stained glass panel can provide a dramatic focal point to a dim room. One of the most beautiful examples of this is Wagon Wheel (right). Instead of hanging this in a window, the owners built a narrow (2-3" deep) light box and mounted the framed panel directly in front of it.

In the example below, two panels, mirrors of each other, were set in a pair of cafe doors, letting light into an otherwise dark room.

One of our favorite uses is for interior windows. This happens when a homeowner builds an enclosed porch -- commonly on the backside of the house. When this happens, the kitchen window often looks onto the porch. A nice alternative is to hang a stained glass window. This allows light into the kitchen and provides a beautiful focal point. Alternatively, you can put on shutters that contain stained glass. Giving homeowners the option of opening the shutters to pass food through, or closing them for privacy.

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