Glass blocks are used in the construction of a private house. Helpful invisibility or the use of glass in the arrangement of garden paths

Glass bricks are hollow glass bricks that are widely used in construction and interior design. Such material was widely used several decades ago in the construction of residential buildings, hospitals and various public buildings. Glass blocks of those times did not differ in beauty and style, they were ordinary boxes made of muddy glass with a narrow choice colors... But thanks to a whole series useful properties, inherent in glass blocks, began the revival of this material and its widespread use in interior design. Especially considering the fact that modern glass blocks are produced in the most different options are very attractive appearance and are suitable for the most unexpected projects.

Advantages of glass blocks

The first advantage of using glass blocks in the interior is a wide selection of design solutions that practically do not limit the interior creator in the embodiment of his ideas. Manufacturers offer glass blocks in a wide range of colors, in different options size, shape and texture of the material surface.

The second advantage, which is also important when choosing a material for finishing, is technical characteristics. Decorative material often carries not only an aesthetic function, it must withstand some loads and cope with external influences... Glass blocks are almost impossible to break, this reduces injuries during their installation and operation. The material withstands temperatures from -40 to + 500C and therefore is freely used for laying external walls.
Installation of glass blocks is very simple. If one of the structural elements is damaged, then it can be easily changed without completely dismantling the entire masonry. The level of noise insulation allows glass blocks to be used as sound insulating material in load-bearing walls ah or partitions. Glass brick is ideal for places with high humidity, it does not allow water to pass through and is not afraid of condensation. In addition to moisture and noise, glass blocks also retain dust well.
Glass blocks are also an economical material, as they perfectly retain heat inside the room and help to reduce heating costs. In the hot season, this effect works in reverse side and does not let you into the room hot air keeping it cool. At the same time, glass blocks are completely non-flammable and belong to materials with high level fire safety.
The use of glass blocks in the chemical industry, medical institutions, laboratories and other similar premises is possible due to the resistance of this material to the effects of aggressive chemicals... In service, glass blocks are simple and practical. The material can be washed by any household products, while any contamination is removed from the surface very simply and easily. The ingress of dust into the whole brick is excluded, since all products are hermetically sealed.
Glass blocks let in a large amount of light into the room, while they are not a transparent material, like ordinary glass. Matte coating does not allow prying eyes to see everything that happens on the other side of the glass block wall, while the room will be sufficiently well lit. The last and most important plus of glass blocks is their low cost in comparison with similar materials for construction and decoration.

Varieties of glass blocks

There is no specific general division of glass blocks into certain types. Materials are distinguished according to some individual characteristics, of which 8 main ones stand out:

Brick dimensions. The standard and most common sizes are 190x190x80 mm, 240x240x80 mm, 190x90x80 mm and 240x115x80 mm.
Product shape. The most popular glass blocks are in the form of a square, rectangle and triangle with rounded or non-rounded edges. More original design- glass blocks in the form of a hexagon or in the shape of the letter G.
Colors and content. Manufacturers of glass blocks are not limited in color range and therefore produce them in a variety of colors. Also, this material is produced hollow inside or containing various decorative elements. The photo below shows glass blocks with decorative inclusions.

Internal texture of the brick surface. This indicator affects not only the appearance of the material, but also its ability to transmit the light flux. The surface is made corrugated, even, matte, glossy, patterned or arbitrary. Also, the inner surface is colored or remains transparent.
The thickness of the glass in the brick. This indicator affects the weight and strength of the glass block. The most common thickness is 6-7 mm.
Durability and resistance to stress. This indicator consists of several characteristics, including the type of glass, its thickness and the structure of the brick itself. With a high level of these characteristics, glass blocks are not destroyed even by a shot from a firearm.
Optical characteristics. This indicator indicates the degree of light transmission of the brick and its effect on the luminous flux. Glass blocks are guides, scattering, etc.
Application area. This feature determines the purpose of the material and the nature of the room for which it is intended. A sign is formed from various components, including glass thickness, impact resistance, visual signs, and so on. There are three main groups - interior, decorative and industrial glass blocks.

The use of glass blocks in the interior

In addition to widespread use in industry, where a durable material is needed that has a high level of fire safety and is not subject to destruction from chemical and thermal effects, glass blocks are widely used in the interior. They are used both as a building material and as an additional decorating surface. Glass blocks are used:

For the construction of walls and partitions. Glass blocks are ideal for building walls in rooms with high humidity where a durable material is needed that does not allow moisture and temperature to pass through, and is not subject to the formation of rot, fungus and corrosion.

For masonry windows. This material is especially convenient for construction panoramic walls in private homes. As mentioned above, glass blocks transmit light, but are not a transparent material. A room with a wall made of this material will be very bright, warm and safe.

As a decorative element. When redeveloping, repairing, erecting arches and various designs... For furnishing the interior, the use of glass blocks has no boundaries. They are laid out on the walls like a tile from a tile, used for the construction of door or window slopes... Real wall paintings with a stunning volumetric image are created from glass blocks with decorative inclusions. At the same time, it is very easy to care for such a picture, and the elements inside will never lose their brightness and appearance, thanks to the hermetically sealed brick soldering.

For creating furniture. Glass blocks have different sizes and therefore are suitable not only for walls, but also for furniture. From thin glass blocks are created glass facades in cabinet doors or ordinary interior doors... Another example of such an application is the creation of a stationary bar counter in a studio apartment. Tables, bedside tables and coffee tables... The only drawback of this design is its stationarity, glass-block furniture is installed once and for all.

Glass block wall

The modern tendency of redevelopment involves removing some walls and erecting others, in the place that seems to the homeowners the most optimal. This type of repair makes it possible to plan the space of the apartment according to your needs. In the process, one very important question- what material to choose for the construction of new walls. Glass blocks in this case are an excellent option.

Glass block wall - good decision for dark rooms without windows. The wall between a dark and a light room is completely or partially laid out of glass blocks, and the shaded room becomes light and cozy. This use of glass bricks not only makes the room more comfortable, but also makes it possible to save on electricity, since there is no longer a need to light the lamp during daylight hours. At the same time, the rooms will remain separated both visually and technically.

With the help of a glass block, shared bathrooms are shared; they are an excellent alternative to brick if the wall between the bathroom and the kitchen is constantly damp and moldy. When building a wall from a glass block, you just need to remember that, for all its beauty and transparency, the glass block looks cold enough, therefore it is better to combine it with other types of building materials. For example, make one part of the wall with plasterboard, and the other with glass bricks.

Partitions from glass blocks

The difference between a partition and a wall is that it is not a blind structure, which must be connected to the ceiling and all adjacent walls. The partition is designed as a formation dividing the room into parts, zoning it or simply separating some objects from the general area. In this case, the upper part of the partition is performed in a flat plane or figuratively. The first option is more practical, since the top of the partition can be easily equipped with a shelf and allows the most optimal use of free space in small rooms.

The most common example of building partitions made of glass blocks is zoning a bathroom or public showers in swimming pools, sports clubs, etc. v in public places This material is convenient in that it easily withstands constant and prolonged contact with water, without losing its properties and appearance. In everyday life, this factor is also of great importance, but the aesthetic side of the issue is also important. Glass blocks in the bathroom will become, as it were, a continuation of the wall, they are in perfect harmony with tiles of any texture and color, provided that the tone of the glass itself is chosen correctly. The emphasis is on the bathroom because it is in this room that tiles or ceramics are used for decoration, which are in good harmony with glass. For the same reason good design solution is the use of glass blocks in the kitchen, dining room, bath or sauna, in rooms with a swimming pool.

Glass blocks are optimal solution for a bathroom and in the event that there is only one bathroom in the apartment, and at the same time a large number of people live. Partitions made of this material will make it convenient for several people to use the room at the same time, only in this case they must be erected from embossed low-transparent bricks. In residential premises, glass block partitions do not always look appropriate and are recommended for such styles:

Modern trends - loft, high-tech, urban.
Elements made of colored bricks are suitable for Baroque, Neo-Baroque, Art Deco styles, it is possible to use products with decorative inclusions.
The Art Nouveau style is complemented by stained glass blocks, and these elements will also look good in a classic and oriental style.

The use of glass bricks in living rooms depends on aesthetic preference. However, the styles in which the designers do not recommend the use of glass block elements are rustic and natural. To diversify the glass block partition and make it more original, they combine different colors or create a complex mosaic of blocks of different tones, colors and sizes.

In order not to make complex calculations and not to create a color project of the future wall, they use the most simple option and just in some places the walls of glass bricks insert elements with decorative inclusions. Partitions, like walls, are completely folded from glass blocks or combined with other types of materials.

Glass block windows

To make a dark, deaf room lighter, it is not necessary to completely lay out the wall of glass blocks, it is enough to perform with their help small area, that is, build an inner window. This solution is relevant for a wall in a bathroom, hallway, hallway, corridor between rooms, etc.

Also, external windows are made with glass blocks. This is especially true for a bathroom wall that faces the street. A plus this method that it is possible to do great panoramic window, which will not give the opportunity to look into the house for any passer-by. Minus - the glass block is not transparent on both sides, that is, this window will not be transparent from the inside either.

Decorating with glass blocks

Glass blocks are widely used as a decorative element. When laying the walls, small inserts of glass blocks are made, which add visual lightness and comfort to the structure. Such a wall will not "crush" creating a depressing impression. Another application is in-wall insertion based on the stacking principle ceramic tiles... The glass block is slightly drowned into the wall, in this case it will not transmit light, but it will reflect it, without losing its beauty at all.

When decorating the walls with glass blocks, there should not be too many of them. Most the best option- 1 brick per 1 m2 of wall. An interesting interior solution is a glass block recessed into the wall with a lamp hidden behind it. This is how constructions, unique in their beauty, are created. Glass blocks are used when different types decorating walls like additional element... For example, when creating painting on the wall with paints or plaster, when decorating arches and fireplaces. In this case, colored blocks with decorative inserts or stained-glass windows.

Bath screens are laid out with glass blocks, this design looks especially beautiful for a large and angular container. Another use in the bathroom is making a console for a sink. At correct selection color scheme, such a console will look unique. During the construction of stairs, glass bricks are inserted into the steps; backlighting will also look relevant here. They equip not only the steps with glass blocks, but also the wall adjacent to the stairs, they do this at any height.

Glass blocks as construction finishing material were used back in Soviet times, but after going through decades and undergoing significant changes, glass bricks in a new image returned to perform decorative functions. V modern construction this material has found wide application due to its unique properties and vibrant variety.

Classification of glass blocks

Glass blocks are two glass semi-blocks welded together. Hollow inside. They differ in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors, which can be found in the catalog with a photo. New production technologies make it possible to produce matte and colored glass blocks, corrugated and with inserts, which will transform the interior of any room.

Forms. Available in brick, rectangular, half, hexagonal and corner shapes. The last two are original, the first are the most popular.
Color spectrum glass blocks in the interior:

colorless (from 70% to 90% transparency), colored (from 50% to 70% transparency);
matte (transparency less than 50%), transparent (transparent, light-guiding, light-scattering);
embossed surface (drop, wave, cubes) and smooth;
with internal inserts and decorated in style stained glass(by looking at the photo, you can choose options with various decorative fillings);

Painting technique performed in two various technologies... They paint the inner surface before soldering the halves or give color when melting the glass. This indicator affects the ability to transmit light.
Application area. The three main types are decorative, interior and industrial. A shower room with elements of any kind will be original and unique.

Thanks to its technical specifications glass bricks have a number of advantages that allow them to be used in a variety of directions, and a wall of glass blocks, made by hand as structural element will delight not only with beauty, but also with practicality.

Advantages

They are characterized by increased fire resistance. Withstand high temperatures.
They are durable, have excellent heat-saving, energy-saving and sound-insulating qualities.

Moisture resistant, therefore suitable for showers and swimming pools.
Glass blocks in the interior do not require plastering, painting, or cladding with other materials.
They have no contraindications for use in residential premises and meet all hygiene standards.
Installation of glass blocks is easy to do with your own hands.

Glass blocks and interior

For a long time, there was an unambiguous attitude towards them - boring, unremarkable material, it blows chill, a place for him in clinics and catering establishments. Then completely oblivion. Now they seem to have burst into our house as something new, original. Glass blocks in the interior make the room bright and spacious. In construction, they are widely used as a finishing material for decoration individual elements, kitchen, bathroom, installation of partitions in living quarters. Glass blocks in the interior of the apartment create a unique atmosphere of comfort, as evidenced by numerous photos.

V one-room apartment original decision will partition for zoning space from glass blocks. If we assume that there is a sleeping area at the window, then the living room has lost natural light, but thanks to the partition made of glass blocks, there is enough light in the apartment, and the bedroom is hidden from prying eyes.

Glass blocks in bathroom and the shower is in demand decorative material... On the one hand, they are opaque and, at the same time, allow some of the scattered light to pass through. Thanks to glass blocks as a partition, the shower room will visually increase in size, and by closing the toilet area with such material, you will add originality to the overall style with your own hands.

Advice! Before buying blocks, check out the options for decorating the rooms in the photo and choose the most suitable one in order not to make bright element dissonance in the big picture.

Many of us, when the word "glass blocks" are used, recall Soviet buildings with bluish-green glass squares of glass that served as windows or partitions in various public buildings- from dining rooms to baths. In those days, it never occurred to anyone to use this construction material as a decor. The use of glass blocks was due to the strength, availability and obvious functionality of the products. Nowadays, this building and finishing material has undergone external changes and is used not only for its main purpose, but also for decorating the interiors and facades of buildings. Over the past ten years, the use of glass blocks in the design of residential premises is gaining popularity - modern designers offer options for the construction of practical and aesthetic structures, the use of glass blocks locally, as a functional decor.

Glass blocks are an excellent soundproofing material that is resistant to moisture and has good heat-saving properties. That is why it is so often used in utilitarian rooms for taking water procedures. And nowadays glass blocks can be most often found in bathroom design projects, where partitions are created from translucent cubes, window openings are laid out and racks are installed.

The design of the glass block is simple - it is a hollow "brick" inside, the walls of which are 6-8 mm thick. The rarefied air inside the unit provides the product with high sound insulation properties and low thermal conductivity, which helps to save heat in the premises. As a result, industrial glass blocks are used both for the construction of non-load-bearing walls inside a building and for cladding the outer surfaces of buildings.

As a rule, glass blocks are produced in a square shape, but there are also products in the form of "bricks", end (corner) blocks and even rounded ones. As for the colors, the advantage here is in transparent, colorless glass blocks, but in Lately popularity is gaining tinted products, with different decor inside (pebbles, shells and even herbariums), LED products look especially luxurious and modern. Glass blocks can be different sizes, but still the most popular option is standard forms: 19x19x8 cm and 24x24x8 cm.

Partitions, racks and more

One of the most popular uses for glass blocks in the interior is the creation of partitions in the bathroom. And there are several reasons for this popularity:

glass blocks let in up to 85% of the sunlight, but at the same time create a barrier behind which you can retire;
excellent moisture resistant properties;
structural strength;
the relative cheapness of the material;
ease of care;
excellent soundproofing properties allow you to drown out the sound of pouring water;
glass-block partitions are able to retain heat, creating a comfortable atmosphere for taking water procedures.

In order to create a safe and easy-to-use glass block partition, products with a rounded shape are used in the last row of the building. As a result, your opening, passage or niche in the partition will be ergonomic, safe and visually attractive.

Creation of semicircular partitions from glass blocks separating the shower space from common area, is most widespread in modern design projects... You get a bathroom space isolated from high humidity, while maintaining the presence of sunlight in the shower area.

The combination of transparent and tinted glass in the construction of partitions in bathrooms allows you to create not only functional protection of the room from moisture, but also to decorate the interior, bring an element of originality.

Products of different sizes and colors will help to bring originality to the construction of a partition made of glass blocks. Here is an original combination of transparent rectangular elements glass with square emerald blocks with grooved surface.

In creating glass-block partitions made of colored glass, the main thing is not to overdo it with brightness and maintain harmony in the use of color solutions.

Partial laying out of one of the walls of the bathroom with the help of glass blocks will preserve the privacy of the room, but at the same time create the possibility of using light coming from an adjacent space. As a result, during the day you can not use artificial lighting by going to the bathroom.

Most often, glass blocks are used for the construction window openings in utilitarian premises - bathrooms and toilets. This choice is quite logical because as a result you have a window that lets in almost as much light as ordinary double-glazed windows, but at the same time creates a private atmosphere, freeing you from the need to use curtains or blinds. Most often, glass-block windows can be found in private urban-type houses or country households.

The use of glass blocks for window decoration allows you to create both panoramic monolithic window openings and whole compositions from small sections with a translucent composition.

The use of glass blocks of different sizes and shapes makes it possible to construct not just window openings, but real decorative interior elements that can raise the level of design uniqueness to an unprecedented height.

Creating a window from glass blocks in the bathroom allows you to use the resulting surface as a base. For example, when one or two sinks are located near such a window, you can hang mirrors and even small shelves directly on the structure of glass products.

Panoramic glass bathroom windows can be used to attach various accessories. In the shower room, it can be handrails or small shelves, mirrors.

But it is not only in the bathrooms that you can find glass-block windows. Originality and practicality are brought by this inexpensive material into the living room space. In this case, glass products are used not only for their functional qualities, but also as a decorative element.

When converting former industrial premises into living spaces, you can often find the use of glass blocks, as a tribute to the times when these glass products were used solely for their functional qualities. Here is a design project of a spacious kitchen area with high ceilings and glass-lined windows.

Another example of arranging a glass block window in a modern kitchen-dining room

Even in the interior of the hallway, the use of glass blocks looks organic. Contemporary and unique.

You can hardly surprise anyone with windows and partitions made of glass blocks. But the use of this durable, but at the same time translucent building material as a basis for flooring able to bring originality to any interior design. Before you is just such a way of decorating an office with a seating area. A glass roof, complete with a floor made of glass blocks, made the room completely airy, light and light.

A semicircular bar counter made of translucent glass blocks? Easy! The structure will look especially impressive if you add color or monochrome backlighting to the structure.

Small inserts of glass blocks in the walls are a unique opportunity to bring originality to the interior of the room. The room is filled with light, glare plays on the surfaces, but the walls do not lose their strength and wear-resistant qualities.

The unusual use of glass blocks can be found even in the sleeping area. Windows made of this material can protect your space from prying eyes, but at the same time fill the room with subdued sunlight.

Modern glass "bricks" are usually used indoors to bring lightness and airiness, shine and radiance into the interior. There are not so few ways to use glass blocks in the interior. In addition to the traditional construction of walls from blocks, designers are ready to offer many other solutions, including very bold ones.

We can say that the good old glass blocks have recently experienced a rebirth, which gave them the opportunity to prove themselves in a new quality. If earlier glass blocks were used mainly as a building material, now they the main role- decorative.
Fortunately, the material in its modern embodiment allows not to limit the flight of imagination. Glass blocks today bear little resemblance to those muddy bottle-colored "bricks" that surrounded us everywhere in the recent past. Now they are made in almost any color scheme: red, blue, light blue, violet, pistachio, etc. However, colorless blocks of transparent glass are especially popular. True, the glass blocks themselves can be opaque due to the relief. In short, there is plenty to choose from.

If you want something more interesting, you can purchase glass blocks with stained glass patterns or with internal inserts. Since the glass block is hollow inside, you can put any decorative objects in it, for example, seashells and stars, dried plants or photographic images. True, such decorative glass blocks are used fragmentarily, in the form of inserts into the wall or other surfaces.

Diversity opens up wide horizons for us and encourages creativity. We bring to your attention the most popular options for using glass blocks in the interior. Perhaps examples will inspire you to make your own decisions - bold and unique.

Glass blocks in the interior

Applying glass blocks in interior design, they take advantage of the significant advantages of this material. Firstly, glass blocks let the light through. Partitions made of glass blocks do not reduce the amount of light in home premises, while solid partitions made of plasterboard and brick do not have this advantage.
Transmitting light, glass blocks refract it. Glass block surfaces in the interior look like large shades. This makes the room look spectacular.
Secondly, unlike glass, blocks can be opaque. Light is let through, but the "picture" is not. Why should prying eyes see what they should not see? This advantage of glass blocks has made them a popular material for glazing windows in bathrooms.

Thirdly, blocks are convenient for embedding in various surfaces... This wonderful decoration walls, floors, partitions, furniture, etc.
Unlike glass sheets, the blocks are safe and reliable.
Now let's look at specific ways to use glass blocks in the interior.
Glass block walls

Today, many owners of apartments and houses prefer to remove walls that are not load-bearing, and erect them in a new, convenient way. This allows you to plan the space in the most rational way. It is here, before the stage of building new walls, that many people remember about glass blocks. This is especially true of those walls that separate rooms with windows from dark hallways and corridors. The glass block wall will let in a lot of sunlight, which means there will be enough light in the corridors, halls and lobbies during the day. At the same time, corrugated glass blocks will protect from prying eyes.

In addition, the walls and walls made of glass blocks do not look heavy, which visually lightens the entire space.

Originality also matters. this decision, because not everyone in modern apartments glass blocks are present.

Glass has one conditional drawback: it is cold and “soulless”. Glass blocks even look like ice cubes. Therefore, if you want to build big wall, glass blocks should be combined with another material. For example, two-thirds of the wall can be made of drywall and one-third is made of glass blocks. Often, fragments from blocks are erected in places of curved walls or ledges. These fragments become accents that make the interior boring.
Partitions from glass blocks

Glass blocks are good because they can be used to easily and quickly build a partition of any height and width. The top of the partition can be uniform or shaped: stepped, in the form of a pyramid, ziggurat, etc.

Most often, glass block partitions are erected in bathrooms. In general, initially glass blocks were used mainly only in bathrooms, and there is an explanation for this.
Glass blocks in the bathroom interior are the most harmonious. They follow the rhythm of the tiles on the walls without conflict. Glass is not afraid of moisture, and the blocks, among other things, still do not completely shine through, which means they allow you to create so-called "intimate zones".
Today glass blocks are actively used in the creation of shower enclosures, because this material is safer and more reliable than glass sheets.
Glass blocks are used to zone the bathroom space, dividing the washroom, bathroom, shower and toilet areas. At the same time, zoning is also practically useful: while taking a shower, you will not flood the washstand countertop with water.

If the bathroom is used by several people, and sometimes at once, such partitions are erected from embossed low-transparent glass blocks. If a person lives alone or together with a partner, smooth transparent glass blocks can be used. Such partitions look lighter, more "airy". Although this is a matter of taste, of course.

Lightweight glass block partitions can be erected in residential premises, but this option is not suitable for all styles.

Glass blocks and styles.

In interiors in such modern styles, like a loft, high-tech, urban, partitions and walls made of glass blocks look harmonious. V classic interiors glass block walls can look ridiculous. The same applies to rustic, natural styles.
Interiors in which decorativeness comes to the fore (Baroque, Neo-Baroque, Art Deco styles) can be decorated with glass blocks, especially colored ones.
Stained glass blocks wonderfully fit into Art Nouveau interiors. They will be appropriate both in modern classic interiors and in oriental styles.
A wall of glass blocks can be used to divide the zones in the room: for example, in the kitchen, separate working area from the dining room, and in the living room - the bedroom from the living room.

To keep the partition from being boring, you can use colored blocks, combining colors to create a tiled effect. Decorate the partition and inserts of transparent glass blocks with decorative items inside.

Partitions in both bathrooms and living rooms can be made entirely of glass blocks or be a combination of several materials.

Both options are attractive in their own way, but the second one looks more interesting.

Glass blocks for creating windows

Internal windows can be built from the blocks. It is about windows between rooms. Solid walls do not add light - an internal glass block window solves this problem. At the same time, glass blocks adorn the empty wall surfaces, since they look like luxurious glass panels.

For example, a glass block window can be "cut through" in the wall separating the corridor and living room, bathroom and toilet, kitchen and living room, bathroom and shower in a large bathroom, bedroom and storage room.

Of course, glass blocks are also used for glazing real windows facing the street. Usually the windows in the bathrooms are glazed with glass blocks, which is quite logical. There are also drawbacks to this solution: you cannot admire the magnificent view from the window, and you may not be able to ventilate the room, since windows from glass blocks are often made deaf. Although they are now making plastic windows with glass-block packages.

By the way, with a blind window are possible interesting experiments... The window can be given an unusual shape.

Glass blocks refract light, and the complex shape of the window shimmers like a diamond. Such a window becomes one of the main decorations of the house.

Glass blocks for wall decoration

Glass blocks are also used "pointwise", like inserts into the wall. Often these blocks are not end-to-end, but "recessed" in the wall structure. Yes, in this case they do not let the light through, but they still “shine”.

There should be few point glass blocks: sometimes one is enough for square meter walls. Colored glass blocks with internal compositions are used as inserts.

Fixed furniture made of glass blocks

Glass "bricks" are a very convenient material. From glass blocks you can build the most different designs... For example, build a stationary island in the kitchen or a bar counter. In the bathroom of glass blocks, a console can be erected under the washbasin. Glass block furniture looks amazingly impressive and festive. One drawback - with such furniture you can't make a rearrangement, but is it necessary?

Other uses

Glass blocks can be used to build a screen for a bath. It can be laid out of glass blocks or just decorated with them. Glass blocks are inserted into the risers of stairs and podiums, they decorate the space around doorways. Kitchen apron can also be glass-block. From this material, you can lay out a false fireplace. In a word, there is a place for a designer soul to roam.

Glass blocks in the interior have been used for a very long time, recently they have experienced a rebirth. Designers began to use this material more widely, creating the most unusual elements of the room from them. Previously, glass blocks were used to create partitions, walls, window openings, etc. They were seen only as an element of construction, like bricks or glass. Now glass blocks in the interior of an apartment are mainly decoration, an element of decoration. With the help of them, the design of the room acquires the necessary airiness, lightness, mystery and radiance. However, the entire spectrum of effective use cannot be described in one sentence.

Glass blocks in the interior have been used for a very long time, recently they have experienced a rebirth

V Soviet time glass blocks were such muddy glass bricks, often of a square shape, with which window openings were laid and partitions were created. Today there are hundreds of times more forms and varieties of glass blocks. They differ from each other not only in shape and size, but also in color, transparency and other characteristics. To order, you can get any - pistachio, blue, turquoise, purple, mustard and others - glass blocks with different relief and degree of shading. Thus, a glass block wall can look completely different and modern.

You can also find glass blocks with stained glass patterns, with a mosaic surface or with various inserts. In this respect, the role of an insert can be played by a seashell, a dried plant, a photograph, or any item on request. Such a block is often used in a single copy as a unique insert in a window or wall opening.

Such a vast field of possibilities awakens the work of fantasy. Here is a small overview of what the use of glass blocks in the interior can be.

Gallery: glass blocks in the interior (25 photos)

Glass blocks in the interior (video)

Basic ideas

Most often, due to the fact that the block transmits light, it is used to fill a window opening. In this case, a glass block window is often installed on those walls that overlook unsightly territories or someone else's space. Thus, the room does not lose anything in terms of light, but an ugly appearance is avoided. Especially if the window overlooks a blank wall of a neighboring house.

The glass block partition is also very relevant. It allows you to divide a room into parts, but at the same time makes available light throughout the space. The peculiarity of glass blocks is such that they transmit light without refraction, which makes the room well-lit and at the same time spectacular.

Blocks are often used to create an opaque room or area. For example, for glazing a bathroom better material do not come up with.

The use of glass blocks is not limited only to walls and windows, but can extend to furniture, floors, ventilation, doors, performing a decorating function.

Designers began to widely use this material, creating the most unusual elements.

Use on walls

Modern trends are such that more often in apartments and houses the owners prefer to expand the space by removing walls that are not load-bearing. However, the need for separate functional areas continues to exist. After all, there must be a corridor somehow separated from the living room. In this case, it is better to create walls between rooms from glass blocks that transmit light.

They will not only help to enrich the space with light, but also give the interior lightness. Glass is not a very functional and soulless material. Glass blocks are very advantageous in this comparison. They are like colored ice cubes, capable of giving a room coziness, soulfulness and warmth. In this case, you can fantasize. For example, part of the wall should be made of brick or drywall, and the other should be laid out from relief blocks with a pattern. In addition, if you use elements with a rounded, varied shape, they will deprive the interior of dullness and typicality.

Partitions from glass blocks

For partitions, glass blocks are also irreplaceable. From them you can make it of any size and shape. It can turn out to be stepped, rounded, pyramid-shaped, cylindrical, etc. Glass blocks in the bathroom interior are most often used for these purposes. Here, surrounded by water, they look the most harmonious and natural. They go well with tiles, plumbing, are not afraid of moisture and perfectly protect the intimate space from prying eyes. Recently, a glass-block shower has become fashionable. It is much more practical and safer than using glass.

In order to get a unique design, you can create partitions from blocks different colors... This will create a mosaic effect. Thus, you can separate the working part of the kitchen from the dining room, the living room from the bedroom, etc.

In residential premises, partitions made of glass blocks will look best in urban, baroque, art deco, neo-baroque, art nouveau, loft and high-tech styles. In classic, natural and rustic interiors their use will be pretentious and ridiculous.

Laying glass blocks (video)

Application on windows

This material can be used not only on external windows, but also on internal ones. For example, in a blank wall, you can make a hole and lay it with glass blocks. It will not only serve as additional lighting, but will also look like a luxurious panel. Such a window can be cut between the corridor and the living room, bathroom and shower, storage room and bedroom.

Those window openings that face the street can also be filled with glass blocks. This is most important for the bathroom, but even living rooms and kitchens with such a solution will look very appropriate. In the event that there is a desire to additionally admire the view from the window, you can use the mix option: plastic windows with the possibility of installing a glass block package.

For partitions, glass blocks are also irreplaceable.

Decorating walls and furniture

In this sense, glass blocks are used as inserts in the interior. Here they may not be end-to-end, i.e. connecting two rooms, but recessed. They will not transmit light, but if they are illuminated with a lamp, they will begin to shine like a living picture.

There may be few such elements in an apartment, sometimes even one is enough for the entire wall to turn it from boring into original. For these purposes, it is best to choose glass bricks with inner picture or insert.

Glass "bricks" are truly immense in their capabilities. So, they can be inlaid in various pieces of furniture. For example, they can be inserted inside a kitchen wall cabinet, a bar counter, into a console above a washbasin, etc. You can create to order from these glass elements separate furniture: wardrobe, table, sofa, etc.

The use of glass blocks is not limited now by anything, so even a whole house made of glass blocks is a completely realizable project.

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