Integrating Stained Glass Into Interiors

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Stained glass began bringing color and light to interior spaces in 7th century AD, and continues to inspire designs to this day. Regardless of interior style, it has been repeatedly used as a focal point, or as a complement to its surrounding decor.

Integrating stained glass into interiors doesn't have to be challenging, but it often appears that way. There is the daunting task of finding a piece that works with your desired color scheme, and of course deciding on a location where the piece will shine – literally and figuratively.

In order to aid you in your stained glass design journey, we have found spaces that effectively added visual interest through stained glass. Check out these three vignettes that prove that any design can benefit from stained glass.

 

Traditional

The office of TreHus, an architecture and interior design firm, shows how a stained glass window allows a craftsman-inspired space to stay true to its style, while adding interest and function. The green tones in the window complement the cherry wood used throughout the space, while also adding depth to the neutral color palette. Additionally, the window allows sightlines between the conference room and lobby, without compromising privacy.

 

Traditional-Modern

This stairwell combines traditional architecture with a modern color scheme and materials. The gold and muted mint stained glass windows reinforce the traditional architecture, as well as repeating the colors in the flooring and the white trim. This particular integration of stained glass subtly ties together the differing aspects of the design, while still letting light into the space.

 

Modern

This modern, minimalistic home was once a church. Instead of removing the stained glass windows that appear throughout the structure, Linc Thelen Design designed around them, creating awe-inspiring vignettes. The color scheme for the home reflects the golds and greens seen in the consistent style of the stained glass windows. Their ornate designs, vibrant colors, and bold scale do not detract from the simplicity of the home, but rather add warmth and variation.

 

Browse our windows page to find stained glass windows for your space!

 

Designing with Architectural Antiques

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Even if you're a visual person, it can still be difficult to envision what designing with antiques would look like, especially within a more modern setting. That's why we have created three styled vignettes to demonstrate how antiques can be incorporated in a fresh, aesthetically pleasing way. Take a look below to get inspiration for your next design!

 

A Rustic Romantic Nook

We would imagine these elements to be a part of a quintessential breakfast nook, or a small eating area off of a kitchen. The industrial base table and oak benches perfectly balance the light distressed shiplap and white french doors. While the contrast of those elements makes the space seem more rustic-industrial, the ornate French chandelier adds a softer touch, acting as a romantic focal point by introducing curvilinear lines to the space. This type of interior style is perfect for those who want to combine modern, traditional, and rustic design.

 

A Bohemian Living Space

This eclectic room mixes metals, neutrals, and natural elements to create a cozy place to relax or entertain. Purely functional pieces, such as the chrome and leather chairs, provide context for the space's purpose. On the other hand, pieces such as the rustic work bench and library ladder add to the space's aesthetic appeal while also serving as storage or display. The combination of these antiques would appeal to those who want a relaxed, yet trendy living area.

 

A Retro Bathroom

If you're obsessed with color and pattern, then maybe you should go this retro route. Every element adds flair and character as only antiques can, while still appealing to modern design trends. The clean lines of the sink beautifully balance the ornamentation of the tub and globe pendant, and the fun faucet handles add a classic touch.

 

Browse our product page for more antiques for your space!

 

Break Away from Uniformity with Curved Lines

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It is easy for interior architecture to appear boxy, since most structural or built-in elements are inherently geometric. While this is deliberate in certain interior styles, such as traditional colonial or contemporary design, it can become underwhelming in other instances. 

A simple way to avoid uniformity and add variation to an otherwise geometric space is through incorporating curved lines. Elements with curved lines introduce a sense of elegance and comfort, in addition to creating visual interest. 

Since there are countless ways to integrate curved lines into a space, we turned to current designers for inspiration. Here are three ways that Marcus Mohon Interiors used curved lines in their Southern Living Idea House to create a cozy retreat.

 

1. The Grand Window

Photographed by Tria Giovan

Photographed by Tria Giovan

This large curved window acts as an interesting focal point for the living space, as well as a relief from the room's geometric lines. Additionally, the linear mullions within the window tie back into the geometric shapes of the furniture, therefore combining curved and straight lines. 

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Looking for that Oak Grill Chair in the corner? We have four!

2. The Curved Portal

Photographed by Tria Giovan

Photographed by Tria Giovan

Installing a curved doorway instead of a traditional one makes this formal dining space more whimsical and welcoming. Not only does this door let in plenty of natural light, but it also softens the linear beams on the ceiling with its arch. 

 

3. The Playful Pendant

Photographed by Tria Giovan

Photographed by Tria Giovan

 

These curved industrial pendants are the perfect compliment to this tall and narrow laundry station. They delineate the path through the space, and draw the eye up to the dynamic ceiling. Even though they are small in proportion to the space, their shape reflects the other small curves in the woodwork, further harmonizing the room.

 

Browse our product page for more antiques with curved lines to diversify your space!

 

How to Find The Right Hanging Height For Your Chandelier

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Finding the "right" chandelier for your dining room, kitchen, or living room can be a daunting, time-consuming (but fun!) process. With all the options out there; the different styles, materials, designs, colors... how do you choose?! Well, the first step is to stop by Architectural Antiques in Northeast Minneapolis and have a look through our extensive collection of antique chandeliers and lighting fixtures until, eventually, you find that perfect match for your industrial kitchen or for your Victorian dining room.  

Once you have your unique, one-of-a-kind chandelier from Architectural Antiques, you realize that you do not know exactly where to hang it. How high is too high? How low is too low? Does it depend on the size or the style of the chandelier? All you want is to just get your new fixture properly installed and hanging up as soon as possible so that all of your friends can come over and gawk at your amazing interior design skills.

Don't fret, finding the proper hanging height for your chandelier can be easier than you think, especially if you follow the simple guidelines and suggestions shown in the diagram below, for where to hang your chandelier above your dining room or kitchen table.

 
 

Further examples using various lighting pieces currently in our store:

These candle-style chandeliers are great examples of chandeliers that should not be placed too close to the ceiling, as it might look strange from an aesthetic standpoint, and could also be a potential fire hazard. These chandeliers, and ones similar to them, may serve better being hung lower and closer to the table's surface anyways, as their lights are facing up, instead of down towards the table, and therefore can better illuminate the space if hung lower.

 

These smaller chandeliers are great examples of lighting fixtures that should be hung lower and closer to the table's surface, for various reasons. Because of their smaller size and simple, geometric designs, they can have a greater presence and significant design impact in the room if they are hung lower, instead of hanging up close to the ceiling, where they may not stand out as much. They also can more effectively illuminate the space if hung lower.

 

Larger, more elaborate chandeliers can be hung higher, and further away from the table's surface.  Due to their large size, dramatic design, bright colors, and overall extravagant presence, they can hang higher and closer to the ceiling as they will still make a significant impact on the room as the main focal point, without overwhelming the space. Also, because of their larger size, they generally have stronger lighting ability, so they can hang higher and still effectively illuminate the space.

 

Remember: the best way to find the proper hanging height for your light is to test it out and try different options to see what works best for your individual, unique situation!

 

We Designed Themed Rooms Inside a Truck

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Have you ever wondered what a Gothic themed room would look like inside of a truck? Neither had we, until we spotted an article in T: The New York Times Style Magazine. "All the Right Moves" features four scenes created within a truck in the city. Each scene, styled by Theresa Rivera and photographed by Anthony Cotsifas, has its own theme and compelling furniture and decor arrangement.

Inspired by their creativity, we decided to design our own scenes within a truck right off of our loading dock. Using our own antiques, we pieced together four scenes that each represent an architectural style, and then played with the lighting inside the truck (mostly to study the effects of light in a space, but also because we like to geek out over fun light design).

 

The Victorian Fern Room

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We love this mossy teak garden bench, and thought it would look even more whimsical next to some pieces with Victorian-esque curvilinear lines. While it wasn't our original intention to create a magical garden scene, we couldn't help the urge to throw in some ferns.

Light played a dramatic role in changing the appearance and the story behind this scene. The light green light makes the foliage and the moss on the bench pop, and creates a warm, welcoming atmosphere. On the other hand, the purple light reminded us of a foreboding garden outside of a mansion, where a murder mystery would take place. Both images feature the same antiques, but communicate very different moods.

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The Industrial Room

Our industrial antiques seemed to be made for this truck photo shoot. The various angles, heights, and shapes of the pieces all come together to make an exciting, yet harmonized scene. The reflective antiques made the biggest difference when it came to lighting, since every glass and metal surfaced picked up variations of the projected colors.

 

The Gothic Room

 

This might have been our favorite set up (although we shouldn't play favorites). The heavy, ornate wood, glorious stained glass windows, and touches of wrought iron truly brought us into the twelfth century. We especially loved the power of the deep purple lighting, since it contrasted the bright windows, and brought out the burgundy velvet in the carved wooden chairs. Can't you just picture a French poet brooding over that impressive desk?

 

The Craftsman Room

 

This cozy fireside scene perfectly depicts common indicators of the Craftsman style, such as geometric lines, handcrafted pieces, and wooden furnishings. We thought it was interesting that even though we cast white light on the scene, the wooden surfaces seemed to emit a warm glow. 

 

Want to complete your own themed room? Visit our product page to find the antiques perfect for your space!

 

Metal and Monochromatic: A Love Story

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Minimalistic interior design is popular due to the simple, yet bold statement it makes. This style is typically characterized by clean lines, a primarily black and white color scheme, and very few statement pieces. As it can be seen in the photos below, minimalist and rustic styles can be combined to create a comfortable, almost romantic space, without sacrificing simplicity.

Photography by: Tessa Neustadt

Photography by: Tessa Neustadt

Photography by: Tessa Neustadt

Photography by: Tessa Neustadt

When designing a minimalist space, it can be difficult to find statement pieces that add visual interest without making the design too busy. This is why many designers chose to integrate metal into spaces that are otherwise monochromatic. Since various metals offer different textures and reflective properties, the opportunities are endless when it comes to deciding on which decorative elements will enhance a design. 

 

 

Designer and blogger Emily Henderson's design of this master bathroom successfully combines monochromatic colors and metal through incorporating modern finishes and antique statement pieces. Her use of matte black metal further anchors the black and white scheme, while the pops of reflective brass add character and variety. The result is simultaneously minimalist, modern, and rustic.

Photography by: Tessa Neustadt

Photography by: Tessa Neustadt

Do you want to add some vintage flair to your minimalist space? Start by browsing our Illumination page for lighting inspiration!

 

Curating Antiques for a Modern Space

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Anyone who has observed interior design trends over the last couple years would tell you that combining styles is all the rage. Designers have taken the challenge of merging different interior trends and have succeeded in creating many style mash-ups that rule the design community.

While there are many popular mixed interior styles, the most common theme among them is mixing the old with the new. Combining traditional and modern pieces creates visual interest through variety in shape and texture. When done right, this leads to a unified space with unique character. 

In order to help you style your own modern-traditional space, we have called on inspiration from the home of designer and blogger Casey Bovee, which is laid out in her blog, Be Home Soon. Casey's style not only mixes modern and traditional, but also industrial and bohemian glam. Take a look at these four ways that you can emulate her curated home.

 

1. The Warehouse Cart Coffee Table

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Adding an industrial piece to an otherwise clean and modern room creates an interesting, yet functional focal point. In this space, the complex texture and warm tones of the cart's wood balances the soft, muted tints of the surrounding furniture and walls. 

 
 

2. The Funky Light Fixture

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Maximize your space's design potential by installing a fun, eye-catching light fixture in an open space. These light fixtures add an element of glamour that is both unexpected and whimsical.

 
 

3. The Clever Corner Cabinet

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Corner cabinets are the solution to all of your small space dilemmas. They allow you to store and display your belongings without taking up too much of your space. As a bonus, the traditional wood details bring classic charm that is grounding and nostalgic. 

 
 

4. The Multitasking Display Piece

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Every home needs at least one space where you can create your own little aesthetic moment. A low piece of furniture provides the perfect surface on which to arrange your knick knacks, plants, and artwork. These two pieces are especially fit for this purpose because they double as storage.

 
 

Want to complete your design vision? Visit our product page to find the antiques perfect for your space!