Using glass to complement traditional

Glass boxes are becoming increasingly popular in the residential sphere, with more and more homeowners realising the benefits that glass can have over the traditional style of extension. Glass extensions undoubtedly create impact and the ‘wow’ factor, but can you add one if you have an older property, and what will you need to consider?

If you’re thinking about extending your home, there are of course many factors to think about, from what you are looking to achieve to the cost and any planning restrictions. With this type of project being a significant investment, homeowners are usually looking to choose a design that will modernise their property, stand the test of time, be thermally efficient and hopefully add value too.

The good news is that a glass extension can be an impressive addition to both modern and traditional houses. The abundance of light that a glass structure provides can in fact really open up an older property, making existing spaces feel brighter and more spacious, and the contrast of period and contemporary can look fantastic when designed sensitively. 

To ensure it doesn’t look incongruous, it’s a good idea to incorporate natural materials into the design of the glass extension that will complement the existing property.

Frameless glass box extensions help to merge your indoor and outdoor space, and ensure that even in the winter and bad weather you can enjoy uninterrupted views and benefit from the light flooding in through the glass. They also create easier access to the rear garden, which is helpful for period properties that suffer from poor outdoor access.

Plus, glass extensions are not just an alternative to a conservatory or a second living room; we’ve seen them used as home offices and kitchen diners to great effect. Remember to think about the intended use of your extension before going ahead; for example, a south-facing glass extension may become very hot, so might not be suitable for a kitchen. 

For extra space, unparalleled natural light, seamless outdoor-indoor living and architectural interest, the glass box extension is hard to beat. At Gray & Dick, our in-house design service allows us to provide a suitable solution for any situation, and we’ve worked closely with many homeowners to create their dream glass-based extension. Explore our Residential Projects to view some of our previous work.

Our Services

Gray & Dick is a market leader in the design, supply and installation of structural glazing, architectural metalwork and high-quality cladding systems. 

With over four decades of experience in the industry, we have developed as a business to provide a specialist service in the design, manufacture and installation of glazed structures comprising glass facades, rooflights, canopies, lift-shafts and walkways in addition to bespoke domestic projects.

Contact

To contact one of the team from Gray & Dick, call us on 0141 952 9619 or send us a message via our website contact page.