Glass Tips for Homeowners

Custom Glass for Any Project You Can Imagine

At Janssen Glass, customization is our specialty. If you have a glass project for your home that’s not just the run-of-the-mill, we are the company to call. We will come to you, measure, discuss options, finalize a solution, create it, and install it. Because we stock most kinds of glass (types, thicknesses, patterns, etc.) and we cut it right here in our full-line glass shop in Overland Park, turnaround time is impressive. We can usually have most residential projects finished within a few days. So call us today and let’s get started!

Glass to Get Organized

Need an instant message board to keep your family on track? Don’t go with the ugly, store-bought variety. Create your own with a simple frame and a piece of custom cut glass. That way, it looks much more custom and built-in than a cheap board you’d buy at the discount store. You can even customize the color behind it to complement your room’s decor.

A Clearly Exceptional Backsplash

Glass backsplashes are becoming more and more popular. We can cut glass to fit any space you need. Don’t forget, we also have patterned glass to add an extra touch of style. Clear and simple or etched and elegant, we’ll make your backsplash unique.

Go Ahead…Be Shelf-ish

Simple glass shelves add interest to an ordinary window. Add plants, decorative china, whimsical signs, or anything that suits your fancy. Give your window some personality!

Island Fun

Who says your kitchen island has to be made of wood? Only your imagination is the limit when it comes to glass. Add colored glass, etched glass, or patterned glass to create a one-of-a-kind kitchen centerpiece that really makes an impression!

Patio Privacy Screen

Don’t forget about using glass outdoors too. Create a privacy screen that adds bright colors and a touch of whimsy to your outdoor space.

We can cut glass to fit any dimensions, so just give us a call. Our phones are answered by real people 24 hours a day. We are extremely proud of our 99% customer satisfaction rating. We offer free estimates for any project and fast turnaround. Let us help you make your home exactly what you want it to be with unique custom glass projects.

If you have a dream for your home and it includes custom glass installation, call us at (913) 677-5727 or contact us online. We’ll work with you to make your dream a reality!

Make Your Home Clear, Light, and Modern with Glass Shelves

Without a doubt, glass shelves lend their own sense of chic style to any room they adorn. From powder rooms to patios, they elevate the decor with their air of sophistication and sleekness. Here are some wonderful examples we found on Pinterest to help inspire you to incorporate glass shelves into your home and take it from regular to refined.

Powder Room Perfection

Simple and sleek, these glass shelves in the bathroom automatically give it a more upscale attitude. Be careful, they could spark a spa-inspired makeover!

Get That Gallery Look

The clean lines and minimal visual weight help to keep the focus on the items being displayed rather than the shelves themselves. The effect brings to mind a serene museum setting. These shelves are perfect for displaying collections of just about anything.

Simple Elegance

These inset glass shelves perfectly complement the clean lines and cool white walls of these built-ins. The look is simple and elegant at the same time.

Floating Glass Shelves

A single central support creates a sense of airiness while differing shelf lengths keep the eye moving in a gentle circle. The hint of blue in the glass introduces a liquid element adding to its calming capabilities.

Maximize Sunlight

Glass shelves in kitchen windows add space without sacrificing light. Plants, pretty dishes, cut flowers, or canister sets will all look stunning when on display on these shelves.

Raise the Bar

What better choice for a wet bar than heavy glass shelves. With ample space for glassware and the strength to support liquor bottles too, heavy glass is a perfect choice – bar none! The mirror behind collects ambient light and reflects it back keeping the corner, and perhaps your guests, lit.

We hope we’ve inspired you to add some glass shelves to your home. If you need help with custom sizes, beveled edges, or installation, give us a call at Janssen Glass and we’ll be happy to help create your new glass shelf addition. Call us at (913) 677-5727 or contact us online.

From Swinging, to Sliding, to Folding, Window Walls Are Practical & Impressive

We always think of glass when talking about windows, but glass can be used to create walls as well. Window walls are are making a splash in modern home design. Take a look at some of these ingenious ways to use glass walls as interior room separators as well as doors to the outside.

This folding interior window wall allows the kitchen to be closed off from the adjacent room without reducing the amount of light in the room. It also allows for a wide walkway when open for easy access even if there’s a crowd of people.

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These interior pocket doors disappear into the walls when not in use. Even partially closed, they create a feeling of privacy and coziness despite the fact that they are mostly clear glass.

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These pivoting exterior doors create an easy way to extend the room to include the adjacent patio. They also allow for an uninhibited view when closed, so nature always seems near.

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This sliding window wall with its triple track almost disappears when open. The sections slide back to the width of only one panel when fully open. It’s a great way to separate rooms with a large expansive opening between them.

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If you’re looking for a way to open up your floor plan, consider removing solid walls and replacing them with window walls. They will give you walls when you want walls and open spaces when you don’t. Plus, we think they look pretty impressive too.

If you’d like to see more ways glass can enhance your home, check out our blog or stop by our showroom to see a wide variety of bathroom shower doors, shelves, glass tabletops, mirrors and more. Call Janssen Glass at (913) 677-5727 or contact us online.

Digitally Printed Glass: Welcome to the Wave of the Future

A new, cutting-edge technology is changing the way that glass can be customized. Introducing digitally printed glass! Many designers believe that digitally printed glass is not only the trend of the future but admit that it is becoming wildly popular right now as a way of decorating a home. It allows homeowners to personalize their homes in ways that just weren’t possible before. Not only does it allow a completely new way to express yourself in your home, but each design, photo, or piece of art you choose to have digitally printed, becomes a piece of virtual reality because the process brings whatever is printed vibrantly to life.

How Is Digitally Printed Glass Made?

Digitally printed glass is created by using a digital file of a symbol, image, or pattern which a machine then prints onto the surface of the glass. The ink used is ceramic and is then thermally cured which makes it difficult (if not impossible) to damage. The ceramic ink comes in an assortment of colors depending on the colors in the digital file provided. Your imagination is the limit to what you can create!

Digitally Printed Glass Is Durable

The digital printing process begins with digital glass printers, ceramic inks, and image processing software that is integrated and infused with each other to create any customized and one-of-a-kind look in any piece of glass. The inks, once tempered, become a part of the glass, resulting in a scratch and weather resistant final piece.

Creative Ways to Incorporate Printed Glass into Your Home

But in reality, the process starts with imagining new ways to use glass in your home. Do you have a favorite picture of your child from a recent trip? Show it off in your living room. Are you a lover of art? Then display that love in your kitchen or have a large glass panel display in your living room. Do you have a whimsical side? Then let the guest bathroom shower display that. Do you want to add some “warmth” to a room? Then get a fireplace. The brightness and clarity of digital glass will bring you back to a calm sunny day each time you shower or relive a special and momentous day each time you walk into your living room.

Digitally Printed Glass for Outdoors

Digital printed glass is not limited to the inside of your home. Imagine making your patio more private and colorful by surrounding it with glass panels or adding a serene scene around your pool with a digital glass fence.

These are just a few ways customers are utilizing this new technology. If you’d like to learn more about what digital printing can bring to your home or business, give Janssen Glass a call at (913) 677-5727 or contact us online today!

10 Ways To Enhance Your Patio With Custom Glass

Did you know you can get more out of your patio with glass enhancements? If you are considering updating your patio and you want to be the envy of all of your neighbors, this list of stunning custom glass upgrades will give you inspiration to take the plunge into having the outdoor look you’ve always dreamed of. You’ll never think of your patio the same way again.

1. Glass Gazebo

A beautiful custom glass gazebo can become the focal point of your patio and yard with its unique and elegant look. Additionally, this backyard retreat will keep you well protected on a rainy day or allow you to take advantage of the warming rays of the sun on a cooler afternoon while blocking the chilly wind.

2. Pergolas

While pergolas do not include walls and are known to be open and airy, adding glass to the top of a pergola can be the perfect way to enhance your patio. The glass roof offers a protective cover while not blocking the sun or your view of the sky above.

3. Folding Glass Patio Walls

A folding glass patio wall will have a considerable impact on your patio. When closed, a glass wall is a statement piece offering forever views. The ability to open that wall expands your living space and brings the outdoors in while allowing a great area for entertaining.

4. Decking Panels or Railings

Any panels or railings made completely of wood are wonderful but will obstruct your view of a yard you are proud to show off. Replacing them with custom glass panels will allow the same protection while enhancing the look of your outdoor space. Panels made of heavy glass are thick and sturdy enough to handle the demands of the great outdoors.

5. Glass Pool Fencing

Like the panels and railings above, glass fencing can be used around your pool. For safety reasons, glass is a plus as it permits you an unobstructed view of the pool from diverse areas of the yard. Plus, this facelift will give your pool a resort feel.

6. All-Season Room

Get more use out of your patio year round by enclosing it in glass. Imagine watching a snowstorm cuddled up on the couch reading a book or watching a movie. It’s a great way to connect the indoors to the great outdoors.

7. Glass Tables

Glass adds beauty and sparkle. Simply updating a current patio tabletop with a custom cut glass top is an easy way to update your patio area.

8. Exercise Room

If you’ve always wanted an exercise room, enclose your patio and transform it into one. The sunny area with a great view of the outdoors will keep you motivated.

9. Glass Fire Pit Wind Guard

Patio gathering spaces are more comfortably enjoyed into the cooler evening with a fire. A custom glass wind guard surrounding a fire pit allows for the enjoyment of the warmth of a fire with the additional reflective beauty of glass. A uniquely produced guard will add its own charm as it shelters the flames from the wind.

10. Patio Mirrors

Mirrors are easily incorporated into any patio design. Custom sizing and shapes will add beauty to any space. Mirrors will reflect back the colors of your yard and even make a small space feel larger.

Give Janssen Glass a call at (913) 677-5727 or contact us online if you are ready to add an elegant custom glass upgrade to your patio.

The Latest Bathroom Design Trend – Converting Your Tub to a Luxury Shower

If you’re thinking of remodeling your bathroom, there is one trend you need to know about – tubs are out and showers are in. According to Matt Muenster, a licensed contractor and host of DIY Network’s Bath Crashers and Bathtastic!, in his list of the 10 Best Bathroom Remodeling Trends, showers are becoming far more popular than tubs. While freestanding tubs are also a trendy feature in bathroom remodels, you may want to consider how much use a tub will get vs. a large, luxury shower.

Space is a premium feature in bathrooms, so if yours is on the smaller side, you may want to consider replacing your bathtub with a larger, more attractive shower. According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), showers are becoming far more popular than tubs.

Must-Have Features for a Spa-Inspired Shower

1. Heavy Glass (Frameless) Shower Doors

If you are updating your bathroom, don’t take it back in time with old school framed shower doors. Sure, they’re cheaper, and they look like it. Heavy glass shower doors don’t need frames so you can get that modern, sleek, look without all the hardware.

They also make the bathroom seem bigger because their frameless style creates a clear view. If you are updating your shower with decorative tile, frameless shower doors help to show it off better too.

2. High-Tech Shower Heads

To help create a spa-like look and feel, upgrade that boring old shower head to multiple shower heads including body sprays, water jets and rain shower heads.

3. Steam Showers

Fully enclosed steam showers are becoming popular as well especially in new homes and master bathrooms.

4. Shower Benches

Built-in and portable benches add to the relaxation mode being created in these spa-like enclosures. Having a place to sit to shave legs or moisturize skin is relaxing and convenient.

5. Zero Entry

With the recent emphasis on aging-in-place remodeling, zero-entry showers or curbless shower stalls are also a consideration. Instead of a pan for the shower floor (a floor with raised sides to corral water and send it down a center drain) a curbless floor (the drainage slope of the floor is built below the level of the surrounding flooring surface) allows wheelchair entry with no barriers.

It is more expensive and harder to install, but if you’re interested in retiring and living in your home in your later years, it may be worth the extra trouble. If you are planning on aging in place, some other features you may want to consider are grab bars in the shower, slip-resistant floors, a handheld showerhead mounted lower on the wall, and floating/wall mounted sinks/counters that a wheelchair can roll under for easy access.

Tips for Shower Remodels

Don’t Replace Your Only Tub
Don’t make the mistake of replacing your home’s only tub as they are handy for washing large items (think window blinds) as well as giving pets a bath. You will want at least one tub in your home for convenience and for resale value.

Don’t Build around a Window
You may be tempted to build a shower enclosure around a window if there was a window above the original tub. We warn against it. The window casing simply presents too many opportunities to allow water to seep around it and into your walls. The result will be ugly mold and possibly having to tear out the window/wall to fix it. Close up the window before finishing the shower if possible.

Make Your Shower as Big as Possible
People rarely regret making a shower too big. Making it too small, however is a common “coulda, woulda, shoulda” complaint by homeowners who have remodeled. Most building codes say a shower stall should be at least 30” by 30”. The NKBA recommends making it 36” by 36”. Don’t cheat yourself out of a bigger shower even if you have to bump out an interior wall or two to create the space.

Key Measurements for Bathroom Remodels

Finished ceiling height:
80” minimum

Distance from side of toilet to shower wall:
15” minimum (measured from the center of the toilet to the wall)
18 “ recommended

Distance from front of toilet to shower wall (or any wall):
21” minimum
30” recommended

Shower door swing:
Should clear all obstructions including toilet and vanity cabinet. Sliding doors or curved doors can help solve door swing problems.

If you’re considering remodeling your bathroom, give Janssen Glass a call at (913) 677-5727. We can help you design a shower enclosure that makes the most of your bathroom. If you’ve got a tricky space, we can custom design a shower enclosure just for you. For inspiration, visit our shower door gallery online.

Top 5 Trends to Inspire Your Bathroom Remodel in 2018

If you’re like a lot of homeowners, you know it’s time to remodel your bathroom, but where do you start? There are a lot of small decisions to be made and it can seem overwhelming. What you need is a dose of inspiration! The team at Janssen Glass has gathered these five design trends that will add some serious POW to your powder room.

Luxurious Spa Features

One of the biggest trends, really for the past several years has been the spa trend.

Adding relaxing and upscale elements like chandeliers, towel warmers, aromatherapy, and live plants creates a secret getaway from the stresses of everyday life.

If your budget allows, you can even add steam showers and heated floors to your spa-like bathroom.

Try The New Neutral: Soothing Sage

If you’re looking for a relaxing color to complement your spa-like redesign, sage is the perfect suspect.

It’s relaxing, classy, and works well with every taste – from rustic, to modern, to chic.

Sage is the new neutral! Use it liberally…it won’t get old.

Mix It Up With Mixed Metals

Apparently, mixing your metals is no longer frowned upon.

This is good news if you thought you had to replace all of your faucets and shower heads to match a new look.

Leave them there in all of their brushed nickel or oil-rubbed bronze glory and feel free to add light fixtures or cabinet hardware that is a completely different finish.

It’s kind of liberating when you do it!

Show Your Personality With Herringbone

Looking for an interesting pattern to spice things up a bit?

Herringbone is popping up in everything from backsplashes to floor tile.

If you’re updating the floor, look into laying tile or wood planks in this intriguing design.

Herringbone patterns have the added benefit of bringing depth and dimension to an otherwise flat surface.

Max Out Your Mirror(s)

Simply changing your mirror(s) can make a dramatic change to the look and feel of your bathroom. Gone are the flat, frameless mirrors that span the entire wall.

Replace them with individual mirrors above each sink with elegant and interesting frames. This upgrade will make a huge difference, without cutting into the budget dramatically. Reflect on it and we’re sure you’ll agree.

If replacing your old framed shower doors is change you’d like to make, come see all of the beautiful heavy glass shower doors we have at Janssen Glass. Frameless shower doors will bring your bath into the modern and will be fashionable for decades to come. Check out our beautiful shower door gallery.

Call us if we can help you remodel your bathroom in the coming year at (913) 677-5727 or contact us online.

How to Get Your Bathroom “Guest-Ready”

Expecting weekend guests over the winter? You may already have the guest room tidied up and ready to receive them, but you’ll also want to make sure that your bathroom is in “guest-ready” shape too. Here are some quick tips from the crew at Janssen Glass to make your bathroom shine when company arrives:

Make the Tub and Shower Sparkle

The last thing you want your guests to see when they step into your shower is a buildup of soap scum on the shower surround or in the shower door tracks (yuk!). Zap soap scum by combining two of the trustiest non-toxic cleaners around — baking soda and white vinegar. All you need is a cup of baking soda in a plastic bowl and a cup of white vinegar. Mix together to form a thick paste and wait a moment for the fizzing to stop. Then, simply dip a microfiber cloth into the mixture and apply to the tub surround, shower doors, or wherever soap scum has built up. Let sit for about 15 minutes before rinsing with plain water. (If the soap scum is really heavy, pour some salt into a separate bowl and after dipping your cloth into the baking soda/vinegar paste, dip it into the salt, which will add a little extra abrasive power to the formula. But be careful not to scratch the metal finish on the frames surrounding your doors.)

To keep the area clean on a daily basis, mix vinegar, water and a drop or two of dish soap in a spray bottle and spray the shower and shower door after each use. Allow the spray to sit for a few minutes, and then rinse with hot water, and dry to avoid spots and/or streaks. Use an old toothbrush and a commercial cleaner or your baking soda/vinegar paste to clean shower door tracks, rinse and dry thoroughly with a paper towel.

Shine up the Fixtures

Vinegar also makes a great cleaner for chrome and stainless steel fixtures. Simply spritz on, wipe and buff to bring out the shine. While you’re at it, remove your shower head and let it soak for a few minutes in a bowl of vinegar to dissolve any buildup that can clog up some of the holes. An even easier way to clean the shower head without removing it is to fill a plastic bag with vinegar and attach it to the shower head with a rubber band. Just make sure the vinegar covers the parts of the shower head that have mineral buildup. Leave it on for 15 minutes to an hour. It’ll not only look better, but work better too.

Welcoming Details

Clear away clutter and put out a pretty basket filled with handmade soaps, washcloths, and personal toiletries to make your guests feel at home. (Include small bottles of aspirin and antacid in case they’re needed so your guests don’t have to announce that they’ve got a headache or an upset stomach in the middle of the night. A couple of new toothbrushes is a nice touch as well just in case someone forgot theirs.)

Put out fresh towels, make sure there’s plenty of toilet paper, soaps, shampoo and washcloths, and add a pretty plant or a small vase of flowers to brighten up the room, and a candle for atmosphere. If you don’t have a covered waste basket, add one now. Voilà — You’ve just created the perfect, welcoming bathroom for your overnight guests!

Have a wonderful holiday season and if you’d like to get rid of the dated look of a shower curtain or framed shower doors and spruce up your bathroom with a new frameless shower door, be sure to contact us at Janssen Glass & Door!

How to Clean Up Broken Glass – Hacks That Will Keep You Safe

No one likes to clean up broken glass. It’s not only messy, it’s dangerous. The glass experts at Janssen Glass are sharing some glass clean up hacks that will help you clean it up faster, easier, and safer. So the next time you drop a glass, miss the trash can, or break a window, try one of these tips.

Safety First

Broken glass is sharp and dangerous. Don’t take any chances. Make sure anyone in the room carefully backs away from the glass. If anyone is barefoot, it’s best to just have them stand still until you can remove the broken shards from around them. If you can, put on some thick rubber gloves, this will protect your hands.

4 Household Options for Safe Glass Cleanup

The best ways to clean up broken glass

Pick up the large pieces first, being very slow and careful. Put those pieces in a trash can. The hardest pieces to clean up are the smallest. Here are four great ways to get the small glass pieces completely:

Bread – Yes, bread. Get a piece (or two if the broken glass piece was large) and gently press the bread against the glass shards. The softness and moistness of the bread will cause the pieces to stick to it.

The Potato Trick – Take a raw potato and cut it in half (lengthwise is best for more surface area) and press the potato against the floor. The shards will press into the flesh of the spud and the moisture will make even the smallest pieces stick. Through the potato away when done. (You may have to wipe up the floor with a damp cloth to remove any starch left behind.)

Tape – Masking tape or duct tape will do (duct tape is a little thicker and may offer more protection). Wrap the tape around your gloved hand so the sticky side is facing outward. Dab the area where the glass was broken to gather all of the small pieces. They will stick to the adhesive. Carefully remove the tape from your hand and throw away when finished.

Damp Paper Towel – Fold a paper towel a few times to provide some thickness. Dampen the paper towel(s) and press into the glass shards. Throw the paper towel away when finished collecting the glass pieces.

Vacuum – If glass breaks on or near carpet, it’s best to pick up all of the pieces you can see and use any of the above methods as well. Finally run a vacuum cleaner over the area thoroughly in every direction to be sure you got all of the pieces.

how to clean up broken glass

Other Glass Cleanup Tips

Beware that glass can get caught in a broom’s bristles, so if you must use a broom, thoroughly clean it afterwards or throw it away.
Glass can shatter much farther than you think. Be sure to check areas as far away as 15 feet and don’t forget to move furniture to look for hidden pieces.
If you vacuum, remove the vacuum bag and place it in the garbage, too, and take it out of the house.
If you put large glass pieces in the trash, take it out to the big can to avoid injury by an unsuspecting family member who decides to press the trash down with a hand or foot.
Don’t forget to also clean off the soles of your shoes!

Use these handy tips the next time you need to clean up broken glass. If you have other glass questions, or want to add glass to your home (shower doors, mirrors, shelves, etc.) give Janssen Glass a call at (913) 677-5727 or contact us online.

How to Extend Your Patio Season with Glass

Just because the weather gets cooler in the fall, here in the Kansas City area, you don’t have to sacrifice time outdoors! Consider adding glass to enhance your patio. There are many ways to add glass to your patio that will add to its beauty and functionality. Glass also makes an excellent windbreak without obstructing your view. Envision trying one of the following four ideas in your backyard. It may just make your patio your favorite place to be in the fall season.

Make the Entrance to Your Patio a Sliding Glass Wall

A sliding wall that opens to a back patio is a great way to extend your living area both visually and literally. By replacing the wall with movable glass, you naturally extend your home to the outside by removing any physical barriers. Imagine the ease of entertaining and how wonderful your next family gathering would be with the addition of a sliding glass wall.

Fire Pit Wind Guards Allow You to Enjoy the Warmth No Matter the Wind

Fire pits have become an extremely popular staple in many backyards, especially on cool nights. But sometimes cool nights are windy nights which disturb your fire.

The perfect solution is a glass wind guard that perfectly surrounds your fire pit. Enjoy the fire pit, reap the warmth, and assure that the flames stay in place.

Enclosed Patios Protect from Rain, Wind & Cold

Enclosing part or all of your patio with glass would give you longer periods of use assuring that you are still able to enjoy the outdoors, even when it’s rainy, windy or cool. Glass patio enclosures are attractive, leave the view intact, and add value to your home.

Glass Pergolas Add a Touch of Class

Glass pergolas are an attractive alternative to the very popular wooden models. They add a unique beauty to your backyard, can protect from the sun and rain, and can be custom designed to your personal taste. Yet, because they are glass, they let the light through making the entire area seem unencumbered by architecture.

The experts at Janssen Glass & Door are ready to work with you to help enhance your outdoor living space and extend your patio season. Being specialists at customization, we will create beautiful glass pieces to fit your needs.

Category: Tips for Homeowners