More Than Looking Glass

Stain glass changes the look of room, depending on how the light shines through the window

Consumers' growing desire to centralize life activities within the home has led to unique and lavish room concepts, from relaxation-inducing bathrooms to spiritual rooms devoted to prayer and meditation.

Art glass is one way to make these rooms truly individual and unforgettable. Sheri Law, president and owner of Sheri Law Art Glass Ltd. in Homer Glen, Ill., creates a wide array of art glass, including stained glass, beveled glass, carved and etched glass, and floating glass floors. Entranceways, master bathrooms and windows compose the majority of her firm's work, but it also has created doors and kitchen cabinets. Law says there's "no limit" to where art glass can go.

She also says art glass has universal appeal, not restricted by a resident's age or room type.Art glass not only adds to the appearance of the house, but it adds value as well.

"Glasswork can make a room come alive," Law says. "At night, it can throw shadows on the wall. The beveled glass can throw prisms on the floor. The rooms come alive in different ways. When the sunlight is bright, the colors might be very vivid and vibrant, and later in the day, they change. It's an art piece that's working all day long."

She adds that contemporary art glass has progressed beyond the Victorian styles associated with churches and religious representations, so her firm can generate any design, as far as the client's imagination can go. Beyond the aesthetic appeal that art glass gives a home, Law encourages builders to remember the selling point of art glass and incorporate its cost into the home' price.

While the majority of its work is truly custom, Sheri Law also offers an imported line of entranceway panels that can cost 30% less than the custom services. Most products at Sheri Law range from $3,000 to $6,000, but homeowners can spend as much as $30,000 putting art glass throughout their home. To see more of the company's offerings, visit www.sherilaw.com.