Installing a balcony can be a great way to open up your rooms, find more light and space. It also adds a visual design touch that makes the exterior of your home stand out.

However, they can be expensive, complicated to fit and aren’t always a practical choice. If you’d like to let more of the outdoors into your upper floor space but can’t afford the investment of a full balcony, a Juliet balcony twinned with French doors can be an excellent compromise. But not everyone will consider a Juliet balcony – many people don’t even know what one is!

As we see a lot of confusion on the topic of Juliet balconies, we thought we’d take the time to answer some of the most commonly asked questions and clear up a few facts around them. Read on if you’d like to know about what exactly Juliet balconies are, what they do and the things you need to consider when fitting one.

What is a Juliet balcony?

Essentially, a Juliet balcony is a glass balustrade that is fixed to the external wall of a building. They are often used in front of big windows or French doors and they don’t have a surface or deck to walk on them, unlike a standard balcony.

They are almost exclusively used above ground level.

Why is it called a Juliet balcony?

Juliet balconies take their names from Shakespeare’s famous Romeo and Juliet play. One of the play’s most memorable scenes involves Juliet standing on a balcony calling out to Romeo, and this is where the name ‘Juliet balcony’ is thought to originate.

This type of balcony is also called a ‘Juliette’ balcony which is just another spelling for the same name. They are also known as French balconies too.

What is the point of Juliet balconies?

The main role of a Juliet balcony is safety. Glass Juliet balconies are usually used in front of French double doors that are fitted at height (first floor or higher).

These double doors are commonly used in flats and buildings where external wall space is scarce. They are a great way to maximise the amount of natural light that flows inside. They also offer the option of throwing them open to let fresh air inside. 

But even with toughened laminated glass, full length windows and doors can become a safety hazard. One which obviously increases when the doors or window are open.

While wooden or metal railings will offer the same safety benefits of a glass Juliet balcony, they do obstruct the views. The handrails and bars interrupt sightlines and can even stop light getting in. In contrast, glass panels are completely clear so they mlet the maximum light and warmth into a room and give unobstructed views too.

This is particularly beneficial on higher floors where the views are often a selling point of a home or office space.

A glass Juliet balcony lets you get the best possible experience for your room, letting fresh air flow on warmer days and helping your room feel bigger and brighter.

Can you sit out on a Juliet balcony?

As they have no deck or floor space, it’s not possible to sit out on a Juliet balcony. If you’re looking to install a full balcony, glass panels still make an attractive, practical safe choice for balustrades but if you want a usable balcony there is a lot more work, considerations and costs involved.

What are the regulations around Juliet balconies?

Juliet balcony systems might not give you any real usable outdoor space, but this doesn’t mean they aren’t subject to certain rules and regulations around the materials they use and their installation. Here are a couple of things you need to consider before deciding to install one.

The main regulations relate to the glass used in the balcony and the height it stands. As with all residential building projects, safety is the most important factor so the glass panels used in a Juliet balcony must be toughened or laminated so that if it does break it doesn’t cause a risk. It needs to be at least 10mm thick too.

The panel of a Juliet balcony also needs to be a minimum of 1100mm high as well, to reduce the risk of accidentally falling over it. It will also need to be at least 150mm wider than the opening it’s fixed in front of, in order to leave space for the fittings and make sure it is secure.

Do you need planning permission for glass Juliet balconies?

A simple Juliet balcony without a floor doesn’t require planning permission to install or replace. They fall under ‘permitted delvopements’ which means you don’t have to seek permission from any local authorities before having them installed.

What are the disadvantages of Juliet balconies?

It’s hard to say there are any clear cut disadvantages to Juliet balconies, other than the fact they don’t offer the benefits of a more traditional balcony. Obviously, many people would prefer to have usable outdoor space so they can get outdoors into the sun on warmer days but that isn’t always an option.

It takes a lot more money, effort and planning to install a full balcony. If that isn’t an option for you, then a Juliet balcony makes a fantastic alternative.

One disadvantage can be if you have pets or young children. As these balconies don’t have a floor, it is not advisable to leave them unattended with open doors and only a Juliet balcony for protection.

Glass balconies to make your outdoor space elegant and enjoyable

Whatever type of balcony you decide to go for in your home, glass balustrades make a stylish and practical choice. From the clean lines and sharp looks, to the uninterrupted flows of light and sight without h

If you’d like a glass balcony that matches visual appeal with practical benefits, speak to us today to find out more about our high-quality range.

Does your bathroom feel small, cramped and dark? This is common when it comes to bathrooms. Usually the smallest room in the house, they are spaces driven by function first then aesthetics.

In fact, it is so common that we recently shared a post stuffed full of suggestions on how to make your tiny bathroom feel bigger and brighter.

One popular choice for opening up bathroom space is using a clear shower screen. Unlike shower curtains that severe your space into shrunken sections, a clear screen lets natural light flow throughout the whole bathroom. Combined with the clear sight lines it gives across the space, it maximises the sense of space as much as possible.

When you factor in how much easier it is to clean a screen than a curtain, plus the increased durability of a hard screen, picking a clear screen is a no-lose situation.

But choosing a screen isn’t the end of your decision. You need to choose between an acrylic shower screen or a glass one – though they might sound interchangeable (a shower screen is a shower screen after all) there are quite a few differences that each material brings.

To help you make an informed decision about which screen material is best for your bathroom, we’ve put together another shower screen post. We’ll cover maintenance, durability, cost, safety and even sustainability of each material to help you find the right shower screen for you.

Is an acrylic or a glass shower screen better?

Looks

When it comes to how your shower screen looks, glass shower screens are always going to be the best option.

The smooth, unblemished surface will always create a higher-quality appearance than acrylic which can have warping or visual distortions even from day one.

Also, a glass screen gives you the freedom to personalise your design. Sandblasting or etching on your shower screen can help you tailor your screen to meet any bathroom design, whether that’s by repeating a pattern seen elsewhere in the room or just adding a bit more style to the scene itself.

Best of all, glass screens keep their aesthetic appeal a lot longer. Even if your bathroom is recently decorated with sparkling taps and flawless grouting, scratches on your shower screen can make the whole room look tired or old. Scratches can even be mistaken for soap scum or dirt very easily and this will quickly drag down the look of your bathroom even further.

Safety

Another benefit of a toughened or tempered glass shower screen is its strength. It’s very unlikely to break in the first place. If it does, it will do so in a safe way – shattering to smooth crumbs so you don’t need to worry about cuts or scrapes.

This said safety is one area where acrylic shower screens have the advantage. They are a lot hard to break, and will usually crack before they snap so you can replace them before they become a real safety issue.

Glass shower screens are also heavier than acrylic screens, which can affect their safety, especially if the fittings start to fail.

Maintenance

When it comes to cleaning and maintaining your shower screen, glass screens are an easier choice than acrylic.

When cleaning acrylic screens, you should only ever use mild soap, water and a soft cloth or sponge. Acrylic is quite soft, which means anything abrasive – both in terms of surfaces or liquid cleaners – can easily scratch it.

In comparison tempered glass has a tough durable surface that stands up to harsh cleaning chemicals without warping or scratching. If you swipe water off the surface with a squeegee after every use, you’ll only need to give your screen an occasional rub with glass cleaner to keep it looking its best indefinitely.

Durability

Overall, glass shower enclosures and screens tend to be more durable than acrylic screens, though this is a nuanced answer.

As we mentioned above, it is almost impossible to break an acrylic shower screen. This could suggest that a glass shower screen is less durable, but this is only half the story. They might not break completely, but acrylic panels are a lot more likely to get scratched, damaged or warped and need replacing earlier than a glass screen.

Acrylic can also turn slightly yellow when exposed to direct sunlight for prolonged periods. While you can treat acrylic to slow this process down, glass is naturally UVB resistant so you don’t have to worry about it ever taking on an odd yellow tinge.

Sustainability

Glass is one of – if not the most – sustainable materials currently in use. Glass can be infinitely recycled so it never needs to end up as a waste product. And even if you don’t recycle it, glass is made of naturally occurring elements so it won’t break down into microplastics like acrylic does.

Thanks to its robustness, a glass shower screen is also likely to last longer than a plastic one. Combine this with the fact it can then so easily and endlessly be turned into something new, and glass clearly wins out as the more environmentally friendly option.

Cost

If you’re on a very tight budget, then an acrylic screen may be your only option. As they are weaker, less attractive and have such a shorter lifespan, acrylic shower screens tend to be a lot cheaper to purchase than glass ones.

Of course, in many ways, this is a false economy as the shorter lifespan of an acrylic screen just means it needs replacing sooner than a glass one. Acrylic is also easier to damage which can shorten its lifespan even further.

In the short term, an acrylic screen can feel like a cheaper option. In the long term though, glass wins out.

A shower screen to suit your bathroom

When it comes to picking the right shower screen for your home it’s always a subjective choice – and this includes choosing between acrylic and glass. It’s all about what appeals most to you.

But for us the answer will always be glass. Glass panels can upgrade any shower area and open up small bathrooms, adding style and function that survives for years.

Here at KLG, we’re committed to providing excellent quality glass products, quickly and at great prices. So if you’d like a bespoke glass screen that shows your bathroom at its best advantage, contact us today.

Glass display cabinets are a wonderful way to display items and show your belongings at their best. They’re also a versatile piece of furniture. Secure enough for commercial use, safe enough for home use and visually flexible enough to fit into any design scheme.

However, as with all furniture choices, if you pick the wrong glass cabinet your whole design scheme can get thrown off. And make the wrong choice around glass types, or what locks, lighting and shelves to use and you can even impact the security and safety of the items you’re displaying.

Picking the right display cabinet is essential. Luckily, there are only a few decisions you need to make to find the case you need, and this blog post is here to help you make them. We’ll cover the size of your cabinet, how to tailor it to suit your interior and look at how the lighting and security you pick will impact your items.

So whether you’re looking for a display case to showcase your achievements, a cabinet to show your products at their best angle or a curio cabinet to protect a carefully curated collection, here are some tips to help you find the perfect glass display cabinet for your home.

Size and space

Buying a bespoke glass cabinet opens up a world of size possibilities – don’t waste the opportunity by randomly guessing what you need.

First off, measure the space the cabinet will sit in. If you’re looking to fill a specific nook or alcove, then a custom cabinet means you can get an exact fit. Take the time to get accurate measurements and make sure to double-check them.

You also need to consider the size of the overall room you’ll be putting your cabinet in. When you put a large cabinet in a small room, it can feel imposing and shrink the size of the room so it feels cramped and cluttered. As with all furniture, you need to find an item that suits the space it’s going into.

With this type of cabinet, you can go a bit bigger than standard as one of the advantages of glass cabinets is their transparency. They keep sightlines clear which continues the flow of rooms and creates a sense of space. However, you still want a cabinet that is proportionate to the room – anything too big can still dwarf the space.

The final size to consider when picking your cabinet is what you want to keep inside it. If you’re planning to house a specific item or collection, you obviously need a suitably-sized cabinet. This includes thinking about how many shelves you want, and how far apart they should be.

The perfect material

Glass cabinets should always be made with toughened or laminated glass. Otherwise, you’ll sacrifice the safety and security of your home – not to mention the contents of your cabinet.

This is because toughened glass is up to 5x stronger than standard glass and is able to withstand harder impacts. And toughened or tempered glass will also crumble into smaller pieces if it does break, rather than sharp or jagged shards.

However, depending on your budget there are other options you can explore to improve your cabinet. For example, low-iron glass will give the clearest view of your cabinet without a green cast, but it does come at a cost.

Similarly, using glass with UV protection will help keep your important items safe from harmful UV rays but comes at a much higher price point.

If you are looking to seriously cut the costs of a display cabinet, you could also explore options for acrylic cabinets. These will offer some of the benefits of glass display cabinets, such as increasing light flow and giving 360° views, but they are much lower quality.

Aesthetic appeal

When it comes to furniture, looks are always important – glass display cases are no different. Though one of the benefits of glass cabinets is that they keep their contents as the focal point, you can still make a couple of choices around the look of a glass case that will help it suit different surroundings.

For example, the exposed edges of a UV-bonded glass case could be too harsh in a warm, cottagey living space. However, a case with glass sides and a wood frame sits much more comfortably in homely surroundings.

Similarly, if you’re looking for a minimalist or modern look, a brushed aluminium or steel frame nicely matches the clean lines of contemporary styles.

These decisions are always a matter of personal taste and are dependent on your existing interior design. But it’s important to consider all your options and make sure your cabinet suits its surroundings as well as any items it houses.

Lighting options

If you invest in a glass display cabinet, you want to make sure the contents always look their best. This means carefully positioned lighting to showcase its contents.

Decide whether you want the flexibility of lights outside the cabinet or the control of integrated lighting. What about the specific, directed light of spotlights or more diffused, consistent beams from a strip light? Consider the size and shape of items and where shadows will be cast – do you need additional lights to compensate?

Even the choice between a warm or cool-toned bulb is going to have a big impact on the look of your displayed items.

Spend time thinking it all through BEFORE purchasing your cabinet, and you’ll have a lot more flexibility in your options. Leave these decisions until after your cabinet arrives and you might not be able to implement the best option.

Added security features

Items kept in glass display cabinets tend to have a high value – be that sentimental or monetary.

When it comes to storing your prized possessions, it is sensible to explore additional security options. Obviously, the type of glass you choose will impact security, as will the thickness. Another

easy way to up the security that your display glass cabinet provides is with locks.

It is possible to get separate surface locks that you can fit onto your cabinets after purchase. These are available at a range of price points but start relatively cheap and are a good option if you change the use of your cabinet in the future.

However, if you know that you want that added peace of mind from day one, in-built locks are often the best choice. They are of higher quality, last longer and look less obtrusive than locks added after the fact.

As with all furniture, you should always make a carefully considered choice when you’re picking out a glass display cabinet. They have an important job to perform – showcasing their contents at their best – and choosing a case that is too big for the room, incorrectly lit or made of the wrong materials is likely to hinder that job.

If you’ve decided on the exact specifications for your custom glass display case, speak to us today to turn your dream design into a reality.

There are plenty of practical reasons to pick a glass balustrade. However, the decisions we make about our home furnishings are often driven by more than logic.

When picking out something to add to our home, we often think about the visual impact first. Does it match the style of its surroundings? Is it in keeping with the theme of the house? And, most importantly, do you like how it looks?

These are much more subjective factors. No one can tell you what your home should look like (or what it shouldn’t). But when it comes to glass balustrades or bannisters, they have interior design benefits that help them fit in with a whole range of styles.

If you’re convinced of the practicality of a glass balustrade, but not so sure they match up aesthetically, here are a couple of design benefits you can expect when you pick them.

Improve the flow of natural light

One of the biggest benefits of using glazing is always the way it lets sunlight shine in. Whether you’re talking about doors, shower screens or bannisters, turning parts of your home transparent means that the whole room or space will be lighter.

With glass balustrades, this is particularly important. Hallways often have limited light sources, with windows few and far between. Anything you can do to increase the natural light in these spaces will make a big difference, and a glass balustrade can help share uninterrupted light between upstairs and downstairs.

This shared light is equally beneficial for staircases that are located inside rooms as well.

Increase sense of space

The transparency of glass doesn’t just increase the light in a room either. The uninterrupted sightlines will make a space feel much bigger as well as brighter.

This is obviously a great benefit for narrow or angular hallways, as it can stop staircases from feeling like they severe the space. Instead, it can create a sense of flow, helping upstairs and downstairs come together.

It can have an even bigger impact on staircases or landings inside actual rooms. Even though stairs aren’t exactly usable design space, glass balustrades can break down the barrier between the staircase and the room helping it feel like there is more distance from wall to wall.

While this doesn’t give more space to put furniture in, it still creates more space in the room, helping it feel bigger and more open plan.

Flexible with other materials

Thanks to its lack of colour and its smooth, sleek texture, glass is incredibly flexible from a visual point of view. While you may automatically picture a glass bannister with a metal handrail, frame and fixtures, you don’t actually have to limit your designs to suit steel.

Though sleek, smooth steel or aluminium make a beautiful complement to a glass balustrade, glass can also make an attractive contrast with natural materials like wood. From the drama of dark hardwood to the gentler tones of softwood like pine, glass can look just as stunning against wood as it can with metal.

Even better the smooth, clean surface of glass makes a perfect counterpoint to the textured grain of wood. Both materials can make a stunning design statement in themselves.

Support a modern, minimalist look

Team a glass bannister with a wooden frame and it can look perfectly at home at home anywhere – even in a period property or cottagey aesthetic. but when it comes to a cutting-edge contemporary home, you’ll struggle to beat a glass bannister to match your design.

Minimalist decor is all about clean lines and an unfussy design – and you won’t get cleaner or sleeker than glass. Pair it with a metal frame to create contrast, or go frameless for ultimate minimalism.

As we mentioned before, picking glass will also help you create a sense of space and increase light which are both key parts of a contemporary interior aesthetic.

Add a decorative flourish

Find the right balustrade and you can even create a decorative focal point with your glass bannister itself.

Rather than plumping for clear glass, pick out pattered, frosted or obscured sandblasted glass. This type of glass is just as robust, strong and easy to maintain as standard glass but the treated glass will add its own visual texture too.

You can even choose to have your own design added to the glass. Here at KLG, we can create patterned glass that matches the design of fabric, wallpaper or even tiles. So if you have a feature wall that’s papered in a distinctive style, we can help you echo that look elsewhere being tied to colour choices.

Sandblasted glass adds its own visual appeal but it will slightly obscure sightlines. However, it still maintains 97% light transmission so it will still help your rooms feel bigger and brighter.

Lift your staircase with a glass bannister

If you want to refresh your stairs with a staircase that shares natural light and helps your hallway feel bigger, then a glass balustrade is a wonderful option.

Here at KLG we make bespoke balustrades to fit any size or style of home. Speak to us today to find out more.

Glass display cabinets are the ultimate in functional storage. If you want somewhere to store your prized possessions or products that keep them safe and show them to their very best advantage, a glass display cabinet is a dream choice.

But they aren’t always a common choice, because not many people know about them. This can make them hard to judge and buy – how do you if the case is worth the cost, or whether it is secure enough to hold valuables or if it will keep your treasures looking lovely? 

We’ve put together this post to shed some light on the facts about glass display cases. We’ll answer commonly asked questions, and explore the practical choices you need to make if you want to pick out the perfect glass case. 

What are glass display cases made of?

While, unsurprisingly, glass cabinets are made of glass, they aren’t necessarily made of the same material you see in other spots around your house – including cabinet doors.

This is partly because the glass in display cabinets usually provides its own structural support. Even in cases with aluminium or wooden frames and joins, the majority of the structure’s weight will be held by the glass. And, in UV-bonded glass display cases, it is only glass that supports that weight.

However, you also need glass that will show (and keep your items) at their best and this means a specialist product selection. A UV light-resistant finish will help limit the damage that sunlight does to the content. 

Other specialist glass features can also be chosen.

Does cabinet glass need to be tempered?

One glass feature you should always look out for when buying a glass display cabinet is tempered glass. Tempered glass has been treated at high temperatures to make it stronger – in fact, it is around 5x stronger than standard glass.

This strength is vital for display cabinets, as it increases both security and safety. Whether you intended to or not, it’s common to accidentally leave extra weight on the top of glass cabinets. Standard glass isn’t able to withstand this, even for short periods. 

However, tempered glass is more than up to the job. Obviously, there are still limits, 

Another option to consider for display cabinets is laminated glass, which is impressively secure. This type of glass has a layer of film sandwiched in the centre. This helps the glass holds its shape even when it’s broken.

Why is low iron glass used in display cabinets?

As well as having the strength to keep your valuable or prized possessions safe, you want to make sure they look their best on display. Low-iron glass can help with this.

Have you ever looked through a pane of glass and noticed a slight green colour cast onto the other side? This is down to the iron that is part of standard glass. Low iron glass reduces this content, creating glass that is much clearer and gives no green tints for the content of your display cabinet.

What are the advantages of glass display cabinets?

The biggest benefit of glass display cases is how beautifully they display their contents. Whether in a high-end retail store, a carefully curated collection or housing a person’s most treasured possessions, they always showcase items at their best.

Glass-topped cases will give the most complete view of an item possible, while the glass sides will maximise the light that reaches the items so they can be seen clearly. They are also flexible, giving you plenty of options to rearrange their contents to direct attention to your favoured pieces.

Best of all, glass display cabinets are easy to clean. They may need a regular wipe down with a standard glass cleaner and soft cloth, to remove any finger marks but their large, smooth, surface area makes this a quick job. You won’t need to work up a sweat scrubbing. Nor will you need to start shifting around your cabinet contents to clean the inside either.

Do glass cabinets keep dust out?

While glass display cases can’t claim to stay dust-free, they will seriously restrict the amount of dust that gets onto your items. Having solid sides in every direction reduces the movement of dust, so they are a lot easier to maintain than a set of open shelves.

This makes them a fantastic choice for displaying items of value, items that aren’t touched very often or anything fragile. With display cases, you don’t have to worry about cleaning your items as regularly and risking damage to them.

What are the drawbacks of glass display cabinets?

Perhaps the biggest drawback of glass display cabinets is their cost.

When picking out a glass display cabinet, it is foolish to sacrifice quality to keep costs down. This type of furniture is designed to deliver on style while showing your prized possessions or products in their best light.

Choosing low-cost options like acrylic, cheaper glass or inferior build quality will take away from the look of the items you are displaying. It can even impact the safety of the cabinet.

If you’re going to effort of displaying your items in a fully transparent case, then it is clear you want them to look their best and be as visually accessible as possible. The only way to do this is with a high-quality glass case, which will ensure your prized possessions have the best lighting and visibility from every angle.

Are glass display cabinets worth it?

If you’re looking for a stylish solution to showcase your collectables or display your products at their best, then a bespoke glass display cabinet is a fantastic option. Whether you’re looking for a corner glass display cabinet to keep in your home or an impressive addition to your retail space, we have a range of options and styles to choose from.

Contact us today to discover exactly how we can help with a custom glass display unit.