Stained glass might be an ancient art, but it continues to appeal to modern designers for its mesmerising light diffusing properties and vivid colour. Stained and coloured glass appears in various guises in these homes from the ELLE Decoration archives. Used as windows, interior room dividers and, in the case of one palazzo, as a statement headboard, its varied applications show how designers are continually inspired by this age-old material.
Original stained-glass windows in Paris
These striking cathedral-like windows define this Parisian abode. The home of art director Jean-Christophe Aumas, it is thought to have once been the home of a mage (an individual who practises mystical arts). Jean-Christophe highlighted the statement windows by bringing in pops of colour that echo the jewel tones of the glass. However, the interior is constantly evolving depending on his creative whims – ‘I can wake up one morning and suddenly decide to change the colour of a wall, or move around the furniture,’ he says.
The California home brimming with rainbow hues
Coloured glass bookends this cheerful colonial-style Californian home, the work of Frances Merrill of Reath Design. Both the kitchen and front door feature a patchwork of rainbow-coloured glass, while in the living room an antique stained-glass pendant light, found at Nicky Kehoe, adds another element of coloured light to the home.
Contemporary stained-glass windows in Sydney
‘Mondrian was the initial reference,’ says interior designer Jase Sullivan of the spectacular stained-glass windows of Holocene House, a pioneering carbon-positive residence in Sydney. ‘The challenge was balancing those with the home’s stunning aspect. We had to be bold in our choices but make them feel cohesive and connected to the landscape,’ he adds.
Yellow glass accents in Melbourne
The interior of this Melbourne home is as colourful as its past. Formerly the site of brothel Club Rose, the Victorian terrace was reimagined into a bright and cosy home by architecture firm Fieldwork, who worked closely with homeowners Paul Ghaie and Lucy Wallace. Pops of colour recur throughout the property – in the living room, an egg yolk yellow curtain and cheerful panel of yellow glass elevate the space.
A retro shower screen in Margate
Smokey, stained and tinted glass was a popular decorative flourish in the 1970s, and so this amber shower screen is perfectly at home in Winnie Williams’s retro dreamhouse. The Victorian property is brimming with colours, patterns and furniture that sums up the fearless decorating energy of the era. ‘It’s fun using old pieces,’ she says. ‘I usually know I want one key thing in a space and wait until I find that.’
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Fluorescent yellow glass turned out to be the perfect contrast to the original decorative details of this 14th century Umbrian palazzo. Architect Patrizio Fradiani was inspired by the preserved coloured-glass doors that to lead to the original bathroom. Inside the space, he installed the acid-yellow shower screen, while in the bedroom the same glass frames the bed and acts as a sleek headboard.
The intricate room divider in Paris
Stained glass is often associated with the traditional and intricate work seen in storied chapels and cathedrals. This Parisian home brings the craft firmly into the modern age, with the work of Piet Mondrian and the colour palettes of luxury fashion house Hermes just some of the ideas behind this dramatic stained-glass room divider. To bring this vision to life, designer Patricia Bustos worked with artisans at a workshop in Toledo who restore cathedral windows using age-old techniques. ‘We also worked with specialists in brass, and they had never done anything like this before,’ she adds.
Brutalism and glass blocks in Madrid
This apartment, located in Torress Blancos, the iconic brutalist landmark designed by visionary Spanish architect Javier Sáenz de Oíza Blancas, is bathed in warm golden light thanks to amber-coloured glass bricks. Designer Eduardo Tazón and Antonio Mora, founders of design firm Studio Noju, snapped up the two-bedroom home and restored the home while creating a space that works for modern life.
