Article: Tiny kitchens are able to do big work; Translucent doors can brighten dark hallway We have the somewhat unusual intention of converting part of a large entrance hall into a home office. One potential problem is that the area to be enclosed contains the only window in that part of the house. This will deprive the entrance hall of natural light. Do you have a suggestion for how to illuminate the shortened foyer? A: Without actually seeing your entrance hall, it's difficult for me to advise you on the best lighting method. A ceiling pendant or some form of track lighting might be a sound solution, but a lot will depend on what exactly you wish to illuminate. Is there attractive artwork on the walls that should be emphasized? Does the ceiling have an interesting molding that deserves to be clearly seen? Maybe you've got a beautiful rug that should be admired as well as walked upon. Possibly, too, all of these factors need to be taken into account. Putting aside the issue of artificial lighting, let's consider whether the window has to be entirely sealed off from the entrance hall. Keep in mind that doors can be made of translucent material. Framed in wood or metal, a door with a glass surface can be just as sturdy as one that's entirely opaque. In addition to installing a translucent door to your home office, think about using one for the main entrance to your home. We don't often see this option employed, it's true, but often there's no practical reason why it shouldn't be. Even if the view from the front of your home is not particularly attractive, you can still allow natural light to enter your foyer at both ends by installing a main door and an office door that are both made of frosted, textured or obscured glass. For a more decorative alternative, take a look at the treatment shown in the photo. This illustration comes from Carol Soucek King's book, "Designing with Glass: The Creative Touch," published by PBC. This example makes use of new technology that takes us a long step beyond frosted and etched glass. It involves a fusion process of photo imaging and enlargement. Here, a decorative design has in effect been photocopied onto glass in a smooth finish; the surface has none of the roughness and porous quality that often results from sand blasting. At the same time, the door allows light to pass through it while ensuring privacy on the inside. Incidentally, I know that many people have concerns about the safety of large sections of glass. But if the proper thickness and type of glass is chosen, doors of this type can actually be sturdier than those made of more traditional materials.

Article from:

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Milwaukee, WI)

Article date:

December 15, 1996

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CopyrightCopyright 1996 The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)