window

[Princess Sue]

I am having an extension on the side of my house to make an extra bedroom/girly room for myself. It will have a main window approx 5ft 6" wide by 4ft high and also a side window 4ft x 4ft. Planning people have said the small window on the side has to be obscure and non-opening. I am thinking of a stained glass window - does anyone have any experience of these? Will I get fed up with it? Will it not let enought light through? Is this a good idea in a bedroom or is it more suitable for a landing? Help anyone with any ideas - also help to choose the right design- also thought of bevelled glass design i.e. like a front door panel - just put in the window frame. The window will be upvc and will have to have plastic running down the middle to look like two panes. Thanks anyone - this is not proving to be easy!

[markja]

you can buy stick on frosting. ( like fabulon ) then if you get bored peel it off and whack a different style on. the plastic middle bar can also be stuck on, it's just to blend in with the house/area. ask a double glazzing firm they may be able to help. or try b&q or wickes.

[buildersmate]

Its a good idea but the Planning people probably won't let you 'get away' with a stick-on design because it would be too easy to take it off, thus eliminating the constraint. The reason why the window has to be obscurely is normally because the window overlooks a neighbouring property or its garden. Pilkington Glass does quite a wide range (about 20) of textured glass designs these days which you can probably see at your local glass merchant.

[jake-the-peg]

I'm not sure about whether most stained glass windows of that size would meet building regulations in a modern house.

There were a lot of regulations on energy efficiency brought in a couple of years back and that rather complicates stained glass.

It's not impossible though it might be a bit steep have a look at this for example:

www.esi.info.