Modern Glass For A Modern Extension

Image: Pilkington Glass

Now that we’re back from holiday and autumn is pretty much upon us, I’m fully refocused on the house again. I go through such ebbs and flows and WISH I could be one of those people that gets everything done immediately. Sometimes though weeks turn into months and no progress is made.

I’m itching to get going and whilst all being well we should be moving forward with our living room plans later this month, I’m daydreaming once again about our ground floor extension. We saw SO many beautiful houses in the Cotswolds and I know we can achieve a real wow-factor new kitchen once we get going – I may now have my heart set on French limestone flooring.

Someone asked me what kind of style I’m aiming for with our home and the answer is both period AND modern. Is that even possible? We’ve kept the 1930s feel very much from the outside, even trying to find a sympathetic look for our uPVC windows. Picture rails are being reinstated and lots of 1930s research is being done.

At the same time, I crave modern, simple finishes. As we go round replacing our flooring, gone are the mismatched fussy skirting, being replaced instead with the simple pencil style. We have NEST smoke detectors and our log burner is Scandinavian in design.

This is very much the look I want to go for with our ground floor extension too, creating a light, open and airy space to make the most of views over the garden. I’m sure much of it will end up being a ground floor cliché with bi-fold doors and inside-outside living space but it’s a look I love and really seems to work.

And so of course the research has begun and leading the way is Pilkington with  their Pilkington Activ™ self-cleaning glass range. Now, that all sounds too good to be true doesn’t it? But I can safely say that our log burner also self-cleans. We’ve had it three winters now and every morning it looks inside as though a fire has never been lit so self-cleaning can work if done properly.

The idea behind Pilkington Activ™ glass is that it uses daylight to break down organic deposits (such as dirt) and then uses rain to wash the dirt away. It also dries faster, leaving the glass clean and with less streaks. It also combats the issue which I’ve seen many homeowners face, of a space that’s too cold in winter and acts like a tropical greenhouse in summer as its available with  the most up to date solar control properties and can be combined with a highly   energy-efficient inner pane of glass.

For me, it really all is about technology and efficiency, as well as style. I’d rather invest in something that will do the best possible job and not cut corners. Even where it means projects take longer because I have a need to do it properly (like replastering the living room instead of just papering over the cracks!)

Sadly for us it’s going to be at least a year before we’re even realistically looking at beautiful glazing for our new kitchen but I KNOW it will happen. I just need a bit more patience, a little less procrastination and a rather generous Lottery win. Anyone else?

Post in collaboration.

Follow me on Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter