Etched Glass Window for Privacy & Decorative Effect
When most people think of the term “etched glass window” they likely picture in their mind a white, frosted glass effect on the glass, which of course is completely accurate. There are, however, different forms of and techniques for achieving etched glass. At Sans Soucie Art Glass, we use a number of various related terms that help us to be more specific with our clients, about the different effects we apply to the glass and various techniques we use. For example, etched glass can be SOLID, and/or it can have SHADING. In this article, we’re going to show examples of both.
Frosted Glass Doors: Bringing Light In, Keeping Eyes Out
Frosted glass doors give homeowners the best of both worlds—generous daylight and real privacy—without relying on blinds or curtains. By applying the same solid-etch or shading techniques shown above, we can tailor each door panel to the room’s needs:
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Entry & side-lite privacy. A solid etch over the lower half of an exterior door keeps prying eyes out while letting sunshine pour through the top.
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Pantry or laundry doors. Lightly shaded patterns—think vines, waves, or geometric grids—hide the clutter behind the door yet still brighten a dark hallway.
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Interior dividers. In home offices or spa-style bathrooms, frosted glass doors soften sound and glare, creating a calm, diffuse glow that feels larger than the square footage.
Whether you choose a full solid frost or a design with subtle shading, each door is sandblasted by hand, so the level of obscurity, pattern placement, and even the edge finish are yours to decide. Click over to our Doors Gallery for ideas on how a single door can transform the look and feel of any space.

SOLID ETCHED GLASS can be achieved through both acid etching, as well as etching the glass by sandblasting. At Sans Soucie Art Glass, our primary method of etching the glass is by sandblasting. The simplest form of what we do, would be a simple, solid etching of the glass, over the entire surface. We do this on a regular basis for door or window glass, where all that’s needed is a nice, frosted white privacy glass for a window or door.

A text, or a company logo) that’s left CLEAR on the glass. (As seen on the glass panel partitions at the Long Beach Renaissance Hotel, “Renaissance Waves”, below. The background has been solid frosted and the waves are left in clear glass. This would be referred to as a “solid etched glass design”).


I went through our Windows Gallery this morning, and searched out some of the best examples I could find of a simple, true, “etched glass window” and have posted them in this blog. I’m also demonstrating by placing photos next to one another, of what a SOLID etched glass looks like, verses an etched glass design that also features SHADING. Take a look at the photos of the etched glass mountains: The first photo shows a SOLID ETCHED GLASS technique, the second shows mountains that have been ETCHED AND SHADED. The solid etched, will provide a bit more privacy than the mountains with the shading. “Shading” the glass, is where the sandblast artist leaves a degree of clear glass, lightly fading out the white frosted glass at the edges of design elements. This really creates a beautiful, two dimensional look, EVEN tho this glass is not CARVED. Carving (as seen in the photo of the ROSE) is where the glass is actually sculpted with a design. The artist sandblasts longer and creates a 3 dimensionally, sculpted “relief” texture into the glass.







Click on the links below to see a collections of etched glass windows, using the various techniques:
Thank you so much for visiting our blog, and be sure to Contact us for a lot more great information and hundreds of examples of our work!
CHECK OUT OUR VERY POPULAR YouTube VIDEO OF ETCHED GLASS WINDOWS!!

Sans Soucie Art Glass: A Legacy of Craftsmanship and Innovation
Family-owned and operated since 1976, Sans Soucie Art Glass leads the industry in the art of sandblast frosted glass, carved glass, and hand painted glass, transforming ordinary glass into “Works of Art Captured in Glass” that have gained national and global recognition.
Innovative Door Designer Tool
In 2010, we invented and launched our Pantry Door Designer. This fun, easy to use tool, made it possible for anyone to design and customize not only pantry doors, but a whole host of frosted glass doors.
A Wide Range of Frosted Glass Doors
Our product line for glass doors includes options such as an interior door with glass, interior doors with frosted glass panels, front doors with glass, all glass front doors, glass front doors, interior glass doors, glass barn doors.
Doors are no doubt our most popular product. However, following closely behind is a wide range of glass products that are perfect for our beautiful frosted glass designs, for glass throughout your home! These include entry and bathroom windows, shower doors, shower partitions and enclosure showers, glass dining tables, glass coffee tables, glass shelves, decorative mirrors, glass signs, cabinet door glass inserts, and glass wall art.
With FREE SHIPPING on most orders and worldwide shipping from our Studio in Palm Desert, California, our orders are expertly packed in-house by our experienced glaziers. Over the years, we designed and developed our own custom packing materials and methods. These specialized methods protect the glass, resulting in the safe and secure arrival of all our products, from small to large, allowing us to boast a less than 1% damage rate!
Explore our full range of products and discover how Sans Soucie Art Glass can add a unique, custom element that transforms the look and feel of your decor.
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