Ultimate Guide to Coastal Design: Custom Glass Shower Doors

Bring the serenity of Coastal Living to you, by elevating your bathroom with Custom Glass Shower Doors! Your bathroom should be a place of peace and a time to unwind and recharge. It’s a space within your home that can help you escape all of the hustle and bustle of your day, and allow you to take time for you!

In this conversation we’ll show you ways to incorporate Coastal Design through custom glass. With Sans Soucie’s over 35 years of experience with Frosted Glass, we offer more than your basic shower door. We can turn your space into a shower sanctuary with doors, enclosures, and panels!

We’ll walk you through everything you’ll need to know about Customer Glass Shower Doors and designs to help you curate the perfect Coastal vibe!

Coastal Design Options For Your Glass Shower Door

Coastal Design is made up of a variety of amazing elements and options! Whether you’re looking to turn your shower space into a tropical paradise, or maybe you’re idea of Coastal living is on the ocean waves, we have a vast catalog full of designs to inspire!

At the end of the day, if you can dream it up, we can create it!

Tropical Landscapes

Nothing says “Beach Life” like the Tropical Landscapes of the coast. Elements such as Palm Trees, Colorful Flora, Broad-Leaved Plants, and Exotic Wildlife, are what you’ll want to look for. 

Imagine yourself resting on a hammock between two Palm Trees, with their swaying fronds, that stand tall as iconic symbols of the coastal landscape. Or maybe you’re taking in a sunset surrounded by luscious greenery, and vibrant flora that adds splashes of color and charm to the scenery.

All of these characteristic make-up the exotic Tropical Landscapes! They will help you create an irresistible allure that captures the essence of relaxation and tranquility.

Wave Patterns

Wave Patterns are an integral part of Coastal Design, evoking the mesmerizing rhythm of the ocean. These patterns capture the dynamic energy and fluidity of waves, infusing spaces with a sense of movement and tranquility. 

Several elements that contribute to a Wave Pattern motif in Coastal Design include curved lines, textures, color palette of blues, and ripple effect patterns. Each of these elements will bring the majestic ocean waves right into your bathroom space. 

Oceanic Life

What would Coastal Design be without Oceanic Life? It reflects the rich biodiversity and vibrant ecosystems found in the sea. By incorporating elements inspired by Oceanic Life, this enhances the coastal ambiance and brings a sense of serenity and natural beauty into your home.

A key feature to consider when wanting to embody the Oceanic Life theme in your Coastal Design includes marine creatures. Images or representations of fish, seahorses, dolphins, turtles, or coral reefs, evoke the diverse and captivating world beneath the waves. And, if you’re feeling bold you may want to even consider mythical creatures like a mermaid to magically elevate your Glass Shower Doors! 

Nautical Motifs

The Nautical Motif is a classic and beloved aspect of Coastal Design, that brings forth the timeless charm of maritime life. These nautical features add a sense of adventure, nostalgia, and seafaring spirit to the coastal essence.

If this is more your vibe, you’ll want to look for elements such as maritime symbols, seafaring icons such as sailboats, lighthouses; and, classic patterns like wide or narrow stripes. The Nautical Motif can inspire an Americana feel as though you were sailing on the ocean during the 4th of July!

Glass Options For Shower Doors

When it comes to elevating your shower, we’ve got a variety that is beyond a classic door. These options include Frameless Shower Doors, Shower Enclosures, and Shower Panels. Each one of these options allows you to create a space within your bathroom that is truly custom! Every home and lifestyle is different, so take some time to explore each shower option to see what works best for you!

Frameless Shower Doors

Frameless Shower Doors contribute to the overall aesthetics of the space, with a wide range of designs and finishes available to complement various bathroom styles. In essence, they combine functionality, safety, and visual appeal to enhance the bathing experience, while maintaining the cleanliness and integrity of the surrounding bathroom area.

A Frameless Shower Door offers a sleek and modern look. The absence of visible frames allows for an uninterrupted view of the shower area; and therefore, creates a sense of openness and spaciousness. This minimalist aesthetic is often preferred by those seeking a contemporary and sophisticated design.

Just some of the benefits of a Frameless Shower Door include: 

1. Easier Maintenance: There are less nooks and crannies to clean, like that of framed shower doors.
2. Durability: Frameless Shower Doors are created with thicker tempered glass.
3. Customization Options: These types of Glass Shower Doors can be tailored to all sizes.
4. Light and Visibility: Bathroom spaces can often be dark, but Frameless Shower Glass Doors allow more light and visibility. The transparency of the Glass Door allows the light to brighten the bathroom, and create a more inviting and open atmosphere.

Shower Enclosures 

Immerse yourself in a stunning masterpiece every time you step into your bathroom. Embrace the allure of a Frosted Glass Shower Enclosure adorned with your stunning Coastal Design. This effortlessly adds a touch of drama and luxury to your bathroom decor.

But what is a Glass Shower Enclosure? It’s a structure or enclosure that surrounds and contains the shower area in a bathroom. It is a modern and popular alternative to traditional shower curtains or framed shower doors. Our enclosures consist of large glass panels that create a barrier, to encompass the shower area in order to prevent water from splashing outside the designated domain. 

Glass Shower Enclosures offer a sleek and open look, allowing for unobstructed views of the shower, while enhancing the overall aesthetic appeal of the bathroom. They are available in various styles and can be customized to fit different shower configurations and design preferences. This is why it could be a great option when you don’t have a corner shower; and therefore, have to create a unique space.

Shower Panels

Shower Panels are such an innovated and contemporary way of upgrading your bathroom! A Glass Shower Panel refers to a single, large sheet or panel of tempered glass that serves as a partition for a shower area. 

Shower Panels are a unique in between option for a Shower Glass Door and Shower Enclosure. Some of the benefits to choosing this option are similar to what we’ve discussed above. Such as easy maintenance, because you’re cleaning only one panel of glass with no frame, nooks, or crannies. A Glass Panel can also give you a walk in shower design, in order to make it easier for those with mobility issues. 

We also offer vast customization options with design and shape. Our Shower Panels allow a lot of light into your shower space; and therefore, offers great visibility! It’s also an alternative for a small bathroom or corner shower. 

3 Glass Finishes To Capture That Coastal Light

Clear Glass is the most popular type of glass, or Glass Finish (a.k.a. background) for a shower door. But here at Sans Soucie we have 3 Glass Finishes to choose from: Clear Glass, Gluechip Glass, and Frosted Glass. Capturing the essence of Coastal Light can be translated uniquely through each of these finishes, depending on the type of glass that you’re looking for.

Clear Glass Finish

Our Clear Glass Finish is smooth, plain and just that- Clear! This finish will theoretically let in the most about of light. And, no matter what design option you choose, there will alway be a portion of the Shower Door that will have visibility. This is why we consider this type of glass finish as “Not-Private”.

Gluechip Glass Finish

Want something truly unique? Our Gluechip Glass Finish is just for you! It has a sparkling texture that looks like frost during the winter or a fern-like pattern. Each design element is surrounded by an 1/8” clear pinstripe, and adds a depth to your overall design with it’s textured glass appearance! This finish is considered “Semi-Private”, because objects behind it become blurred when 10-12” away from the glass. 

Frosted Glass Finish

Introducing soft lighting through our Frosted Glass Finish is a perfect option! This finish provides the most privacy, and is considered 100% “Private”. The use of soft, diffused lighting enhances the coastal atmosphere, especially during the evening hours. It’s like being on the beach under a string of lights, lanterns, or strategically placed outdoor lighting that creates that warm and inviting ambiance.

Don’t Sacrifice Your Design For Your Budget

You should never have to sacrifice your desired, dream Glass Shower Door, because of budget! That is why we love the fact that we offer a variety of Glass Effects. Each of these effects produces a different look to every design, and can give you glass style options from budget friendly to more luxurious! 

In other words we can take one design and produce it in multiple ways with our 1D, 2D, or 3D (Solid and Enhanced) Glass Effects. All of our Shower Door Designs are made by hand thru the art of sandblast etching and carving. Nothing is machine made or manufactured. 

1D Glass Effect

Our 1D Glass Effect is the most affordable. It is what most people think of in terms of “frosted” glass designs, and will give your chosen artwork a “solid frost” appearance. There are several different ways we execute our 1D Glass Effect, with each one providing a different look and level of privacy. 

Here are the 1D Glass Effects you can choose from:

1D Positive

Your design elements will be solid, white shapes, and the background will be the clear glass. 

1D Negative

This is the opposite or reverse of 1D Positive. Meaning that the design elements are clear, and the background is frosted.

1D Pinstripe

With this effect, the design elements are made up of thin, clear pinstripes, that are approximately an-eighth-of-an-inch thick.  

2D Glass Effect

Introducing our 2D Glass Effect, where our skilled artists use shading techniques to create a “gradient-like” appearance. This adds intricate details to the finished look, but without the carved edges being seen like our 3D Enhanced option (which you’ll read about next). With the same level of skill but less time required, our 2D Glass Effect offers a detailed and enriched appearance at a lower price than the 3D Enhanced option. And, it also provides a finer and more detailed look than the 1D Effect. It’s that perfect in between option where you get the visual appeal at a lower price point!

3D Solid and Enhanced Glass Effect

As mentioned before, all of our Frosted Glass is handmade thru the art of Sandblast etching and carving. And, when it comes to our 3D Glass Effects, we have two types: 3D Solid and 3D Enhanced. Each one of them can also be executed with paint, which in theory would give you 4 options total.

These are most expensive effects since they require the highest level of skill and time to create. So lets take a look at how they differ from each other:

3D Solid: 

Now, let’s explore our 3D Solid Effect. It differs in that it presents a flat, solid white, embossed look without any gradients or shading (to emphasize intricacy and detail), as seen in the 3D Enhanced option. Creating the 3D Solid Effect requires a lower level of skill and time, allowing us to offer it at a more affordable price. This effect is achieved through a “single stage sandblast” technique, where the artist sprays sand in large, sweeping motions across the entire surface of the glass. Although it requires skill, it focuses on creating consistently flat and even carved surfaces and edges for the design elements. This is to ensure that there are no divots, or variations in depth throughout the artwork.

Again, keep in mind that you can also have this 3D Solid Glass Effect painted! Brining a vibrancy to any Coastal Design, on your Shower Door. 

3D Enhanced: 

And, lastly our 3D Enhanced Glass Effect is considered the “cream of the crop”! This design process involves sandblasting the glass in stages, by meticulously working on one small segment at a time. With careful precision, our skilled artists sculpt and cut into the glass at varying depths, creating a captivating relief texture. The carved edges of the design elements interact with surrounding light, causing them to illuminate. This gives your artwork a three-dimensional appearance, as if it were floating freely within the Glass Shower Door. To further enhance the intricacy and detail, we also employ a shading technique where the sandblast density gradually fades out to clear glass. This gradient-like effect adds an additional layer of depth and visual appeal to the finished look. This will elevate the overall artistry of your Glass Shower Door piece.

And of course you can have this Glass Effect painted as well. This combo would be considered one of our most expensive options. 

Shower Doors With Your Desired Privacy Level

When it comes to customization we can create a Glass Shower Door that not only dazzles in design, but also in functionality. Every lifestyle and space is unique. And, therefore you’ll want to make sure that the privacy level is right for you, when introducing Glass Shower Doors into you home.

We have 3 Privacy Levels that include: Not Private, Semi-Private, and Private! From our Glass Finishes to our Glass Effects options, these two elements are what will help you create the Privacy Level that you desire. Check out the examples below to see what different privacy levels look like in regards to our Shower Door Glass. 

Privacy Levels

Do Glass Shower Doors Add Value To My Home?

YES they can! According to industry experts and real estate professionals, bathroom renovations that include the installation of high-quality shower doors, often provide a solid return on investment.

Even though there are many factors that contribute to what the exact percentage of increase would be for the value of your home, some estimates suggest that you can yield a return on investment ranging from 70% to 80% of the project cost.

So think about this… Instead of remodeling your entire room, you may want to consider starting with one of our shower doors, shower enclosure, or shower glass panel. Allowing a Custom Glass Shower Door to be the centerpiece to your bathroom renovation.

What Is The Maintenance For a Glass Shower Door?

Whether you’ve decided to go with a Frameless Glass Door, an Enclosure, or a sleek Glass Panel, keeping these beauties clean is simple!

The best maintenance option in order to prevent the formation of water spots and mineral deposits, is a daily squeegee routine. Simply using a squeegee after each use is a quick and effective way to keep your glass free from potential damage, caused by water spots. We also suggest using a surface protector such as Rain-X or C.R. Lawrence TPC. This can help repel water off the glass, while still using a squeegee daily.

When looking for a more permanent protection solution, you’ll want to consider EnduroShield. This is a patented process that seals the glass with an ion beam process, making it easy to clean. Ask your Sans Soucie salesperson to explain more about this incredible product.