Drinking a glass of wine, applying makeup, reading a book or shaving your beard. No matter what your beauty or spa routine is, the bathroom is one of the most important rooms of your home.
And making it shine bright and look pristine is the job for a doctor – the Glass Doctor that is.
“Justin bought the franchise in 2008. He had his own glass business for 10 years before that. In 2008, we really just started with auto. But since then, we’ve just grown into putting glass about anywhere you can think of.”
That included flat glass, commercial, wine rooms, mirrors, table toppers, showers and railings and even floor mats for desks.
You can see their exquisite work throughout Sioux Falls and the surrounding area. That includes this show-stopping home at 9504 West Lakeside Circle. As you walk into the primary bathroom, the incredible work will leave you breathless.
“That is a really, really incredible space. The absolute coolest thing we did in that bathroom is right in the center of the room.”
Your eyes can’t help but be drawn into this unique glass design. Connected to one wall is the star of the show – the huge and incredible glass-enclosed standing shower. Two black showerheads cascade warm water down your tired shoulders and beautifully contrast the bright white color of the bathroom walls.
“Personally, I think it’s the best part of the bathroom – maybe the best part of the house. Even though the shower takes up much of the space in the center, it really is so beautiful.”
The design offers a clean, walk-through feel. One side of the half-glass, half-wall separates the shower from the soaker tub. The glass provides a lot of light – ensuring this space does not feel like a big dark, damp hole in the middle of the bathroom. Rather, it gives a super airy and light feel to the room.
“We are really seeing a change in what people are wanting in their bathrooms – especially when it comes to the shower. In the past, it used to be just a sliding door or a panel. Now we are seeing more of our beautiful glass come into play. Like this house from Top Construction. There is glass surrounding you on all sides versus just one side like in the past.”
Glass Doctor says that change is likely due to the influx of designs touting an open-concept layout.
“A lot of people are doing that open concept throughout their homes. That doesn’t just stop at the kitchen, dining room or living room area. We are seeing that come to life in the primary bedroom and bathroom with glass.”
Another trend they’re seeing in homes, and one that is beautifully showcased here is zero-entry showers.
“I think these are perfect. The idea is that it would age with the couple. As people get older, their needs change and you don’t want to have to try to get over a threshold in your shower. This allows whoever owns the house to grow into it and not have to do another renovation down the line. It offers such versatility to accommodate any life change.”
Highlighting the beautifully encased shower and continuing this unique vibe, is a his and hers vanity on either side of the shower walls.
“It is really cool that whoever is using that bathroom, will have their own side. It still feels as if it is one cohesive room. But there is that separation of vanities. They’re not small either. They’re very spacious and bright.”
With ample countertop space and a large, glass mirror, the separate his and hers vanities are perfect for any couple.
“Another trend we are seeing is mirrored cabinets or glass insert cabinets. It keeps with that same open feel where people can sort of display things versus just putting them in a cabinet and forgetting about them.”
Trends continue in this bathroom as you’ll find textile, patterned tile on the floor.
“In the past, we were seeing a lot of the ‘rock feel’ – really early 2000s or late ‘90s vibes. But things have definitely gone away from that. Now it is really focused on bringing that elevated, expensive and sophisticated look to your bathroom.”
Bringing that expensive look to reality often means the use of quartz which gives a bathroom a sophisticated, marble feel.
“Quartz offers what marble offers, but even better. Marble is extremely porous, and it degrades quickly over time. You can have a lot of etching and have issues with that. This bathroom in Sioux Falls features a really stunning quartz back wall made with Cambria Quartz. It just pulls that whole room together I think and elevates it even more.”
And there’s no project that Glass Doctor shies away from.
“Anything unique we really love to take on. Justin likes a challenge. He likes to do something different or unique. Curved glass like in a shower can bring that challenge. You have to make sure everything is so exact. Everything is harder to line up than just a regular rectangle. You have to make sure everything pieces together perfectly.”
Another unique space they’re seeing glass is on stair railings.
“We really have started to do a lot of those. People are putting them into their catwalks, their back patios and porches. I think it’s about bringing the outside in and not having such a wall of separation.”
So, wherever you may want to put glass, they’re up for the challenge.
“Nearly every day we are talking to customers who have a project that we haven’t seen or done before. We really love it when people bring us their ideas or their issues to see if we can fix them or help bring that project to life. Some people are like ‘I’ve always dreamed of doing this. Is it possible?’ And we just love finding out if it is.”
