Covet crittall? A show and tell of designing with this striking detail

Crittall style glazing complemented by industrial scale doors at our Cleveland Road project.

Let me guess, you have a Pinterest board packed with industrial chic living spaces?

Many of us hanker after that sense of space and style associated with loft style living.

The combination of steel and concrete drove the Modernist movement and crittall is heavily associated with this; slim sight-lines and clean architecture.

So how can you use this design detail in your home?

Crittall style windows have broad historical uses from factory settings to elegant town houses making them a versatile choice for any project.

Keep reading and we’ll walk you through our favourite ways to weave this steel framing throughout your home and the upsides and downsides associated with each use.

SO HERE WE GO.

Dramatic intersection of metal and brick at our The Terrace project.

Layer with industrial elements 

At Humble and Humble we love the warehouse vibe that crittall style windows bring to a scheme.

But one things for sure the most striking homes layer up different industrial elements to achieve an overall look.

Put it this way; if you only introduce these metal framed doors into an otherwise white box then you will have a nice set of doors, but won’t come close to that loft style vision.

Take our Cleveland Road project: here crittall style doors and windows are complemented with oversized fully glazed sliding doors. In fact, ironically, here it is the crittall style features that soften the scheme and bring elegance.

High ceilings are a key factor in achieving the industrial look. Where that is not possible we strive to include clever design elements to introduce that sense of vertical space such as this ceiling detail at The Terrace in Barnes.

Internally, exposed brick and bare wood are great finishes to use, which introduce texture and balance against the clean lines of the steel. Giving you that perfect balance of unfinished and sleek.

The Terrace superbly demonstrates that flow of brick from external to internal crisply intercepted by metal framing.

Exposing functional architectural details such as steels or joists are another nod to the warehouse look.

But remember subtle balance is key here - we don’t want overkill.

Full scale crittall style linear glazing balanced with an impressive frame-less picture window at our Eastwood Road project.

Maximise glazing sustainably

On the face of it we have established that visually bigger is definitely better when it comes to a crittall style glazed wall.

Oversized brings the outside in, adds drama and firmly establishes a warehouse vibe.

A word of caution: traditional steel framed crittall style doors sit at the lower end of the insulation scale. They are only compliant to building regulations within an existing building or extension and not for new builds.

We all want to and need to have a more sustainable outlook. So what’s the answer?

The thermal efficiency of the full space must be balanced out. In simple terms the poor insulating factor of crittall must be made up elsewhere. This could be done in a variety of places such as the floor or roof insulation. 

A large super insulating picture window is used to offset the crittall style wall at our Eastwood Road project. Not only does this improve the thermal efficiency, it’s a budget sensitive option and a compelling design feature. Ticks every box!

For those embarking on a new build or who are energy focused and seeking those super insulating values that many glazing suppliers can now achieve there are alternatives:

Aluminium framed units, however these frames are chunkier and so will not give you the same low profile sight lines.

Or thermally broken steel framed units but they can be prohibitively expensive.

By now you’ll have realised that using crittall externally involves careful planning if eco credentials are high up on your agenda. 

But stay with me as we are now going to explore how crittall style can be used internally.

Light flows though the internal glazed door at our The Terrace project. 

Magnify light internally

Modern life pairs with open plan living however zoning within this is critical to balance a sense of space with warmth and homeliness.

Furthermore there are occasions where fully opening up a space is difficult and costly due to structural constraints.

In either instance crittall walls can be used as versatile internal partitions. Effectively achieving the best of both worlds; dividing up a room whilst retaining the sense of the full space and letting the light flood through.

This could be a fully glazed internal wall with central french doors, effectively creating 2 rooms. Or subtle fixed panels to suggest different zones within a room.

Moreover using metal framed glass internally is particularly effective at enhancing natural light within darker spaces such as internal rooms or hallways.

A crittall style door is used at The Terrace to enable light to circulate through the house where there were limited windows. Steel balusters were introduced on the banister, blending the traditional with industrial mirroring the clean lines of the metal door.

Frankly using crittall internally is a eye-catching feature; the opportunities are endless.

LET’S EXPLORE SOME MORE.

A lively eclectic pantry by Suzanne Dimma.

Polished pantry partitions

Let’s be honest there is a small part in all of us that pines for that perfect pantry.

Just imagine a space where all of your stores are perfectly organised. A place where ordinary utilitarian items can take centre stage and be presented with pleasing elegance. 

If you have the space then why not? Using crittall will provide a polished divide from the main kitchen, elevating your pantry to lust worthy status.

A warning here: keeping that glazed space looking peachy will take work, you will have to keep on top of your organization. 

Make life easy for yourself by balancing closed and open storage within the pantry. Decanting dried food into glass jars and cannisters transforms the visual aesthetic of every day items or better still source dried goods direct from packaging free stores.

Installing storage spanning from floor to ceiling within a pantry will maximise the space and introduce that warehouse vibe. Adding a ladder will not only get you to those hard to reach areas but it is a fun nod to the industrial look.

Elevate your pantry with concealed under-shelf lighting; not only enabling you to easily see the content of your stores but with the added benefit of lighting up your sleek design feature.

A bathroom for indulgence at The Terrace.

Metal luxe bathrooms 

The latest thing for crittall lovers; banishing frame-less shower screens and bringing those sleek lines into the bathroom.

Without doubt, introducing metal framing into your shower zone will add design flair and character.

A bespoke steel framed screen will certainly look the ticket and bring that authentic crittall style but beware of tricky cleaning that comes with constant water splashing. If you have a large shower space and don’t want to deviate from the real deal then consider installing a rain shower to limit the splashing.

But if cleaning considerations are on your agenda don’t worry. There’s a solution.

Our bathroom buddies have designed some amazing metal framed shower screens where the framing is only present on the outside of the glass. Giving you the best of both worlds easy clean inside the shower, combined with clean metal lines.

As we have already established, crittall can work well in both traditional and super modern settings. Pair your metal framing with minimal black fixtures for a sharp, architectural look or with timeless classic fittings that evoke elegance and indulgence. 

AND YOU’RE SET!

Oversized glazing at our Eastwood Road project.

In a nutshell

Let’s rewind on the key takeaways from this post.

Layer crittall style glazing with industrial elements for a compelling and complete design scheme.

Bigger is better; in particular maximising the height of a glazed wall to add warehouse-esq drama. But remember to balance out the insulation in the rest of the space to keep your home eco friendly and those bills down. 

Using crittall internally is an awesome alternative. Sleek framing creates definition and character whilst letting the light flow.

Now your good to go. Make that crittall vision a reality.

TRUST ME. IT WILL BE WORTH IT.

Take a look at our Pinterest page for more inspiration.

And if you have a project in mind then get in touch.