Luxafers are a material characteristic of the construction industry of the 1980s and 1990s. However, both its aesthetic and functional values are still appreciated today. Interior designers are eager to refer to the style of that time, creating retro-style arrangements. But this is not the only direction in which the luxe is used. This is a material that will also perfectly compose with eclectic, industrial and even minimalist style interiors.
Ornamental luxfer
© Pixabay
What are luxaffers?
Luxafers and similar glass blocks are elements with a cuboid form. The former are made of a single piece of glass, while the latter consist of two panes with air between them. They are made of smooth glass, or have a characteristic texture. They are easy to install, since they are masonry just like classic brick or hollow blocks. However, it is necessary to use flexible mortar and a frame of steel channels. Glass bricks are also similar in style.
Among the luxaffers we can find a rich design and a variety of colors. They can be clear, transparent, milky, glossy or matte. They are colored in the mass or also surface colored. The shades of the shapes are usually warm and pastel. Patterns, on the other hand, are more or less regular, embossed on the surface or blended into the background. Combined with good technical properties, this gives us a material that is fashionable and perfect for modern interiors.
Luxfer wall in the interior
© Pexels
Luxfers in interior design
It is estimated that their light transmission is about 50-80%. Quite well, therefore, they illuminate the space, while being an original screen. They are used to create partition walls, for example, between a bedroom and a bathroom, a kitchen and a living room, or a dressing room and a bedroom, which often gives an extremely artistic lighting effect. They are also used to make skylights and masonry of the luxaffers, as shower rooms. They will work well in parts of the staircase and in the hallway. However, it should be borne in mind that the luxaffers can not be cut, so it is worthwhile to measure and plan the place of installation well before proceeding.
Smooth luxfers
© Unsplash
Zoning in the bedroom
Luxafers will be a great idea to use in a dark bedroom, which needs illumination. Thanks to them we can divide the space into zones, i.e. separate the closet or the bath area. Also they will work well as a wall dividing the bedroom from the living room, in long, narrow apartments. In this way we will not lose access to light, during the need to divide the apartment.
Bathroom with walk-in shower
Also in a large bathroom made of Luxfer, we can make a semi-transparent partition wall that separates the bathtub, or toilet. It is also an interesting idea to wall up and thus create a walk-in shower, but this takes up more space than a standard shower stall.
Translucent wall in the kitchen
In apartments there are still solutions in which kitchens are inadequately illuminated. They have little it, or have only artificial lighting. In these cases, it is the translucent wall that will work. They can, for example, be incorporated into a section of the wall above the countertop by which, we gain some light from the room next door. We can also use them to separate the dining room. Vertical lanes made of fused glass that are part of the wall, or bands above or around the entrance door also look interesting. They then widen the clearance, leaving the space obscured.
Luxfers in the garage
Luxfer wall is a useful solution also in the garage. They reduce the gap to the selected space, while leaving it bright. They are also good sound insulation and, what is very important in such a room - they are easy to clean. They also have fire protection properties.
Luxfers in the circulation area
© Wikimedia Commons
What to combine glass blocks with?
Walls made of glass blocks in interiors are usually combined with decorations also made of transparent or milky glass, i.e. designer lamp shades or furniture made exclusively of transparent glass. Appropriately composed planes of luxaffers will not resemble the architecture of the past, but create an artistic accent in the room.
