Architects, designers, craftsmen and artists are busy dusting off the art of stained glass inherited from the Middle Ages. These centerpieces of churches and other public buildings, highly coveted by individuals in Quebec at the beginning of the last century, are once again invited into homes, which they enhance with their singularity by bringing more sparkle to everyday life.
When Mathieu crossed the threshold of a house from the beginning of the last century perched on the heights of the city, on the slopes of Mount Royal, his gaze immediately fell towards a large window covered with stained glass at the other end of the building. “This breakthrough provided an incredible perspective along the entire length of the house,” he says. It is in front of it that her family will choose to create a living room opening onto an elegant open kitchen designed by the architect Alexandre Bernier, whom they will call on to renovate the premises.
From the outset, the architect chose to focus the project on the materiality which gives all its soul to the old house, in particular the stained glass windows present on its two floors. If they date from three different eras, ranging from mysterious English-style coats of arms to very graphic abstract shapes, their combination brings an old-fashioned charm to the rooms which house them. “The stained glass windows were in fairly good condition, but the window frames, which had lost their weather stripping, no longer opened. Some broken glasses also had to be replaced,” explains Alexandre Bernier.
The architect turned to master glassmaker Jeff Scheckman, of Studio du verre, in Old Montreal, to restore the precious stained glass windows, an essential prelude to comfort in line with the expectations of a family today. To reduce the cost of the work and save energy, the stained glass windows are inserted between two sheets of glass in thermal units, themselves housed, thanks to the industrial expertise of Fenêtres MQ, in mahogany frames.
The result, which is also easy to maintain thanks to its smooth relief, deceives the untrained eye. Only the stained glass window in the bathroom, next to the front door, is preserved in its original state by taking care of the original window frame. “It’s our favorite. We wanted to keep the window as it is to see an anchor in time,” confides the owner. The door is often ajar to allow the family and their guests to admire this jewel of the past from the entrance.
Jeff Scheckman, who founded the Glass Studio in 1981 with Garth Jenkins, is happily observing a renewed public interest in stained glass. This is particularly evident in downtown Montreal, the Plateau, Outremont and Westmount, where Victorian architecture and the Arts and Crafts movement brought this artistic discipline into homes. “Things have changed a lot in this area over the last 12 months. Residential projects now represent around a quarter of our work,” he quantifies.
Thanks to his 42 years of experience, he manages to restore stained glass windows from the past while preserving their patina, but also to create new models from scratch using art glass from the United States. For these, he takes pleasure in guiding his clients according to their desires and constraints. While some consult him after extensive research, others seek inspiration from the numerous reference works in his studio. “Photos of the decor, but also of the exterior of the house, help us a lot,” he explains.
The choice of colors is the subject of the greatest attention. “While lots of colors work well together, you have to be careful not to draw too much attention to a stained glass window, as it is only one element of a room. You have to take care that it harmonizes with the atmosphere of the place,” he recalls. Another important criterion to keep in mind: the amount of sunlight in the room, but also the view of the outside and the desired degree of privacy. Opaque or textured glass may therefore be more suitable for use on a facade or in a bathroom.
Far from being reserved for heritage homes in large cities, stained glass windows fit wonderfully into modern interiors through an architectural addition or, more simply, a tinted glass light fixture. For the temple-like house, thanks to a single-slope roof, that he designed in Eastman, in the Eastern Townships, Nicholas Francoeur invited the owners to imagine a stained glass window that would separate the spaces from day and night, allowing light to filter between them.
Frequent travelers, Ronny Thériault and his partner Caroline Lebel jumped at the opportunity to integrate into their home a composition inspired by the famous Sagrada Família basilica by the architect and designer Antoni Gaudí, admired during a stay in Barcelona. The stained glass window was perfect for an opening onto this more confidential part of the house. The blue shades of this masterpiece created by Serge Rodrigue, a local craftsman, transport the couple and their guests to another universe bathed in reverie. “This stained glass window brought a touch of magic to our home. It’s fascinating to observe the light reflected there through the seasons, the days, the hours…” confides the happy owner.
