Joanna Gaines' Sleek Sliding Glass Door Idea Offers Privacy Without Curtains & Blinds

A home should feel private as much as it is personal. To achieve this, home designers typically use a combination of architectural layout, strategic placement of structural elements, and natural barriers. As someone who has worked with numerous clients, Joanna Gaines already knows what to do when a homeowner asks for privacy without compromising design and lighting. In fact, she previously came up with a stunning way to make an upstairs loft more private by installing custom wood screens.

However, for a private space that's readily accessible to everyone in the house, including guests, Gaines has shared a design element that balances function with style and still ensures privacy through and through. While renovating The Lakehouse, the "Fixer Upper" host added custom sliding cherry wood doors with reeded glass panels. Her choice of material was undeniably smart since reeded glass provides privacy without preventing natural light from passing through, resulting in a serene environment that feels bright and private.

Interestingly, Gaines, who believes certain design choices never go out of style, isn't the only one employing reeded glass, which was popular between the 1920s and 1930s. Architects and builders around the world are also rediscovering the practicality and visual appeal of this material, with Australian construction firm Inverloch Builders raving about the textured glass's clean, airy look. In Gaines' case, she might have opted for this material because, aside from providing seamless transitions between the rooms, the translucent glass is easier to maintain than other glass door treatments, like blinds and curtains.

Joanna Gaines believes that fun and quirky trinkets and art can brighten up any room. But for The Lakehouse, she opted for a material that physically makes this possible. Also known as fluted glass, reeded glass has several advantages over standard glass. First and foremost, while the glass lets sunlight in, it filters it through its patterned texture that gently distorts the view to create privacy. This makes it the perfect divider for the project's library, as it makes the room feel brighter and connected to the rest of the house without sacrificing privacy.

Another advantage of reeded glass is its aesthetic. The linear grooves catch and scatter light, adding dimension to an otherwise flat surface or divider. This means you can pair it with a wide range of materials, from warm natural wood to industrial steel. Additionally, as a textured surface, reeded glass resists fingerprints better than smooth, transparent glass, making it an excellent option for high-traffic areas in the house. For dirt buildup, cleaning can be done as easily as wiping down the flat side with a mild glass cleaner and a microfiber cloth. 

However, when it comes to the cons, you should know that cleaning the textured side of the panel can be tricky and may take time. The irregular surface also makes the glass less durable than a plain glass panel with the same thickness. Finally, it's worth noting that reeded glass tends to cost more than regular glass.