Business Details
39 Years
experience
Bespoke Creative Glass Finishes & Antiqued Mirrors
Established in 1987, our studio has evolved from traditional stained glass restoration to pioneering bespoke creative glass finishes for high-end interiors. With over 30 years of accumulated expertise, we combine an artist's eye with a craftsman's touch to produce antiqued mirrors, verre glomis panels, and kiln-formed glass. Our collaboration with architects and interior designers ensures each piece enhances the ambience of its setting through textured surfaces and reflective qualities. We specialise in silver and gold leaf techniques, cast glass cornices, and back-lit panels with dynamic lighting effects. Our team's hands-on experience spans generations, with Robin Sandles bringing furniture-making expertise to production coordination since 2020.Clients benefit from our technical mastery of patination processes, sand-etching, and gilding that create unique, characterful installations. We maintain strong ties with London's design community while serving international projects from our purpose-built Essex studio. Our work features in prestigious venues including Scott's Mayfair and Rosewood London, demonstrating our ability to meet exacting hospitality design requirements. Continuous innovation drives our experimentation with metallic-leaf palettes and kiln-forming techniques that push creative boundaries. This commitment to evolving our craft ensures we deliver timeless yet contemporary glass solutions that become integral to architectural spaces.
Services
Antiqued Mirrors
Verre glomis
Kiln-Formed Glass
Cast Glass Cornices
Back-Lit Panels
Stained Glass
Sand-Etched Glass
Metallic Leaf Panels
Period Restoration
Architectural Glass
Details
- Year established: 1987
Highlights and features
- 35+ years pioneering bespoke glass techniques for luxury interiors
- Collaborate directly with architects and interior designers on custom projects
- Developed proprietary patination and gilding methods for unique finishes
- Supplied mirrors for prestigious venues including Michelin-starred restaurants
- Second-generation craftsmanship combining traditional skills with modern innovation
Services
Antiqued Mirrors
Handcrafted mirrors with controlled patination effects ranging from subtle foxing to dramatic industrial textures. Using chemical silvering techniques on clear or coloured glass, we create bespoke pieces where antiquing intensity varies across surfaces. Clients can specify concentrated edge distressing or all-over patterns that complement both contemporary and period interiors through 35 years of refined craftsmanship.
Verre glomis
Traditional reverse-glass gilding technique using silver or 24ct gold leaf. We create custom designs from botanical illustrations to art deco patterns, with optional hand-distressing for vintage appearance. Precision vinyl resists ensure accurate reproduction of geometric motifs and logos, with painted detailing applied before gilding to achieve distinctive decorative effects for luxury commercial and residential spaces.
Kiln-Formed Glass
Custom textured glass created through controlled kiln-firing processes. Our studio employs fusing, slumping, and casting techniques to produce obscure patterns that enhance when silvered. This method allows for sculptural depth in panels while maintaining functionality for architectural applications, combining artistic vision with practical interior design solutions developed over decades of studio experimentation.
Cast Glass Cornices
Collaborative production of three-dimensional glass elements through partner glassworks. Molten glass poured into bespoke moulds creates cornices and columns with integrated antiqued finishes. These components form cohesive mirrored environments when paired with matching bevelled mirrors, requiring precise coordination between casting, cutting, and surface treatment processes for seamless installation.
Back-Lit Panels
Innovative lighting solutions combining heavily antiqued mirrors with programmable LED technology. Panels feature sealed lacquer finishes and diffusers to create dynamic light effects, from gentle waves to pulsating patterns. This service integrates technical expertise in electrical systems with artistic glass treatment to produce statement installations that transform spatial ambience in hospitality and high-end residential settings.
People
Tony Sandles
Founder & Creative Director
Established the studio in 1987 after studying stained glass restoration. Pioneered antiqued mirror techniques through collaborations with leading glass artists. Continuously develops new methods for textured and gilded surfaces while maintaining traditional craftsmanship standards.
Robin Sandles
Production Director
Joined in 2020 after furniture-making training at Rycotewood College. Oversees production coordination with designers and suppliers. Brings hands-on experience from childhood exposure to glasswork and formal joinery skills to ensure precise execution of complex projects.
Questions
What types of bespoke glass finishes do you specialise in?
We create antiqued mirrors, verre églomisé panels, kiln-formed glass, cast glass cornices, and back-lit installations using traditional techniques combined with modern innovations.
Can you work on both residential and commercial projects?
Yes, our portfolio includes luxury homes, Michelin-starred restaurants like Scott's Mayfair, and five-star hotels including Rosewood London.
How do you collaborate with designers and architects?
We engage directly from concept stages, offering technical expertise on material possibilities and finishes that complement overall interior schemes while meeting practical requirements.
What areas do you serve from your Essex studio?
We operate within 50 miles of London but undertake projects nationwide and internationally, supported by our experience in logistics and installation.
How can I discuss a custom glass project?
Contact us via phone or email to arrange a consultation. We welcome discussions about your vision and can provide technical specifications and samples.
