The old-school charm of glass bricks is enjoying a resurgence, and Ornate+ is not letting this opportunity without making its mark. Founded by Kelvin Koh in 2024, the local decor firm is one of the featured vendors at Rooms by Sol Luminaire®, and its speciality is in using glass bricks as a unique and creative solution within interiors.
Here, Kelvin shares his journey into working with glass bricks as a medium, its retro revival in modern spaces, and how he and his team are pushing the envelope of utilising glass bricks in 2025 and beyond.
Glass bricks has long been an intriguing material for interior spaces, yet it is often overlooked or constrained in design possibilities due to its cost. To address this, we turned our attention to existing construction materials, reimagining them in glass bricks. This journey of exploration brought us to the idea of glass bricks.
The most intriguing request we have received thus far is to have the glass bricks in pop colours, and it’s a development we’re planning for 2025.
The pieces from Ornate+ are often crafted using existing industry materials, reimagined with distinctive finishes or unique materials. This approach allows them to seamlessly integrate into the local context without requiring adaptation.
Glass bricks are commonly used as divider walls to separate individual spaces. However, they can also be uniquely embedded into the floor in strategic locations, adding a striking aesthetic element. Another creative application is cladding them around cabinetry, offering a distinctive finish for islands or tables.
The use of glass bricks in interior design is increasing as trends shift towards utilising diverse materials for divider walls, replacing conventional partitions or brick walls.
I’d suggest integrating glass brick flooring across the space, ensuring a smooth and clean transition to the primary floor finish. This approach helps create a seamless, uniform look that ties the space together beautifully.
Unlike conventional brick or partition walls, where light reflects off the surface to illuminate the area, illuminating glass bricks requires a higher wattage of light as the light source penetrates the glass bricks, illuminating both sides. This not only enhances the lighting but also creates interesting effects through reflection and refraction, adding a more creative dimension to the space.
The new marketplace concept at Rooms by Sol Luminaire® is both innovative and exciting. It offers clients the opportunity to explore and interact with a range of products essential for interior spaces. The in-person experience is particularly impactful when it comes to materials like glass bricks, allowing clients to truly appreciate their texture, light interaction, and visual effects. Moreover, collaborating with our brand partners within Rooms inspires us to seamlessly integrate each other's products, resulting in fresh, creative combinations.
Yes, there is. Interactions with fellow Roomies often spark inspiration, leading to new and improved ideas on how we approach the design of both our new and existing products. These collaborative exchanges help us push the boundaries of innovation and refine our offerings.
We’re excited to unveil a new range of ceramics with a unique pre-finish that promises to bring an elevated touch to any space. Alongside this, we’re preparing to launch an entirely new light collection in collaboration with Sol Luminaire®, seamlessly blending the elegance of light and glass brick. This collection will create a dynamic connection between both materials, offering fresh design possibilities. Stay tuned for more!
