Flagship guide · 11 min read
The Complete Guide to Glass Specification
The frame gets most of the attention, but the glass does most of the work. This is our full guide to choosing it properly.
Obscure Glass Patterns Compared
Obscure glass comes in a range of textured patterns, each with a different balance of light transmission and privacy.
3 min read
Obscure glass is the standard, permanent solution for bathrooms, en-suites, side windows close to a neighbouring property, and any opening where privacy matters more than a clear view. The texture is created by rolling a pattern into the glass during manufacture, and different patterns give quite different levels of privacy, light diffusion and visual character.
Privacy is generally rated on a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 lets through a fairly clear silhouette and 5 gives almost complete obscurity. This guide compares the patterns most commonly specified in UK residential glazing.
Pattern comparison
| Pattern | Privacy rating (1–5) | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Cotswold | 4 | Dimpled, textured surface with a traditional, stone-like feel |
| Stippolyte | 3 | Fine stippled texture, subtle and widely used |
| Pelerine | 2 | Soft linear ripple, lets through good light with gentle diffusion |
| Sycamore | 3 | Leaf-like textured pattern, decorative character |
| Minster | 4 | Strong architectural pattern, good privacy with high light transmission |
| Flemish | 3 | Traditional linear texture, a period-property favourite |
| Chantilly | 3 | Delicate, lace-like texture with moderate privacy |
| Contora | 2 | Wave-like pattern, contemporary appearance, modest privacy |
| Digital | 5 | Fine, dense texture giving one of the highest privacy levels available |
| Reeded | 2 | Vertical linear ribs, popular for a contemporary look with light privacy |
| Satin | 4 | Smooth, frosted appearance with even, high privacy |
| Autumn | 3 | Organic, leaf-scattered texture, decorative and moderately private |
Choosing a pattern by room
- Bathrooms and en-suites: Digital, Satin or Cotswold for reliable, high-level privacy
- Front doors and side panels: Minster or Flemish for a traditional, characterful look
- Internal doors and screens: Reeded or Contora for a contemporary feel with moderate privacy
- Landing or stairwell windows: Pelerine or Chantilly, where light matters more than full privacy
- Utility rooms and cloakrooms: Stippolyte or Sycamore as a balanced, widely available middle-ground choice
Pattern is also a matter of house style. Flemish and Cotswold both read as traditional and suit period cottages and conservation-area properties, while Reeded and Contora have a cleaner, more contemporary line that suits modern extensions and new-build glazing.
Practical notes
Obscure glass can be toughened or laminated where a critical location requires safety glass, and it can be combined with a low-e coating so that privacy does not come at the cost of thermal performance. It is worth requesting physical samples rather than choosing from a printed swatch, since pattern depth and light behaviour are hard to judge from a small photograph.
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