BORROWED LIGHTS

Commissioned for a 1920s home in Crowthorne, this project transformed a long, dim corridor linking the first-floor bedrooms. The house originally featured borrowed lights — small leaded windows above each door designed to channel daylight into the hallway. I’ve always found these features fascinating: subtle architectural details that invite creativity while serving a clear purpose.

For the first commission, the client asked for a design that echoed the peacocks in her daughter’s wallpaper. I created a hand-painted stained glass peacock in a soft palette of pinks, blues, and purples — colours I particularly love for their ability to dance with light. The peacock’s expression, poised somewhere between surprise and quiet regality, brings personality and charm to the space. When installed, the piece transformed both the bedroom and the corridor, flooding them with a gentle, iridescent glow.

A companion piece above her brother’s door took a simpler, more geometric approach. Avoiding pink tones, I painted his initial in a pattern inspired by the brickwork motif of his wallpaper, using a cooler, boy-friendly palette. The result is understated yet elegant — still harmonising beautifully with the light-filled rhythm of the corridor.

Together, these bespoke windows honour the character of the house while creating a playful dialogue between siblings — a celebration of individuality expressed through glass and light.

Commission your own bespoke stained-glass feature to transform your home with colour, character, and light.