Five Star Window Coatings

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Custom Frost Film Bands Provide Both Privacy and Interior Design

A Two-Fold Solution for Interior Glass Walls

Fire protection product manufacturer and distributor Viking Group, Inc. has a new global headquarters located in Caledonia, MI – A modern, professional work environment designed to promote creativity, innovation and collaboration, which also includes an expanded, state-of-the-art research and development center. Five Star was involved in putting the finishing touches on their extensive office space.  Custom designed bands of frost film with a “flowing line” theme meanders through the first and second floor of the new facility – providing a decorative element to the space as well as some element of privacy for the associates.

Flowing Lines designed and cut on 48″ bands of Frost Film provide visual interest and privacy for the new Viking Group’s HQ

Decorative window film is becoming a popular choice to add visual interest and a consistent theme throughout an office space with a vast amount of glass walls.  Each of the 266+ 48” Frost Film bands for this job were custom designed for the space and cut by the Five Star Graphics Designer and installed by our talented installation team.

Frost Film Panels are pre-cut and then installed with a “weed on the window” technique

Viking is a global leader in the manufacture and distribution of innovative fire protection and life safety systems.  For nearly 100 years the company’s products and services have protected lives and property worldwide from the devastating effects of fire.  

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Window Film With Decorative Designs

For a fraction of the cost of designer glass – window film can customize your surroundings

You move into your new home and realize you have to do something about the sidelight next to the front door – or the bathroom window that directly faces your neighbors windows… these are areas that are not ideal for window treatments or shades. Privacy may be essential and decorative film can be the perfect solution.

Textured Decorative Rain Glass Window Film Application on a Bathroom Window

For a fraction of the cost of designer glass, decorative window film can easily give your windows the look of frosted, etched, textured or stained glass – and you can even take it a step further and go with an elegant design in the film. From a residential perspective the concern is primarily exterior privacy. From a corporate perspective, decorative window film can provide exterior and interior privacy for offices, conference room, waiting rooms, reception areas, labs, cubicles, fitness rooms, bathrooms, and the list goes on! With so many patterns and options to choose from – there is basically a window film that can suit a variety of design styles and functional needs.

Namibia Gradient by Solyx installed on doors to hide power boxes in the new radiology room at Blodget Hospital
Solyx Broken Line Gradient Film installed in the offices of Mercy Health, Grand Rapids, MI  

Window film can provide privacy or camouflage areas of an office while still allowing excellent light transmission. Gradient films are a popular choice to achieve the best of both worlds – a slow or deliberate fade from an opaque patterned background that fades to clear.

Over-all Decorative Solyx Transparent Leaf Pattern

Whether it is an all over solid translucent film, a gradient fade, or an over-all decorative pattern – window film can customize your surroundings, add style and privacy while giving your windows new life.

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Switchable Frost… Can You Really Turn Privacy Window Film “On and Off”?

A decorative film that offers total control over your privacy in any glass setting

Typically, the go-to film in an office space that lacks privacy is a frosted decorative film. With its clean and semi-opaque look, it offers a way to eliminate surrounding distractions. Now however, I am here to say that we can offer you privacy-on-demand!  The ability to keep the open-airy architecture that glass walls provide – and still maintain the privacy that is occasionally a must. With unique liquid crystal technology called PDLCD (Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal Display), privacy can be controlled better than with any window shade, curtain or blind. This privacy window film can be controlled in any space where this film is adhered. First things first though, let’s start at the beginning.

Even though this amazing film has been around for the past 5 years, and we’ve been installing it, it’s just now getting recognized by architects, interior designers, trade magazines, etc. Why is this? I’m not sure why it has taken so long – but we are definitely not complaining either!

This semi-opaque film works with molecules, polymers, transmittance…. and okay, I lost you now. Science wasn’t my strong suit in school, so let’s keep this simple and stick to the facts.

PDLCD Technology – Switchable Frost Window Film

PDLCD technology all comes down to applied power to the film through a small wire that is cleverly hidden of course. When the power is on, the microscopic liquid crystal droplets in the film begin to align themselves. In doing this, the film now allows transmittance of light through the film. In short, one would simply say the window is clear, see through and unobstructed. Now in the off-state, when no power is applied, this film is opaque. Remember those small liquid crystal droplets we mentioned? Those droplets are now suspended in the film, or as scientists would say the polymer matrix, to detect light and make your surrounding space that much more confidential (the science of this remarkable window film is referenced from the site: https://dglassp.com/news )

With control through a wireless remote or a light switch on the wall, you now have the best of both worlds. The ability to switch from a modern spacious atmosphere to the private area that you want; all with the click of a button.

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Distraction Privacy Window Film…is that a thing?

A translucent decorative film choice that can add design & flair to any glass in an office space

When you think of “privacy film “, frosted film is usually the go-to film in an office space. Whether it is a full panel or just a band-of-film strategically placed to obscure the view, it is a very valuable asset to any space if privacy or distraction is an issue. A decorative layer of film can make a huge difference in an office where there is a great deal of glass, and you’ll notice that glass is something that is incorporated everywhere in architecture today.

Decorative window film can also add a consistent theme and add visual interest throughout a building or office space. Some of the most popular areas that we install decorative, privacy, or distraction privacy film is in businesses that have conference rooms with glass walls, office space with glass doors and sidelites, reception areas, waiting rooms, glass partitions, and the list goes on! You will see window film in many Medical buildings – they use decorative film for safety concerns (so that their clients and patients actually see the glass barriers before them) as well as for decorative purposes, full privacy and distraction privacy. Linen Window Film is a popular choice at Spectrum Health as a decorative element throughout their buildings.

3M Linen Film Added to the 2nd Floor Railing at Spectrum Health, 461 Michigan St.
Spectrum Health, Ada – Linen Window Film on Glass Below the Handrails
Spectrum Health, Ada – Reception Windows
Spectrum Health, Ada – Waiting Room Partitions

Gradient, Frosted, Etched, Colored, Elegant Textured – the variety and types of Decorative Window Films is enormous.

Organic Cotton Gradient Film at Spectrum Health, Grand Haven

Frost film and decorative film can be mixed in application for a unique effect! It can also give patients a sense of privacy in a room with lots of activity.

Swan Orthodontics, Caledonia – 3M FASARA Chamonix Frost/Matte on the Bottom & Solyx Stones Film Up Top

Sometimes a band or panel of Frost Window Film is too dense and opaque for the look and feel of the office space. Below is a great example of subtle distraction privacy. Gradient Window Film comes in many patterns and opacities. Its a detail that most clients do not recognize right away – but appreciate none-the-less.

Dot Gradient Window Film for Subtle Privacy

Detraction Privacy definitely is “a thing” when it comes to the function and atmosphere in the workplace. We are finding a growing trend in our business that adding window film it is becoming a forethought and necessity when a building is under construction – rather than an afterthought. The beauty of window film is however, that it is very versatile. It can be installed at any time, inside or outside, and on most glass substrates. It can also be stripped and changed-out over the years if decorative remodeling or other window film properties and requirements are needed.

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Contact Information:

163 Ann Street NE, Suite 1
Grand Rapids, MI 49505

Feel free to call us during our business hours 9AM-5PM Monday-Friday!

Phone:

616.363.0000

Email:

Randy@fiveswc.com

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