Is stained glass back in fashion

A.� Yes, with a vengeance. Like quarry tiles, brass taps and enamelled baths before them, stained glass in the home became victims of the drive for modernity during the 1960s, 70s and early 80s. It was replaced with frosted or clear glass, double glazing and aluminium.

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Now the emphasis is beauty over functionality and coloured glass is back. It's enough to make you weep - unless you are the owner of a reclamation yard - we can now pay well over 300 quid for the same porch door, decorated with stained glass, that a builder would have thrown on a skip little more than ten years ago.

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A.� Most of the DIY superstores now do internal doors with coloured glass, but if you want something more individual there is no shortage of glass craftsmen making the most of the revival in their art these days. Many will offer either retro-style glass panels that can be fitted into a modern or reclaimed door or, if you have something very specific in mind, will make up a one-off design for you, at extra cost, of course. This is a particularly popular option for windows and skylights.

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A.� Obviously it depends to some extent where you live and what sort of reputation and demand the craftsman enjoys, but expect to pay�from �300 for a door with stained glass to �3,000 for an individually designed window.

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Q.� What about doing it yourself