Pisces Moon Studios: Santa Fe, New Mexico

A friend recently asked me, “Why do I want stained glass in my house? I don’t live in a church.” I was taken aback by his comment. He and his wife have gone to great lengths and expense to make everything in this remodel job as personal as they could. They had the bathroom counters custom sized to a comfortable height for them, designed a kitchen that only a professional chef (and they) could appreciate, shopped every tile shop in three major cities to find just the right tiles, and even had their front door hand carved in a design that favored their family crest. These were only a few highlights of their project.

Will and Karina are just like most of us when building or remodeling a home. If we are going to live in it, we want to make it our own. From furniture to paint, we tend to choose things that say something about ourselves, and architectural stained glass can make a statement like little else can – and be practical as well.

“Practical?” Will asked me “How can stained glass be practical?”

Good question. Stained glass allows light to enter an area without being fully transparent. I see my clients use this to their advantage in several ways. First, blocking the line of sight in. This is a great use in bathrooms, doors and sidelights. Frosted, etched, and beveled glasses are often found in such treatments. They permit plenty of light to enter through these windows without anyone being able to see more than a silhouette. I have even designed a sidelight with a kind of “peephole” for the occupant to look out to determine who is at the door. While most of these designs tend to be simple, some can be quite ornate.

Second is blocking the line of sight out. Sometimes a client finds the perfect location for their new place “with one exception” – something that they do not want to look at. This leaves one with a few choices… you can choose not to purchase this dream lot, you can build walls without windows on that side of the house, or you can add art glass windows. Once again, you are letting in the sunlight while blocking the view of something that you would rather not see.

The third way that stained glass is practical is in a light-box application. Daniel and Ann (Colorado clients of ours) have a beautiful wine cellar that they are installing in a lower level of their home. As this is a showcase for Ann’s growing wine collection, it was important for her to implement lighting that would accentuate the design of the cellar without harming the wines. The designer employed a series of recessed halogen lights and I designed a light-box to highlight her “tasting counter”. This allows ample light while entertaining without damaging her precious wines.

“O.K., I get it.” Will said. “Now how do I go about designing glass for our home?”

To answer that question I would first recommend speaking with a glass artist who works in architectural stained glass. Finding one may not be as easy as you might think. Ask architects and interior designers about people that they have used. I would suggest asking the other local artists in your community – they often know who is talented, creative, a good craftsman and willing to be part of your project. While some artists will only work with their own designs, many are happy to work with a client to design glass that fits their personal application. Be prepared to pay more the more intimately you want to be involved. Most artist’s agreements allow you a set number of designs, drawings and changes before the “extras” meter starts running. Time is money for the artist just as it is for everyone else. If you are working extensively with an interior designer, it can be advantageous to involve them.

I also suggest having a good knowledge of what may be available and what you like. The palate of the glass artist today is much more varied than it was in past decades. The greater availability of textured glasses can add dimension that is frequently not seen in windows. Customized beveling is often available to accent in ways that will set your piece apart from the rest. More colors and types of glass are accessible to artists than ever before offering greater opportunities for expression. Some of us also employ “warm” glass techniques such as fusing and slumping to further increase dimension, play wonderful tricks with light, and to incorporate design elements that would otherwise not be available. There are also glass painters and etchers to further expand the possibilities.

Knowing your window is also a good thing. What type of exposure does it have? If it is in the north, you will not get as much sunlight so more translucent colors may be in order. In the south, you may be able to employ a richer color palate. Will this window open? Certain types of opening windows can have art glass treatments while others cannot. What size is the window? This is important for both design and cost. It would be well advised to invite the artist to measure the windows for him/herself. If the windows are new or custom, make certain that the size you quote to the artist is correct. It can be quite difficult to adjust a design or redo the panel later – and very costly. You might ask your window installer (or glazier) to get the measurements for you since they will probably be doing the installation. I do not know may glass artists who install their own work.

The location of your window may also incur additional expense. According to building codes, you may need to install tempered glass on the outside of a stained glass window. Windows in or next to doors and in bathrooms will always need this and other areas as well, depending on local codes. I ALWAYS recommend the use of tempered glass. You are making an investment of time and money in a piece of art, why not protect it. It will also offer greater protection from the elements than your stained glass window alone will.

I caution you, the reader, as I did Will not to compare the cost of custom glass work of ANY kind to what is available in the local hardware or furniture store. While they may be pretty at first glance, the quality of craftsmanship is often low. This can be evidenced in the cuts of glass as well as the soldering. Many of these pieces are made by children in second and third world countries without proper tools or training – not to mention safety equipment. I will avoid my rant about how these children get paid so little therefore making those of us attempting to make it in the crafts here look so extravagant. The other thing is that you are not buying something that is unique or even limited. These pieces were designed once and reproduced thousands of times. Hardly the thing for a house as special as your’s.

Depending on your area, you can expect prices on windows to begin at around $110.00 per square foot. The more complex the design, the larger the number of additional elements, and the greater use of expensive glasses – the more the value rises. You should also expect a custom art glass window to take some time. Depending on how quickly you agree to a design and how complex it is, you may be looking at as little as two months for your piece to be completed or as long as a year. I recommend checking with the artist that you want to work with and getting on his/her books well in advance.

“Well, Jeff, you almost sold me on stained glass.” Will told me. “What happens when I move? What if you design a piece that Karina and I want with us forever?”

I explained to Will that panels could be designed to be moved when the occupants move without damage to either the art glass or the window frame. I have designed many panels that are in independent frames and simply hung in front of windows as well. The options are numerous including designing new art glass for your next home.
“Excellent… you sold us.” Will exclaimed. “Now lets sit down with our wives, this bottle of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, and a good cigar and design some windows”