How to Buy a Custom Glass Countertop piece for your home

This blog is an extract of a well-written piece on Christie’s (The Auction House) website. It has interesting guidelines that will assist you when commissioning a custom piece for your home or business. I have added commentary to make it particularly helpful for buyers of custom glass countertops.

1. Trust your instinct

If a thing touches me, intrigues me, or fits my style, I am drawn to them. Trust your eye. You already know much more than you realise about what you like or don’t like, whether something feels and looks well made, whether you actually love it. Especially important when deciding upon the highest-value surface that will attract the most use, each day, all day. We can show you ways to pair a Glass high bar that is very fun (especially at night) with e.g. White Glass that looks very elegant…but at ⅓ the cost per sq ft on average. We recently documented a long-distance relationship with a couple in Scottsdale, Az. It was clear we were on the exact same page from the get-go, and it set the table for a beautifully designed and furnished modern kitchen remodel.

2. Develop your knowledge

Go to craft fairs, meet makers and look at their work. Very good advice. We have invested in a fully outfitted Glass Design Center in Tampa, FL. Please visit. Please see what the experience is like. We are happy to serve wine to insure an authentic evening experience bathed in the ambiance of our gorgeous illuminated high bar. 

3. Buy something you need

A good place to start is with something you use every day. Why go to Home Depot for countertops when you can meet someone who actually makes them from scratch and start a friendship?  When you’ve built up your confidence, you can commission something.

4. Take a leap of faith

Familiarise yourself with a maker’s style. If you love it and ask for something in the same style you can’t go far wrong. If you see something you like ask if the maker would consider doing something especially for you. You can be specific on certain details, such as height and colour, but you need to factor some quirkiness in. Some artistic processes like making glass are a bit unpredictable. But that’s all part of the charm, the individual personality of a piece.

5. Certain things are worth paying for

Some people have the idea that hand-made is not well made and will not last, but I think the opposite. Modern makers are highly trained and create high-quality pieces with high-quality materials. By buying from them you also support the artists so they develop their skill. Bespoke doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg, but commissioned art is about making a connection with both the person that makes it and the object itself, and that is priceless. You might also be buying or commissioning something that will appreciate in value.  Artists note: Probably only after Im 6 ft under…

6. Be patient

Things may take several weeks to make depending upon the scale of the project. They’re worth it.

7. Enjoy the process

Artisans are intelligent, approachable, sympathetic and creative. People who work with their hands have empathy and compassion. They have created an artistic bubble that is beautiful and purposeful, and by buying and commissioning their work you can be part of it. These things will enrich your life. See examples of our work here.

We are always ready to serve you. Give us a call…lets discuss your ideas…see where it goes.

Jeff Downing

(813) 784 5211

Jeff@DowningDesigns.com

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Custom Glass for a Kitchen Island in Clearwater, FL…a very interesting case study

We love clients that bring us their creative ideas and engage us to bring their custom Custom Kitchen Island glass high bar to life.

Freida was one such client. She had a very defined idea about an organic shape and the way the textural flow should flow inside the piece. We digitized her sketch and waterjetted her outline exactly as she wanted…in cardboard first. This cutout was placed in our kiln sand bed where we scribed the outline. The texture for this piece was done in her presence, and after much give and take we were satisfied with the texture for this unusual piece.

The 1.5” thick glass top was fused and annealed in our oven for 5 days. We then took the template and placed it atop the oversized fused glass, and scribed exactly where the waterjet would cut. We then hand-polished the curvaceous edge to perfect optical clarity with a soft roundover all around. No CNC machine can equal the quality of hand-polishing…especially with textured glass. The resulting edge allows the client to peer inside the glass…it is magnified, and an exceptionally interesting view to behold.

The plan called for a three-legged support system, partially atop her kitchen island to a height of 42”.

We had our stainless steel fabricator create (2) 3.5” diameter steel tubes that were 40” tall, and (1) that is 4” tall. Upon these the glass would be secured. Three holes were waterjetted in the glass high bar for the Low-Profile Stainless Caps. The long posts were ruggedly secured to the floor, and the short leg through the island countertop. 

Carefully shooting the floor with our laser-level made short work of a complex 3-D siting. 

The glass was set in place. The result was magnificent. Soon after it was set, the sunshine beamed through her window and illuminated the glass in an exceptionally beautiful and unexpected way. Quite a stirring moment indeed.

We have attached a few pictures of this dramatic piece.

Glass Island High Bar

Glass Island High Bar in Clearwater Florida

Kitchen Glass Island High Bar in Clearwater Florida

 

We would like to thank Freida for her insight into creating this unique piece as well as her photographs after the rest of the kitchen was finished.

Give us a call to discuss your creative ideas and let us help you create your glass showpiece.

Jeff Downing

Jeff@DowningDesigns.com

(813) 784 5211

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Shipping Large Glass Countertops across the USA

 

Shipping large Glass Countertops across the USA and Caribbean requires expert crating and thoughtful installation technique. Downing Designs crates, ships and insures our shipments of custom Glass Countertops anywhere.

 

In shipping glass countertops and glass sinks, our experience has taught us:

• Template and Install of Glass Countertops by the same crew is smart
• Overbuild crates
• Insure properly
• Plan well ahead for logistics at the delivery site.

 

Recently, we had an interesting experience in Scottsdale, AZ with Our clients Steve and Celia. Our offer to them for White Glass and Textured Glass countertops was accepted and we discussed arrangements for a template visit for measurements and layout planning.

This project reinforced the need to have 1 person in charge of template, fabrication and delivery, as their kitchen cabinet personnel were unwilling to be part of the risk chain should there be an issue if pieces do not fit correctly. You are going to pay someone to install and template countertops anyways…might as well be the same one making them. Downing Designs is unique in the ability to serve far reaching clients to inspire a professional result from start to finish. This was covered in an earlier blog Glass Countertop Buying Guide.

There is another advantage. When visiting the jobsite, we can get a feel for the “flow” of the room and create our texture in sync with that flow. This is not something to be taken lightly. Glass Countertops will last a lifetime. They are expensive. Like buying a piece of art, make sure that it is exactly what you want. Regret is a hard thing to live with forever. Leaving installations to amatuers also risks much, as the installation of these counters must be handled very carefully.

 

Upon installation trip #1, one of the two crates was badly damaged, and laying on its side in the delivery truck. So much for our prominent “THIS SIDE UP” stickers.

 

We installed what we could, and photo-documented the rest for the ensuing insurance claim.

Claims can take several weeks to process, but no need to wait for that. We re-fabricated and again shipped the needed pieces. Crate #2 arrived intact. Installation trip #2 was planned and, and the resulting installation went smoothly.

Kitchen Island Glass High Bar

Many thanks to Steve and Celia …happy we were able to get these installed before your big event. We like to say “Nice things happen to nice people”…and their genuine friendliness and hospitality made this trip a very memorable and pleasurable one. 

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Glass Countertop Kitchen High Bar Design Considerations

When creating Glass Countertop Kitchen High Bars, there are no “standard”  rules to follow, but in our experience there are a few common-sense approaches that yield great results.

No kitchen shape is “standard”, therefore we have to be smart and creative to maximize the utility, beauty and safety of a glass countertop high bar over a kitchen island. We have done hundreds of these installations over the years, and wish to help you prepare for yours.

Intelligent design starts by observing and taking inventory of the physical constraints we have In the kitchen:

• Faucets, Sinks, Stoves in the lower countertop
• Clearances for Refrigerator doors, ADA access, Space to walk around the bar
• Cabinet box layout
• Glass High Bar length and # of people to be seated at the bar, 
• Strength of lower countertop materials (fragile or strong).

Make sure you have clearance for all of these elements and that they are not in conflict for where the glass high bar will reside. When we tell our clients that all quotes start with a sketch and a photo, it is simply because we want to ensure that we have accounted for these potential conflicts. Having a strong lower countertop material is critical as we cannot have a ~350lb glass high bar on 2 supports with a weak substrate like marble or onyx. It could fracture.

Cabinets usually come in 24” deep boxes. If you are designing a kitchen island with a sink, these are not deep enough for a high bar and a typically 20″ deep sink. You will have to augment your island base cabinets to be ~36” wide. This does not need to be expensive.

In the Downing Designs Glass Design Center, we solved that problem by adding a box made of 2×12 wood and fastened it to the cabinet. This allowed for our sink, faucets and elevated bar top  to peacefully coexist. It is very strong as well as inexpensive to make. We covered the back of it with door-skin plywood, painted and trimmed it. Simple, Perfect, Elegant solution.

Case Study

Our client Dany wanted a Glass High Bar atop his kitchen island. He initially desired an “L” shape. We quoted him both a simple linear shape as well as his “L” shape, and told him when we meet, we can decide the best path forward. Upon our initial site visit, we discussed all of the options above, and given his needs and the layout of the aforementioned elements, I campaigned against the more expensive “L” design because:

• it added very little seating room
• It added a lot more to the cost
• It detracted from the linear flow of the kitchen

How to Size a Glass Countertop Kitchen High Bar.

How best to end the glass high bar (overhangs, symmetrical or asymmetrical with the lower kitchen island countertop?). Most high bars we sell are 20” wide. 10” overhang is perfect for most situations. This means that 10” will be “inboard”.

Glass High bar dimensions

Our design methodology starts by simply walking around the kitchen several times and looking at it from all angles…observing the other physical elements in the room…cabinets, perimeter countertops, doors, windows, hallway openings, couches, etc.

Making our bar optically “co-linear” with these elements is a good place to start.

Start by focusing on one overhang at a time. In this case on the left side, it was easy to have a minimal overhang that lined up with the distant perimeter countertop and upper cabinet lines. The refrigerator underneath that end of the bar demanded easy access. We visually confirmed this by placing our template strips to align with those distant elements.

Now to overhang #2. Here we had a lot of room to play on the right side. Off in the distance, the upper cabinets presented themselves as a logical extension that led our eye right to it. We approximated the overhang to be in line with that cabinet and placed our template strips to align with them.

Now, we walk around several times to ensure the “feel” and sizing is correct. Make sure there is clearance for people, chairs, etc. Make slight adjustments…compare before/after. This is a simple, yet often overlooked way to make your Glass Countertop High Bar feel right at home by syncing with the other design elements in the kitchen.

Designing a Texture for Glass High Bar.

Once we have a final size, we can start designing the texture of the glass. 

All rooms have a voice that will “speak” to us and we “listen” for what the personality of the room says to us. From there we can compose a proper Glass High bar layout whose textures flow perfectly within the space it will reside. This is a critical distinction for a custom Glass High Bar vs a prefabricated glass slab. Its like the difference between a custom fitted suit that matches every contour of your body, vs a plastic poncho worn at a rainy football game. 

Knowing where the supports will reside is critical, and we try to flatten those areas to allow for our custom cantilevering supports. We like to place our supports approx 16-32” inboard from each end of a glass high bar. Not many materials to allow cantilevering of 32″ lengths. Our Glass Design Center at Downing Designs has a 37” cantilever off of one end of our glass high bar.

Dazzling Glass Countertop High bar at Downing Designs in Tampa,FL:

Selecting this placement is critical since the supports are to be through-drilled to the lower countertop. We must have clearance underneath to attach the glass high bar supports with washer/nuts onto the through-rod. Having knowledge of where the cabinet boxes are is essential. A drawing is a must. 

Interactive Texturing Kiln with Client

We want to enhance the flow of the kitchen and make it become the focal point of the room. 

It’s going to be a centerpiece so it must be as Artful as possible, while ensuring that the design pleases the client. We invite participation directly in this process.

In this case, Danys daughter Chloe, is very artistic and we agreed to have her work with us to create the texture…first on paper, then in the kiln sand bed. We held a little family contest, where everyone was invited to participate. We then took the best of these and refined further into THE ONE.

Texturing Custom Glass Countertops at Downing Designs

From an Artists standpoint, knowing when you are done is the hardest thing to discern on the fly. We have to STOP somewhere…and often LESS IS MORE in terms of detail. We find that our favorite textures are big arcing textures that really extend the room with their graceful flows. 

Scaling our drawing into the kiln sand bed is a fun process.

Chloe did great and had great ideas with respect to the balance of the composition.

Texture for Glass Countertop

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