As the warm days of summer ramp up, our minds naturally drift toward visions of respite, shade and water.  Our cascading cast glass eating counter embodies that vision of a refreshing, spring mountain thaw, or an icy beverage being poured into a glass.  Its surface looks very cool; feels very cool.  Amazing how visual and tactile senses can affect your perceptions – glass can do that!

CT-120 Cast Arctic Dense eating counter, 168″ x 18″ x 1″thick, with segmented return for cascading effect.

Cascading Cast Glass Eating Counter

Residential Project 2015

Cast Arctic Dense eating counter
168” x 18” x 1”, with segmented return

Design by Nils Finne of FINNE Architects
Contractor:  Rimmer & Roeter Construction
Photo Courtesy of Nils Finne

SAVE THE DATE!  Open House and Remnant Sale 
August 20, 2015.  Details to follow.

We got creative with this glass eating counter installation… Enjoy!

In that missive, we gave all our clients, suppliers, network buddies, supporters and design team members a Valentine. Wish it could be beautiful glass jewels. What a combination – individuals we appreciate and glass we love. At times we do heroic things…large heavy pieces with wondrous color and edgework. We probably wouldn’t create this on our own. Everyone around us forces us to be better and better. We push past self-imposed limits and fabricate pieces that fulfill a vision – and sometimes even astound us.

In the coming weeks, I’ll write about things that are interesting, informative and occasionally quirky – all under 200 words. I’m certainly not a writer, but I am eager to share with you some of my thoughts. Feel free to comment, suggest, and disagree. We’ll start a conversation.

We received these pictures of our beautiful Aisu glass installed in a residence in California as a glowing glass counter. To achieve this stunning look, we originally met with the owner in our studio. He immediately loved seeing and touching our glass! We then worked long distance with his contractor to ensure a perfect installation.

You don’t have to visit our studio to understand the unique properties of glass. With our sample program located on our website, you can request a sample of a type of glass you’re interested in. If you decide to purchase a piece from us, the price of that sample is deducted from the final price of your glass. The look and feel of glass sells itself!

If you have installation pictures you would like us to feature, please send them our way. We love to see the results of working together to achieve your vision.

We are indeed fortunate to have such a talented and committed group that makes up the Glassworks team. Although during last year, we said farewell to Beth Siragusa, our office manager who gently guided us into the “computer” age, we welcomed Christine Henderson to broaden our visibility in the architecture and design industry.  Due in large part to the diligent work of our Internet marketing team at the time, David Kaiser, we established relationships and completed projects on the East Coast.  Robbin Tracyyes, there are two b’s—reached the ten-year milestone with us.  She continues to keep all our projects—and us- prioritized and organized.  Jay Martell, who has been with us for five years, is the most methodical and technically astute artist here. Much can be said about Owen Fitzpatrick, who has become our “go to” person in the cold room. He has become an accomplished glass polisher in a short amount of time. Steve Shahbaghlian, whose knowledge and designs continue to drive the studio’s engines. It takes a village to raise a child—It takes all these creative and dedicated folks to provide our clients with the best most beautiful glass possible.

Last year, we supported the design community by providing custom awards for Washington Glass Association, NEWH, and LUXE’s Battle of the Chefs. In this small way, we contributed to those organizations that do so much for the profession and community.

I truly look forward to 2013—continued work with our creative team and support to our professional organizations.

Embracing sustainability and/or “green” virtues can be confusing at best. Even “experts” differ as to what can be deemed as sustainable. The Architecture and Design (A&D) community wants a design to leave an impression in aesthetics and function while remaining timeless, but how do we achieve that and leave the smallest footprint possible? Where do we turn and which tactics do we take to make the “right” decisions?

This varied and somewhat confusing area of “green” definitions was illustrated by my experience a few years back while enrolled in the local SBA (Sustainable Building Advisor) program. What I valued most from the experience were the community of diverse participants and their viewpoints. We were all working toward a common goal to do the most good in our own professions and community. The melting pot of knowledge came from Architects, Interior Designers, City Planners, Sustainability Consultants, Builders, Engineers, Biologists, Landscapers and Product Sales to name a few. In one particular session, we were asked as a class to compile a list of sustainable products. Upon examination of our completed list and the characteristics of each product, we discovered that even these so-called green products had conflicting attributes that could endorse or deny their acceptance.

So where to go from here? I have found that the best plan of action is common sense and due diligence in research. Work with trusted sources that have a respected reputation and a proven track record of contribution in their field and community. In addition, it is important to take a step and start the process. Remember that each product or practice will have its pros and cons but it is important to make the effort however large or small that will contribute to the larger good.

Our team at Glassworks is no different in that we want to craft a beautiful product that is a unique and healthy choice for our clients.

The following are attributes that make our cast or fused glass a sustainable choice:

  1. Among our offerings is a completely recycled product from the post-industrial source material.
  2. We focus our efforts sourcing and selling in our local community to limit our carbon footprint.
  3. Our primary source of heat for a large part of our facility is captured from our kilns.
  4. We offer 100% glass solutions, the attributes of which contribute in the following ways:
    • Glass is non-toxic: It will not emit harmful volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) or radon making it one of the most environmentally safe materials to have in your home or office.
    • Glass is non-porous: Leaving no place for germs to hide or stains to absorb.
    • Glass is durable: Glass is made of silica which is the main element found in granite, offering a similar hardness and long useful life. And glass doesn’t require sealing.
    • Glass is inert: It won’t react with substances that come into contact with it during normal use.

We invite you to rely upon our vast background of glass knowledge; design and our 45 years of contributing to architectural art glass in the Seattle area.

 Interested in learning more? You can contact us through our contact form
or by calling 206.441.4268

We are always hard at work creating new and interesting opportunities to feature handmade art glass in functional applications. One of the most common requests we get are for custom art glass table tops. Glass has a way of turning functional furniture into a featured work of art. Don’t take our word for it… feast your eyes on these recent creations.

Glass tables are great for boardrooms, restaurants, commercial and residential uses. Thicknesses can vary from 3/4″ to 2″. Color design elements can be added in virtually any shade, or the glass can remain clear creating an illusion of taking up less space. Custom bases for glass tables can be made of wood or metal. Although we don’t supply the base, we have relationships with custom manufacturers who we can collaborate with to create the perfect design for your space.

Every year, I think summer will never get here. Although we in Seattle complain about our gloomy June that gives way to the blue skies of July, we can use glass panels to let in a lot of natural light and to reflect the light within our space year round. Maybe that’s one of the reasons why there are so many glass studios in the Northwest.

Another way to make the most of our delayed summer weather is to get out and meet others, learn, and enjoy the opportunities in the area. Belonging to professional groups and attending meetings is a great way to shake off the grays. CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women)WGA (Washington Glass Association)ASID (American Society of Interior Designers); and NBIS (Network of Business Innovation and Sustainability) are just a few of the organizations that are indeed energy boosters!

Tish Oye, Principal
Glassworks, Inc.


Meta Marble

We are proud to announce that Meta Marble will be featuring select glass slabs by Glassworks, Inc.

“Meta’s combination of the finest service, established sources, and selection of the best quality products provides our customers with the best advantages for creating projects of the highest quality, durability and beauty.”

More info: www.MetaMarble.com



The Art of Glass

Glimmering surfaces and a depth that no other material can offer, the art of glass is truly timeless. Glassworks takes this amazing material and transforms it into properly proportioned & scaled, balanced works of art featuring exquisite contrast.

Glass is a challenging art medium – it requires an expert and skillful hand. Glassworks art sculptures, wall art glass and other specialty art installations involve careful and often complex calculations, perfect timing, and dedicated glass artists hand making each work of art.

Custom Art Sculptures

Allow our glass artists to design a custom piece and bring your ideas to life and into your space.  We specialize in large installations. We provide dependable and contemporary glass art design for any space. These sculptures give any indoor or outdoor space high-end impact!

See more photographs in our Art Glass Gallery.

Beauty which Endures

When Steve Shahbaghlian founded Glassworks over 30 years ago, he did for the love of this form of art. Inspired by the expressive & luminous qualities of glass, he used his talent to forge a business which continues to be inspired by fine artistry first and foremost. Delivering high-quality products simply stems from our artists’ drive to be the best in the art glass industry.

Each member of our Glassworks Studio Team is an artist in their own right. Click to view Team Profiles.

What do we do and why do we do it?  There are some businesses that understand their mission, are laser-focused and forge ahead.  We’ve been a bit more malleable.  Our business has morphed many times throughout the years in response to trends in style and creativity.  Along the way, we have completed some fantastic projects.  Always learning, we’ve also taken projects we probably shouldn’t have, because they were interesting, and because we wanted to work with a specific client.  What a way to run a business- and run it has.

Despite our “running” a bit haphazardly for many years, we have survived (because of the talent of the founder and the skill of our great staff).  2016 was our best year to date; 2017 is 1/6 completed.  We are very much on track, and constantly looking to drill down on the first question of this paragraph. “What do we do and why do we do it?” Focusing on the “why and what” will be essential as we charge ahead to meet future challenges and continue our success.