DAN'S PAPERS, July 18, 2008 Page 113 www.danshamptons.com
Dining and Nightlife
Adding Color to the Dining Area with Stained Glass
By Alexandra Wexler Although most people initially associate stained glass with the European cathedrals of the middle ages, it can in fact also be used as a very chic addition to your home circa: right now. Stained glass has been considered the height of beauty and luxury for centuries. A striking addition to any room, smaller stained glass pieces or partial/full stained glass windows can be especially
beautiful in an informal or formal dining area. There are a variety of ways to incorporate stained glass, true pieces of art into your home, whether the desired goal is subtle or dramatic. At the Glass Menagerie in Southold, glass enthusiasts can find many kinds of small pieces to start a collection. The shop specializes in art glass, which includes both blown and stained glass. The smaller pieces are made right there, and a single pane can be used as the beginnings of a centerpiece for a dining table. Measuring one square foot, a pane from Menagerie will only set you back about $75. Carol Manzo, the shop’s owner, said, “Stained glass can be extremely expensive, but the prices are lower for smaller pieces, like candle holders or animal figurines.” However, if you are looking for slightly larger panes of stained glass, Manzo will be happy to recommend a few local artists to you, who will create your perfect pane on commission. George Dalecki, owner of Seatuck Stained Glass, will be happy to make any imaginable panel of stained glass for your home at his store, which is also his workshop, in Eastport. “We can pretty much do anything,” Dalecki said, but he specializes in custom windows to measure for homes. “We’ve done [stained glass] windows off of necktie patterns and photographs. We have a wall full of pattern books for customers who are searching for floral patterns.” The cost is anywhere from $200 to $500 per square foot, depending on the complexity of the design. At Urban Archaeology in Bridgehampton, there is currently a larger-than-life stained glass win-
“Twilight” by Tiffany Glass & Design Co., 1897 found at Urban Archaelogy, Bridgehampton. dow, measuring approximately eleven by ten feet. The piece is an antique by the Tiffany Glass & Decorating Company, signed 1897. According to the store’s founder, Gil Shapiro, “You can use it in a million different ways in your home. It’s a piece of art.” It would make a stunning window in a large dining room, or could be built into a living room wall. Of course, Shapiro recommends installing plexiglass panes on both sides of any stained glass window you install in your home, just in case junior hits his homerun a little too close for comfort. This advice holds especially true if you are purchasing his Tiffany window, which can be yours for a cool $2.6 million. Or you can enjoy it for free by driving past Urban Archaeology.
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