A house we are currently working on the interior for has a foyer with a semi-circular curved wall with 2 symetrical entrances into a library and a living room. Each entrance is to have a pair of (2) 2′-8″ x 8′ arch-top doors that will also be curved to match the radius of the wall.
To further complicate things, they will be french doors with beveled glass also curved to match.
Anyone have a good source?
Edited 11/12/2006 12:00 pm ET by xosder11
Replies
If I'm understanding you correctly you need a door to fit into a radius wall and they need to have an arch top. So you want a curved door with an arch top...
You're going to need to have them custom made. The raidous of that curved wall is going to determine what you need made.
I'd call local millwork shops and see if anyone is up to it, and then I'd open your wallet real wide because they're going to be the most expensive thing you put in that house.
"I'd open your wallet real wide because they're going to be the most expensive thing you put in that house."
I doubt it. Right now, cheapet line item might be the ice and water, on the roof @ 17,000, second to which would be the elevator, @ 45,000
These guys might be capable. Ask them. http://www.craftsmeninwood.com/
If not, there is a guy who frequents this site (Armin the Laminator) who can certainly make your doors.
But curved bevel glass? Who has the checkbook for this thing, Louis XIV? Sounds like something you might see at the palace.
These doors part of your package? Should be a nice item for generating markup. My guess would be $20K plus, and at that price, the glass would be flat.
Were designing, were not doing any markup, or purchasing. But I want to be able to not just design it but tell them where to find it and have some idea of the cost.
"But curved bevel glass? Who has the checkbook for this thing, Louis XIV? Sounds like something you might see at the palace."
I'm looking at this right now as possibly a once in a lifetime opportunity. The owner looked us in the eye, and said he wanted something different, and we could tell he meant it.
Yesterday, I looked at a McKim Mead and White book about the Newport Mansions for inspiration.
I already know in the back of my mind that we may have to live with flat glass.
Curved glass shouldn't be a problem. I can recall seeing an order form for custom curved glass in a mail order catalog, but can't remember the catalog.
I'd check with glass suppliers who cater to furniture makers since there are a great many corner curio cabinets built with curved glass of various kinds.
There are probably at least a few small shops that are setup to custom bend glass.
I googled "custom bent window glass" and these two came up after a minute of searching:
http://www.dannysglass.com/
Precision Glass Bending Corp Greenwood, AR Phone: 479-996-8065 World Leader in Custom Fabricated Bent Glass, one piece or thousands for Architectural, Interior Fixturing, Transportation and Solar Energy Applications. Drawing upon three generations of Glassmaking in Europe and the United States, the Company has eliminated old curved glass.. Products: Construction materials, wholesale: interior flat glass, plate or window; display fixtures; display..
Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.
Don, curved is easy in glass. Curved lites with beveled edges, however, are museum pieces.
XAs designer, are you working with a budget from the customer? If price is no object. You can have the doors , jamb, triim,etc. custom fabricated. A good door manufacturer may also give you the option of supplying the top and bottom plates for the wall that the doors will be hung.Chuck Slive, work, build, ...better with wood
I'm pretty sure I've seen a number of curio cabinets with beveled and curved glass. When I looked at one real close it appears that a simple flat glass is beveled then heated and bent. Unless I'm missing something that sounds pretty simple.
Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.
Curved lites with beveled edges, however, are museum pieces.
I dont know about that. I've seen a house that has a curved window with beveled glass in it. Nothings imposible.
I'd jump at the chance to do this kind of work, sounds like a nice challenge.
Doug
Remember, Doug, that the top rails are curved both ways. And, cutting and fitting all those little curved muntins would be a chore.
I am about ready to tune up the bandsaw, and start!
Re the curved glass, when I was in the commercial curtainwall biz, we bought all our curved glass and aluminum extrusion specialties from these guys: http://www.dlubakglass.com/glass/
I certainly don't doubt that curved beveled-edge glass lites can be purchased. Dlubak could post-curve beveled parts, but it would be quite expensive.
As far as the curved doors go, one interesting technique I just learned is that the "core" of the door is cut out of many peices of multi-ply plywood in plan view with a laser cutter to the desired radius and then they are stacked and glued to form the curve. Then, the curved parts are laminated with to layers of 1/8" veneer to get teh finished result. Then, the curved styles and rails are glued-up. The curve at the top of the door makes it intersesting, and I have yet to figure out how that would be done, but I have no doubt that it can.
As far as the glass, I think curved glass is no problem, the beveled edges may have to go. It might be another option to etch the glass. I think either with or without the bevel, the glass would have to be curved. It wouldn't look right with flat panes.
Dlubak could post-curve beveled parts, but it would be quite expensive.
That may be an understatement!
I wouldnt even fathom a guess as to what the glass would cost but I think the job would be one to stick in your portfolio.
I'd take it if it was in my hood.
Doug
I ran across these pictures of some glass having been bent over steel molds.
View Image
View Image
Having done a lot of curved millwork I can tell you that those doors will be north of 10K per pair assuming you can get curved beveled glass. If curved beveled glass is not possible then you might suggest to the client getting the glass etched or cut. BTW are these doors paint grade or stain grade?
Email me if you would like me to look at them.