Whimsical Stone
Ex-mason Bob Ragan tried to survive as a sculptor until he discovered a niche in the building market: sculpted stone. Now co-owner of Texas Carved Stone, he works limestone into fireplace mantels, historical restorations, and more. At first, the company copied European antiques for their mantel designs, but then added variations. For example, now it also offers woodland scenes. Co-owner Mary Condon says customers can offer design ideas, and design elements already in a home can be incorporated if customers provide pictures. Texas Carved Stone. 254.793.2384. www.texascarvedstone.com.
Glass Galore
Working with about 90 types of glass, Nathan Allan Glass Studios can provide glass products for any area of the home. The company forms shower enclosures, partitions, doors and door lites, and stair treads. Architects and designers provide specifications and hardware, and Nathan Allan does the rest.
The company’s stair treads are formed of laminated safety glass with clear, colored, or opaque coatings. Surface treatments include a diamond plate pattern that mimics commercial steel and a sandpaper finish for slip resistance. Company director Barry Allan says custom glass shower enclosures are especially popular. The company can form shower enclosures from designer patterns, patterns in its Freeform series of textureless cast glass, and glass sporting half-spheres that can be colored. For one customer, artisans even created a steam shower enclosure that incorporated an opening and closing vent in the shower door. Nathan Allan Glass Studios. 604.277.8533. www.nathanallan.com.
