The Beveled Edge
Leaders in the Business of Art Glass
by Cecil Scaglione

When he's not crystallizing customers' concepts, Norton Canterbury offers a litany of thanks for the opportunities offered by The Beveled Edge, the creative art glass window company he opened in 1988.

His biggest bouquet goes to Vicki, his high-school sweetheart who became his wife, mother of their three children, and business partner."She was working as a loan officer in her early 20s and, if it wasn't for her, I wouldn't have been able to get started," Norton said.

"In 1983, I got out of the Marines and started working for a small stained-glass company in Dana Point for minimum wage. She kept things going while I was able to pick up a trade."

That led to the opening of The Beveled Edge, which focuses on enhancing entryways, in 1988.

They began raising a family about the same time.

The eldest, 20-year-old Jaime, broke the Azusa Pacific College 1,500-meter track record last year as a sophomore and was ranked second in the nation in that distance. Jeremy is heading to the University of California-Santa Barbara after racking up wins in cross-country and two-mile competition at Dana Hills High in league competition. Seventh-grader Paige devotes her time to music and soccer. "She'll probably run, too, when she gets to Dana High," said Norton, who still holds the mile record at his West Virginian high school.

None appears to be interested in taking over the business at the moment, but he hopes there may more family involvement later.

After opening his first studio in San Clemente, Vicki joined him as a partner in 1994 and took over book-keeping responsibilities. "She keeps things going because I'm out in the field a lot."

The company has 12 employees and operations in Laguna Niguel, San Juan Capistrano, and Mammoth. "It works out," he said, because the family has a vacation home in Mammoth, where they like to spend their leisure time. From medieval cathedrals to modern stately homes, leaded beveled glass has been one of the most exquisite and personal expressions of art and beauty for hundreds of years. At Beveled Edge, the owners follow this tradition to create custom art glass for homes, offices, churches and commercial buildings in southern California.

True art cannot be mass produced. The beauty and quality of custom handcrafted stained and beveled glass will delight you with its brilliance for years to come, with a look and feel that products purchased from big box stores could never equal. At Beveled Edge, owners Norton and Vicki Canterbury and their very skilled artists and craftsmen are dedicated to creating custom art glass that is second to none. All of the work is designed, fabricated and installed by the experienced staff - no subcontractors or outside installers are ever utilized. The staff includes designers Peter Adams and Scott Paige, with 30 and 18 years experience, respectively; Javier Garcia, the production manager with 26 years experience; and Don Ghear, supervisor, who, prior to joining Beveled Edge, spent over 26 years managing Mission Viejo Glass. This experienced team gives the customer confidence that the job will be done to the highest quality standards.

At the initial consultation, Norton will look at the architecture and the décor of the home and photograph any elements that will help the designers create just the right look to complement the homeowner's personal tastes. The designers then create full-sized artwork and schedule a design review appointment with each client, at which time glass selection and privacy requirements are discussed. It is this attention to detail that ensures that the finished product meets the wants and needs of the homeowner.

At Beveled Edge, entry door remodels continue to be in great demand. When customers compare the price of a new entry system to the cost of transforming their existing doors with custom art glass inserts, they discover that they can literally save thousands of dollars by remodeling, not replacing. They also discover there is no better way to add instant curb appeal and value to a home than upgrading the entryway.

You can view the Beveled Edge's work at its showroom located at 27931 Cabot Road in Laguna Niguel. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit www.bevelededge.com or call for a free in-home consultation at (949) 582-1035.

The Beveled Edge
27931 Cabot Rd., Suite B
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 (949) 582-1035