Designer Glass and Overlay

Born and raised a southern Californian, this energetic entrepreneur sees a future of timeless beauty through windows. Paul Vander Ploeg has been designing decorative glass for homes and businesses now for a third of his life!

He began his love for working with all kinds of glass applications from his Carlsbad studio in 1986. Homeowners and business proprietors bring in their ideas to work with the staff at Designer Glass and Overlay. Working as a team, they put together stunning custom beveled entries and elegant master baths, to designer kitchen cabinets, eye-catching domed ceilings and more. Paul smiles when he says, "We make the whole house, restaurant, or office beautiful."

Paul's mentor in the glass business left him with one word, "diversify." Paul has built his business into a full service glass shop over the years.

A homeowner came in and asked, "Would you be able to replace the windows in the house, put in a new shower enclosure, and give us some privacy in our master bathroom?"

Paul replied, "No problem. I'll come out to measure and we'll start when you're ready."

No job is too small or too large. Come to Paul and get it ALL.

The process begins with collaboration between the homeowner and the designer. After all, it is your home that is being embellished. If you have a particular design in mind, you may bring it in. Customers have brought in a wallpaper pattern, favorite photo, and even the floral pattern from their sofa cushion. If you are starting from scratch, just look through Designer Glass and Overlay's portfolio of designs. The designer coordinator, Sue Scott will help you with suggestions to make sure your design will fit your needs and the style of your home.

The in-house artist, Paul's wife, Terryll will work her magic on the state-of-the-art computer program that converts your ideas and art into a stained glass pattern. With the customer's approval on design, the fun begins. From over 300 colors and an array of textures and bevels, the staff works with you to add color and or opaque textures to your custom work of art.

Traditional stained glass consists of individual colored pieces of glass that are welded together and installed into the appropriate space. However, overlay is a practical method that provides the same look as traditional stained glass. In this process, textured or colored overlay films are bonded to a solid piece of glass and the design is leaded over to give the it the traditional stained glass appearance. The solid piece is then installed using one of our many installation options. Sometimes, customers decide to have the new decorative piece mounted right up to the existing glass. Other homeowners and proprietors have Paul swap out the old glass with the new custom design. For several homes, Paul builds dual or triple paned windows with the decorative piece to swap out the old glass. When it comes to textured glass for shower doors, sidelights in the entryway, or any window and door in the house or office, bamboo glass is a favorite. Even Terryll, along with lots of happy customers adore it in their homes.

A homeowner came in and mentioned, "I'd love that bamboo glass for our entryway! Now that we have plain glass cabinet doors in the kitchen of our new home, we can't wait to give these cabinets a new look with bevels and textured backgrounds."

Sue insists, "I'm looking forward to working on the design with you!"

Of course, Paul replied, "You go right ahead and get on it. I'll put the bamboo glass in the sidelight entryway while you design the cabinet doors."

Keep in mind that designer glass overlay is highly recommended because it is constructed with a durable, solid piece of glass, tempered upon request or need, that often withstands opposing pressure. This method also provides UV sun protection, reduces glare, and fights fading due to sun exposure. Plus, little to no maintenance is required and the overlay process is more affordable than traditional stained glass.

Designer Glass and Overlay makes your whole house beautiful, including your windows, doors and sidelights, baths, showers and spas, transoms, room dividers, ceiling panels, table tops, mirrors, and cabinets. If your windows need replacing, we are a Certainteed dealer with one of the best, most creative contractor to install these windows too.

Designer Glass and Overlay
2579 State Street
Carlsbad (760) 729-1064