The History Behind Santa Fe Glass

Santa Fe Glass was originally established in the early 1920s selling paint and glass. Carl Westerberg began his career and got his union initiation May 20, 1931 in Local 930 of Denver, Colorado Brotherhood of Painters, Decorators & Paperhangers of America. After working in the trade for 8 years, he and a partner Charles Adams decided to buy Santa Fe Glass from Luster Waggoner. On a cold December 30, 1939 morning in Evergreen, Colorado, Mr. Adams and Carl Westerberg agreed to purchase Santa Fe Glass from Mr. Waggoner for the total sum of $3,335.05 and upon placing a deposit of $60.00, they began their adventure of business ownership.

After 5 years in business together, Charles Adams decided to sell his shares of Santa Fe Glass to Carl Westerberg for a total of $2,000. On July 27, 1945, Carl Westerberg began his run at sole ownership and operation of Santa Fe Glass. The company, from its inception, was located at 262 S. Santa Fe Drive. This building made several changes and grew to fit the operation. Gary Westerberg, Carl’s son, began his career working for his father at the family business as a young man. Gary then officially started in the glass business at Harding Glass in Kansas City MO. Gary came to work full-time with his father at Santa Fe Glass in 1964.

Carl and Gary worked together operating the commercial and residential glass business until Carl’s failing health and subsequent death in 1975. Gary then took over as owner and ran the business. Through the years, Gary’s children worked in the family business, providing commercial and residential glass services, including custom glass, glass replacement, glass installation, and much more. Santa Fe Glass sponsored youth baseball in the Columbine area and even had a couple championship youth teams. In 1990, Gary’s oldest son Chris was tragically killed working on a ranch while enrolled in the Veterinary School at Colorado State University. In the next couple years with the recent family tragedy and mounting financial pressures, Gary made the decision to close Santa Fe Glass. Gary closed the doors in July 1993 after ensuring that all debts were paid and the company was left with a good name.

Craig started his career in public safety and Clint stayed in the glass business. After 14 years of Santa Fe Glass being closed, while on a trip to Ft. Collins to present the endowed Christopher Nels Westerberg Memorial Scholarship at Colorado State University, Craig and Clint made the decision to look into the possibility of re-opening Santa Fe Glass. Then in July of 2006, Craig and Clint Westerberg re-opened Santa Fe Glass with the same phone number that was established in the 1940s before the advent of 7 digit telephone dialing. (Spruce-4491) Now we can be reached at 303-777-4491. Our office, which is now our commercial and residential glass showroom, is located at an updated newer, larger facility just a few miles south of the old facility and a block off of Santa Fe on Quincy at 1920 W. Quincy Ave.

How to Use Custom Stained Glass in Your Home and Workplace

We’ve discussed a number of ways to use glass around your home and workplace, but today we’re sharing an idea that stands out just a little more than usual.

Stained glass is a beautiful alternative to using regular glass. No matter where you are using it, it can add a pop of color and texture in an area that could otherwise look bland and ordinary. The popularity of custom stained glass has grown over recent years, as it’s a unique and beautiful way to add some personality to a home. 

You can use stained glass in a number of ways around your home or office, and we’re here to tell you a few of our favorites.

Shower Doors

Using stained glass in your bathroom, your shower door specifically, is a popular and relatively inexpensive way to add some personality to your bedroom. You can choose matching colors in the bathroom, or go bold and pick an accent color to make the shower area the star of the space. Not only does it create a beautiful look for any bathroom, but there are actually two ways you can use stained glass when it comes to your shower door. 

First, you can add stained glass designs to your pre-existing glass shower doors. You can do this by attaching adhesive-free window film treatments, which can be found in hobby stores or online. You can also have stained glass be a part of your shower doors from the start, having colored glass swirled into the doors as they are made. Both provide an interesting look, as well as some added privacy!

Kitchen Backsplash

When it comes to the kitchen, granite is king. Homeowners prefer granite over almost anything these days. While granite is beautiful and provides a smooth and sophisticated look to a kitchen, stained glass can also do the same, yet is often forgotten.

A custom backsplash in your kitchen offers a number of perks that products like granite don’t. First of all, it’s less expensive. The worst part about remodeling is going over budget, but you don’t have to worry about that with glass touches. A stained glass backsplash can also be designed specifically to match your kitchen, unlike granite which is just cut from rock and comes as is. 

Stained Glass Dividers

Stained glass dividers are an excellent way to add privacy to a large workspace, especially if you work in an area with lots of desks in one big room. A little bit of privacy can help boost productivity in the workplace by minimizing distractions, but a stained glass divider won’t make you feel like you’re blocked off from the world. 

Not only are glass dividers functional on their own, but adding color and texture to a workspace can improve people’s moods. We know that we’d rather be surrounded by beautiful stained glass dividers than standard, grey ones. You can even get stained glass that incorporates the same colors your business uses, tying your brand right into the office. 

Basement Windows

Basement windows aren’t something we usually think about decorating, let alone think about at all. They’re typically visible on the side of your house and towards the ground, which isn’t exactly a spot you want to be putting a lot of money into. However, a stained glass window provides a pop of color to an unexpected place, and offers a few benefits you may not have thought of.

A glass window leading into a basement can often be a red flag for prying eyes. If you use stained glass on your basement windows, it can prevent a home invasion, or at least nosy neighbors from checking our your business!

Stained windows can also provide a natural cooling system for your basement by refracting heat.

With everything stained glass can do for you, we hope you consider it the next time you have glass installed in your home or workplace.