Royal Oak Furniture Designer Puts Stained Glass in the Spotlight

Furniture designer Laura Scaccia has a knack for seeing through salvaged stained glass at her Royal Oak studio.

On a trip to Kentucky last year, the Troy resident amassed a collection of centuries-old stained-glass windows from demolished mansions in Cincinnati.

"I went to Kentucky to purchase a piece of stained glass and ended up stopping in Cincinnati and buying all of this," Scaccia said, pointing to a collection of windows that once adorned some of the finest homes in Ohio. "I fell in love with the glass and the art form. Driving back I asked myself, 'What can I do with it?'"

The answer? After talking to a carpenter and a lighting specialist, she decided to transform the glass works into heirloom-quality tables.

Using repurposed table legs, high-quality wood, tempered glass and light-emitting diodes (LED), she creates showstopper accent, coffee and end tables with the former stained-glass windows.

"The LED backlights the glass to give the illusion of the sun shining through it. And the tempered glass is tough enough to withstand heat. You could smash a hammer on it and not break it." 

She launched a brand-new company, Eclecticasa, in September and her business is going strong.

"The idea is so unique," she said. "I have never seen it done before. The glass is beautiful and it has a beautiful history."

Tables range from $1,200 to $3,700, which is a deal considering to recreate the stained glass alone would set you back $1,000 at today's prices.

"It's a lost art form," Scaccia said.

Each piece is unique and has been given an Italian name, such as tranquilita (tranquility) or foglie (leaves).

You can see the furniture created by Scaccia at the Michigan Design Center, 1700 Stutz in Troy, from noon-2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14. The open house will also feature guest speaker Rocky Martina, of Waterford, who will share his insights on preservation, restoration and the history of stained glass.

The event is open to the public. A light lunch will be served. Space is limited; contact Scaccia at 248-631-5605 or laura@eclecticasa.com, to reserve your spot.