California Poppy Window

Custom window

Materials: custom blown glass roundels, “cat’s paw” turquoise/green glass, clear textured glass, selected color sheet glass, ½” lead reinforced with steel on the border, and ¼” flat lead in the field.

This original piece was designed by Ariana Makau, Nzilani’s owner. The clients wanted to feature California’s state flower, the poppy. Makau approached the subject in the abstract, rather than a literal depiction, based on the clients’ aesthetic and inspired by their mid-century modern furniture.

Each of the orange ellipses was blown as a roundel by Najah Alboushi, an Nzilani employee, then cut to fit the design. The panel was installed in a simple custom white frame, fabricated by the studio’s carpentry team. Designed to appear integral to the building’s architecture, it is fully reversible, should the clients choose to move in the future and take the window with them.