Which one do you like?

[WarnerConstCo.]

I will offer the glass idea.  It may be salty due to having to be tempered glass. 
Cleaning is not a big deal, they have cleaning lady's. [big grin]

 

[Alan m]

cleaning lady's [eek]. [big grin]

very posh

 

[Sparktrician]

+1 for #5, especially if they're after the mission look. 

[smile]

 

[Frank Pellow]

I like railings 5 and 6 because, to me, thet are in keeping with the 'Arts and Crafts' look.

 

[tiralie]

Darcy

My wife had a look at your pics and liked the original idea of painting the existing to keep the open look of the glass and thought it would look good with the existing wood. Don't shoot the messenger! As far as your designs go I'm partial to #4, I use a modified version of #1 mainly outside in a garden setting.

John

+1 on that idea.
I like some of your designs more than others but seeing them in the space is the real test here as there is a lot going on in the room. You could mock it up in Sketchup (Photo Match) or just use some paper/cardboard on the existing railing/glass to see the affect.
My main concern with your designs are the wood frames within the metal frame of the existing railing. I understand the structural reasons why you designed them that way. I think any of these designs will make the railing look heavier and busier than they need to be for the room.
If you had the luxury of taking the metal railing out then I bet your designs would be lighter and airier and not draw your eye
Tim
Just my two cents.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Darcy

My wife had a look at your pics and liked the original idea of painting the existing to keep the open look of the glass and thought it would look good with the existing wood. Don't shoot the messenger! As far as your designs go I'm partial to #4, I use a modified version of #1 mainly outside in a garden setting.

John

+1 on that idea.
I like some of your designs more than others but seeing them in the space is the real test here as there is a lot going on in the room. You could mock it up in Sketchup (Photo Match) or just use some paper/cardboard on the existing railing/glass to see the affect.
My main concern with your designs are the wood frames within the metal frame of the existing railing. I understand the structural reasons why you designed them that way. I think any of these designs will make the railing look heavier and busier than they need to be for the room.
If you had the luxury of taking the metal railing out then I bet your designs would be lighter and airier and not draw your eye
Tim
Just my two cents.

They are stuck with the metal railings.  The way they are installed and bolted in would be a nightmare trying to remove them.

One reason they really want black instead of silver color that they are now.  There is nothing in them right now, so they are a little dangerous for kids.

I tried that route already, to no avail.  I have a feeling they may like the arched top one.

I am also trying to come up with a panel design for each of the cut out's in that long wall by the long run of railing, which I would like to see go floor to ceiling.

A big room that is opened up to so many things makes coming up with a design difficult too.

 

[jonny round boy]

Personally, I wouldn't go with any of those railing designs.

Clear glass panels are the ONLY way to go with that room, short of a complete rip-out. There's already far, far too much going on in there. No one thing on it's own screams 'bad taste', but as a whole it just doesn't gel. There are far too many different design elements, and adding another will only make it worse.

Just my [2cents] of course...

 

[tiralie]

One reason they really want black instead of silver color that they are now.  There is nothing in them right now, so they are a little dangerous for kids.

The black probably would be an improvement over the silver, I was commenting more on the wooden frame inside the black railing.

I tried that route already, to no avail.  I have a feeling they may like the arched top one.

Like Johnny says, lots going on there. I would mock this up (cardboard) for them and have them live with it for a couple days. That design is really going to dominate the room, they may like it and that's fine. If you can try to draw the room in Sketchup so you can really look at all the options. Yes it's extra work (design time) but it's well worth it.
You are obviously doing something right, they keep asking you to do more work.

I am also trying to come up with a panel design for each of the cut out's in that long wall by the long run of railing, which I would like to see go floor to ceiling.

A big room that is opened up to so many things makes coming up with a design difficult too.

Another reason to draw that section of the room (in Sketchup). You could mock up the railing and see how various ideas for the wall will work. It won't help if the want what they want but it will help you.
I started messing around with it. If I have some time while pretending to watch TV tonight I will see if I can get a rough drawing to you.
Good luck and thanks for posting. Real interesting design problem.
Tim
Tim

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

I still don't get the too much going on part.  It is a huge area and you have the living room, dinning room, front door and a lot of traffic flow.

I hate the flush panel doors but, they stay for now.  I also think the front door is too plain but, He put it in several years ago so other then a coat of paint on the inside and doing up some more pronounced trim around it.

There is stone/masonry work, and wood work in the area.  The metal rails are the only thing that is different.

They are a pretty eclectic couple and have rather interesting tastes.

Here is the main hall off the living room.

 

[USPcompact]

Nice looking wainscoting and hallway...except for the doors.  [blink]

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Yeah, they do suck but, not in the cards right now.

To replace all the doors it would run near $30,000 for solid oak doors.

They want to, just wanting to get some other stuff done first. 

 

[Rob-GB]

I like these two, first one as it would be fun to make in the 'Chippendale Chinese Pattern', The second, also fun but more in the 'McIntosh style'. Both made easier with our favourite Domino jointer. ;D

Rob.

 

[AlexR]

Warner I'd be looking at black wrought iron balustrade, google for some good examples.  The iron work will keep the look light and airy. Glass only works well with brushed stainless steel giving very modern look which doesn't suit your job.
I would cut existing between bits out just leaving handrail and posts. Paint metal bits hammerite matt black or sheen. There are few metal decking spindles you could buy off the shelf but find your local wrought iron shop probably be a lot  cheaper than you think to custom make. Definitely lose the diagonal wood trim round the balustrade, a little 2"white nosing/sill of some sort will do. I'd also bulk up the handrail by adding some wood moulding underneath to give bulkier looking handrail and some more wood contrast on black iron.
Good luck which ever way you go.
Alex

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

They picked 2 that they liked and are going to pay me to make 2 mock-ups out of poplar to see which one they like.

We also looked into some sort of metal work for the inserts but, they are just concerned about sharp edges and the sort.

I think once I trim out the 4 doors in the room and do a paneled section over the wall cut-outs, I will have a pretty cohesive mission style going on in that room. 

 

[tiralie]

They picked 2 that they liked and are going to pay me to make 2 mock-ups out of poplar to see which one they like.

Just curious, which one did they (finally) settle on? Is it this project that you are putting your RAS through the paces on?
Tim

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

They picked 2 that they liked and are going to pay me to make 2 mock-ups out of poplar to see which one they like.

Just curious, which one did they (finally) settle on? Is it this project that you are putting your RAS through the paces on?
Tim

They like the one with the horizontal ties between the blasters.

I am currently making a new rendering that eliminates the extra vertical pieces of metal.  Trying to just have the posts, top rail and small horizontal bottom rail.  Also they would like a new cap for it as well.

All the wood is coming from some barn beams.  They just had what was left of the original barn for the farmstead tore down ( only about 50% was still standing).  So all the oak for the railings will be re-sawn and milled from the 120 year old barn beams.

As far as my RAS, I have been stripping base boards and door casings at my house.  2 layers of oil and 2 layers of milk paint on everything. 
Out of every method I have tried, chemical stripper, heat gun, Rotex, etc.  the RAS is the fastest at getting me back to clean wood.

I average one sheet of sand paper, 36 grit Saphir, per 10' of stripping. 

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Final 2 versions, they will be choosing one.

Also decided on a new banister top rail.

 

[tiralie]

Final 2 versions, they will be choosing one.

Also decided on a new banister top rail.

Darcy:
I think these look much better without the metal baluster/spindles.
Should be a nice challenge to fit those and get them to "look" like they have the same spacing between the main supports.
Tim

 

[harry_]

I was liking #2, from the first set.

 

[honeydoman]

one looks good  2 is okay but  looks like you would see at an asian resturant