Last updated on February 21st, 2026 at 11:55 am
Arced Glass High Bar…Naples
Home design has worked alongside the art world since its emergence.
Accumulating fine art to hang on your walls, erecting a commissioned statue for your lawn or garden, and using famous prints on wallpaper, carpeting, or even linens has been a popular trend.
Now, the art world and design world have collaborated and collided in a new way, as professional artists have begun creating functional art for your home.
Downing Creates Custom Kitchen Counters As Functioning Art
Functional art is art that can be used in daily life. It includes any unique, one of a kind artwork that is both aesthetically and functionally valuable.
Here at Downing Designs, artist Jeff Downing creates custom kitchen counters, sinks, and bar tops, among other items, using his unique method.
He uses sculptured glass and concrete to create an organic pattern that is highly sought after by designers to add a unique and designer flair to everyday household spaces.
His custom kitchen counters spruce up a neutral kitchen. His glass islands are used for kitchen or bar space.
He is also widely recognized for creating one of a kind sinks. Downing Designs is a leader in functional art in the home.
Functional Art is Becoming the Standard
Designers and homeowners love one of a kind pieces. Artists that are able to incorporate their design into an everyday item are constantly emerging.
Artist Johnny Swing is known for creating chairs and couches out of everyday materials, specifically metals.
While he uses all different types of medium, he is most well known for his coin chairs. The seat of these chairs and lounges are made entirely of coins.
They also have unique shapes and structures that make them more artistic than your average seat.
Etazin is a company featuring the designs of Kathleen Werner that is gaining steady recognition for creating modern outdoor interactive chairs.
These chairs are movable and built into interlocking shapes to create a stunning and movable design that is perfect for an outdoor space.
Art of Rain is a company that gathers inspiration from an unexpected resource. They are well known for their beautifully designed oven range hoods and water fountains. Perhaps the most unique pieces they create are in their downspout collection.
A downspout connects to your gutters to travel the height of your home and direct the water to a specific location.
They usually match the gutter and are basically an unsightly tube down the side of your house.
Art of Rain creates downspouts that are pieces of art, creating a visually appealing and artistic structure for your home.
Open Your Eyes to Functional Art
Opening the public eye to functional art is a priority at Downing Designs. By adding something unique and one-of-a-kind to your home that serves an everyday purpose, you combine your individual artistic tastes with your everyday life, creating a home that is unique to you.
Jeff Downing
Founder, Lead Designer & Custom Glass Countertop Expert
Jeff Downing of Downing Designs, is a Tampa Florida–based design studio specializing in custom Glass Countertops, Glass Bar Tops, Glass Vanity tops and Glass Stair Treads. With decades of hands-on experience, Jeff is widely recognized for delivering textured glass surfaces integrated with LED lighting to create dazzling abstract statement pieces.
"Glass. Lights. Ambiance".