a plurality of bracket systems for use in a railing system, wherein the bracket systems are each assembled by a customer performing the steps of: selecting a plurality of metal base flange portions each having a front surface and a rear surface, each rear surface having a respective female attachment member; selecting a type of rear rod-like member from a plurality of different rear rod-like members, each rear rod-like member having a respective male attachment member that attaches to the respective female attachment member so that each rod-like member extends perpendicularly from each respective rear surface, wherein the plurality of different rear rod-like members have identical male attachment members and respectively different attachment members at an opposite end thereof and are selected depending upon what the rear rod-like members are to be attached to; and selecting metal brackets that attach to the metal base flange portions and support rails for the railing system wherein said metal brackets are: a) comprised of solid stainless steel, b) can withstand 200 pounds of load force, and c) are adaptable to wood, sheetrock, steel and glass surfaces