Kitchen Floor Decor

There's so much that goes into the designing of a kitchen, that sometimes we forget to look down.
Whether we are debating tile vs hardwood, or ripping out old flooring vs keeping existing flooring… it can be tough to decide which way to go.

Just like kitchen design, flooring design is always changing and improving. Have a look at these products that may make your decision-making a tad easier.

1. Hardwood in the Kitchen:
LOVE hardwood in the kitchen. Yes, if you drop a dish, it may dent the floor. Yes, if your dishwasher backs up, it may cause water damage.  But in today's housing layouts we are almost always faced with open concepts. There's nothing worse then chopping up a gorgeous layout with an ugly tile to wood transition. It makes the room feel smaller, and draws attention downward. Also, there any many hardwoods nowadays that come "pre worn"… in other words, a little bit scratched, knicked, dented, scraped in order to camouflage the inevitable wear and tear of life.

2. Love the look of Hardwood.. but not bold enough to take the risk?
Try Ceramic Tile planks in wood imitation:
One of the hottest looks in the tile world as of late is imitating the wood look. There are thousands of products available that will give you the look of hardwood, without the risks of hardwood. Keep in mind, these are still tiles, so you will still have grout lines. But, they carry the benefit of being waterproof, so not just great in kitchens, but also mudrooms, bathrooms… and gorgeous in showers!

Ceragres Tile - www.ceragres.ca

3. Patterned Tiles:
This is a bit more of a commitment.. but a great way to introduce pattern into a normally un-patterned room. It can add character, charm and will look like art!

The ever-popular chevron pattern.. gorgeous and can be done in so many different materials.

www.ceragres.ca

www.ceragres.ca

Or… if you are feeling really bold….

www.ceragres.ca

4. Vinyl Planks or Tiles:
Vinyl has a bad reputation.. we all instantly remember our parent's houses with awful vinyl flooring peeling in the corners. This product really has evolved and has come a long way. Vinyl also offers the look of a tile (you can even grout them), or a hardwood plank and comes in many different colours and styles. Not to mention.. scratch-resistent, water-resistant, pet/kid resistant! Have a look at the vinyl of today:

www.armstrong.com

www.armstrong.com

Lots to choose from in every budget, style, look, etc. What is your favourite type of flooring in the kitchen?

Choosing Timeless Finishes

When deciding to renovate your kitchen, or contemplating building a new house there is one thing that most people worry about - choosing the best finishes that will not date themselves in a few years.

There's something to be said about that classic, timeless look that can stand the test of time.

But how do you achieve such a look?

Source: Style At Home

First of all, think first and foremost about what you like - it's important to know your style, so that you don't end up just choosing what's "trendy" at the time of your reno or build.

Sift through websites, magazines, and pictures and pull the ones that catch your eye. Take down notes that describe the elements that you like in the photos - the colour palette, the door style, the flooring, the overall look, etc.

When meeting with one of our Kitchen Designers, you can bring these photos in as inspiration for the overall design.

Working with a designer will ultimately result in the dream kitchen design that you're aiming for. They will be able to implement your desires and needs for the space while keeping the style true to you.

When selecting the finishes to pull together the space, neutral is always a classic way to go.

Keeping the cabinetry and countertops a neutral tone will allow you to change with the trends in other ways - wall colours, hardware, accessories, etc. 

Try not to go too trendy in terms of materials - for instance, mosaic backsplash tiles are trendy now, but the busy look will most likely look dated in 3-5 years from now. 

You want to be able to keep the more "permanent" aspects of your new kitchen neutral, and leaning to a simple style.

For instance, what once was very popular was a raised panel, detailed door style. These now are looked at as dated and very traditional. While that may be your style, try to go to a simple version of the look you like. Keeping it simple will be more appealing to the masses (thinking resale value), and again will make it easy to keep up with the trends and update the look as time goes on.

Source: Decor Pad

Be sure to stop by our London or St Thomas showrooms to start the process with one of our talented designers. Leaning on their expertise and knowledge of kitchen design and how to achieve that classic timeless look will undoubtedly make the whole experience an enjoyable one! We look forward to working with you!

Kitchen Trends of 2014

At the London Lifestyle Homeshow, two of our talented designers took the stage to talk about Kitchen Trends of 2014.

In case you weren't able to attend, or wanted a re-cap of the presentation, see below!

GCW Displays for Sale!

GCW is moving!!! We are so excited to move in to our new location in St Thomas, and we are busily preparing for that transition. In the meantime, we are clearing out our St Thomas Showroom and offering you some AMAZING deals on these beautiful displays.

Information, pricing, and photos are listed below on each picture.

For more info and serious inquiries, please visit our St Thomas Showroom. You will be able to see the displays in person and speak with a Designer regarding any questions you may have.

Most of these displays are priced at 50% off!!!!

Some have been reduced by more than 85%!!!! 

Don't miss out on these amazing deals! :)