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?

Caring For Your BEAUTIFUL GCW Cabinetry

How do I clean my beautiful GCW Cabinetry? A question we are always asked! You want to keep your dream kitchen sparkling and stunning… here's how to maintain it's beauty for years to come:

Wood Face Frames: You have chosen Craftsman style cabinetry with wood doors and framework. Face frames are constructed from individual pieces of wood. The joints where the vertical parts meet the horizontal parts are susceptible to movement from the expansion and contraction that these parts experience with fluctuations in temperature and humidity and therefore small cracks may be visible over time.

Wood Doors: All wood doors will expand and contract with changes in temperature and levels of humidity. Although every precaution is taken to reduce the noticeable effects of expansion and contraction during the manufacturing process, variations in humidity levels may cause visible changes to the doors. With low humidity, the center panel of wood doors may contract and expose small areas of unfinished wood. With high humidity, doors may show minor gaps in the joints and the frames may bow slightly. These conditions are normal and temporary; they will disappear when the humidity returns to a moderate level. These potential fluctuations can be reduced or even eliminated if the humidity in the home is controlled and kept constant. Small amounts of touch-up stain can be made available for pick-up when requested, at no charge.

Wood Variations: The beauty and uniqueness of natural wood brings with it an intrinsic quality in grain and colour variation. The Craftsman Series of wood products consists of doors with a “Select” grade of wood (unless requested otherwise); small knots and mineral streaks are greatly reduced however, some mild variation in grain and colour should be expected. Lighter stains will enhance these characteristics; darker stains will tone down these characteristics and increase the overall appearance of uniformity to the finished product.

Antique Finishes: All antique finishes feature a hand crafted appearance, which gives this product the “antique look” which is so popular in today’s market. This process is applied manually, which will result in variations in the uniformity and consistency of the antiquing. The finished product is unique in appearance and the amount of antiquing may also vary from showroom samples.

General Information: Although GCW only uses the highest quality of paints and stains that are available on today’s market, it is important to remember that these products require extra care to maintain longevity. All finished products will require a minimum of 30 days to cure; more time may be required with higher levels of humidity. Therefore, extra caution is required in the handling of these products during this cure time.

Colour Samples: Showroom samples are only a reasonable representation of the final product at best; stain may vary slightly from batch to batch and the wood grain of samples will also be varied. These products are hand finished; therefore, some minor variation may also occur at the finishing stage.

Antique, Glazed & Finishes: All antiqued or glazed finishes feature a hand-crafted appearance, which gives this product the “antique look” which is so popular in today’s market. This process is applied manually, which will result in variations in the uniformity and consistency of the antiquing. The finished product is unique in appearance and the amount of antiquing may also vary from showroom samples.

Care and Maintenance: A solution of mild dish soap and water is ideal for cleaning all components of the cabinetry and countertops. DO NOT RUB excessively in one area as this may polish or bring up a glossy area noticeable in the light. All cabinetry must be dried immediately after cleaning. Do not use any abrasive cleaners, pads, thick cream solutions, bleach or furniture polish on any part of the cabinetry. WD40 may be used to remove stubborn stains on the melamine cabinet components, followed by a soapy water rinse and towel dry.

*the above applies to wood cabinetry. MDF Painted cabinetry is also to be cleaned with a solution of mild dish soap and water as well. 

Before & After Kitchen Reno!

There's nothing better than a "Before and After" Transformation.
Watching all of the Design Shows on HGTV or W Network, the best part is always the reveal at the end of the show!
What's even better, is hearing the true testimonies of our client's home renovations.
Seeing the looks on their faces and hearing them describe what a transformation it has been, is pure joy.
It's like a real life design show for us each and every day!

Here's one of our client's Before and After Stories:

What a transformation! What do you think?

The Backsplash Woes

The Backsplash Woes. Everyone will catch it at least once in their lives, and it can be hard to cure.
Some common symptoms include:
- anxiety
- tension
- frustration

and even:
- slight dizziness due to thousands of options and uncertainty

Photo courtesy of JustBeMagazine.com

But... this is not something that needs to be medically diagnosed by any means.
All we need is a little bit of guidance when it comes to choosing the right backsplash. Yes, it can be a very daunting task, because most of us have come across one of those kitchens that could be so nice, if it weren't for that awful backsplash with little painted roses on every other tile.

There is a right and a wrong in this situation:

1. The wrong backsplash is overpowering and draws attention away from your beautiful, new (or aged) kitchen cabinets.

2. The right backsplash accents and complements your kitchen cabinets, finishing off the look.

But, here's when things get tricky - some of you may despise your cabinets and due to that fact, are on the hunt for some gorgeous tile to steal the show.

Well, when it comes to shopping, there is a large quantity of materials, colours, finishes, sizes, and what have you, that you may have to rummage through.
To ease that pain, we have come up with a few guidelines. 
This should help you discover what backsplash your kitchen is hungry for.

First of all:  Think about your kitchen. Is it traditional? It is clean and contemporary? Are your cabinets dark or light? Do they have a lot of detail or are they sleek? Are they so awful you just want to put up the nicest tile you can find so you can look at something else while cooking? Write down a list of words that describe your kitchen.

Secondly: Before you even open that front door, plop yourself behind the computer and do some research. If you have no idea what you like.. this is your chance to discover something about "you".
Type in some words that you've used to describe your kitchen and add backsplash to the end of it. After doing this, researching "Types of Backsplashes" will allow you to visual different materials, styles, and colours. A great place to do this is: houzz.com

Thirdly: When it comes to materials, there are plenty. But occasionally, at the local tile store, you find yourself in the backsplash section saying, "Is this it?".
Well, yes it is, if you're looking for the standard glass, mosaic, or ceramic tile backsplashes that come in small sizes.
But, there are many more options if you open up your mind: for instance, using floor tile has become very popular, and provides a very sleek, and clean sort of look.
- Stainless Steel backsplashes are stunning, either as your entire backsplash or just behind the range    (easy to clean off grease splatters).
- Glass backsplashes are also very nice, either in one slick piece (which gives a seamless, clean look), or glass tiles which can add interest.
- A newer product is back-painted glass in which one can choose from thousands of automotive finishes... such as BMW Pearlescent, or Ferrari Red! Amazing.  (Note: available at GCW!)
- Some other backsplashes include: stone slabs, granite, quartz, wallpaper, concrete, drystack stone, travertine, marble, beadboard in MDF or Wood, Chalkboard Paint from Benjamin Moore, Whiteboard Paint, mirrors, and the list goes on!

Fourthly: Durability is a huge factor. As much as something can be aesthetically appealing, sometimes there are materials that just shouldn't be used. Wallpaper as a backsplash, for example, can look so unique, but splatters of grease could ruin the paper, as well as the humidity from the stove cause the paper to start peeling off.
Rough Stone, such as a Drystack Stone, also can look very sharp but when it comes to cleaning - can you imagine trying to clean grease off of a brick wall?
It depends who you are, though, and what your lifestyle allows for...

If by now, you are still lost in the world of backsplashes, it doesn't hurt to involve a professional just for some advice!
If you are seeking an expert, take a trip to Scherba's Great Floors in Strathroy, ON. They are the experts and can help you find the perfect backsplash to complement your kitchen!
Here at GCW, we would love to help you with your backsplash questions, and our showroom is always available for inspiration and to give you ideas.
Come by and visit us any time!