Back to School Time Means More Cooking: Does Your Kitchen Need an Upgrade?

Summer is finally over. While that means no more beach days or vacation hours, for families with kids, it also means back to school time.

You may have gotten through the summer by cooking in the backyard on your grill or going out to eat more often. Now though, the kids will need packed lunches and homecooked, hearty meals so they have the fuel to excel in school.

The start of the school year (and the fall season) is the perfect time to assess your kitchen to decide if you need an upgrade. Here are some areas to start with.

Countertops

When you get busy in the kitchen, your countertops are often the first to show signs of wear and tear. Whether it’s stains, chips, or pockmarks from years of cooking and cutting, it’s okay to be tired of your countertops.

With glass countertops, you won’t have to worry about the above issues. Glass is generally stain-resistant; when you make a mess, simply wipe it up with a damp paper towel. There are no crevices or holes for food and bacteria to hide.

By upgrading your boring kitchen countertop to a glass countertop, your whole kitchen will look much classier.

Backsplashes

Cooking can be messy. Luckily, backsplashes exist to catch water and cooking liquid so your walls don’t stain. The problem is though, metal and wood backsplashes don’t hold up well. Metal can start to rust and corrode, and wood can become warped and soggy. Yuck.

Glass backsplashes, available in a variety of patterns and colors, are a great alternative. These will never rust or warp, making glass a durable choice for the kitchen. If you notice your backsplash has gotten a little dirty, again, use a wet paper towel and some cleaner to wipe away stains.

Sinks

The sink is one of the most important parts of your kitchen. This is where you store dishes and clean them. Since sinks are so important, it’s no wonder they’re so expensive. That may have prevented you from upgrading your old, brittle metal sink even though it’s been there for decades.

Treat yourself. A glass sink is easy to clean and adds so much sophistication to your kitchen. With such a beautiful sink awaiting you every day, you almost won’t mind having to do the dishes. Almost.

Kitchen Islands

As a luxury item, your kitchen island should be a standout part of your eating space. Yet if you choose a kitchen island made of materials like wood or metal, the island may be looking a little worse for wear. Instead of being a source of pride like it should be, you feel embarrassed whenever you walk into the kitchen and see your sad kitchen island.

It definitely sounds like it’s time for an upgrade. A glass kitchen island can often be designed and decorated to your exact specifications if you shop with the right glass manufacturer. This means you can select colors that match your kitchen, adding a cohesiveness to the room.

If you’re ready to redesign any of these parts of your kitchen, give us a call at CGD Glass Countertops. Based in Toronto, we specialize in customized glass items for residential and commercial use. Contact us today to learn more or get a quote.

Commercial Glass Door Uses: Our Five Suggestions

We’ve said it before, but it’s always worth repeating: in the commercial sphere, your individuality is what sets you apart from the competition. Your brand is yours and yours alone, and no one else can touch that.

Today, with Internet marketing so pervasive, some commercial businesses put less focus on their bricks and mortar locations. This is a mistake, as this commercial space should be one of the main hubs where your brand is represented the most.

One way you can introduce your brand is through commercial glass doors. Here are five different business types and applications to inspire you.

1. Restaurant Entrance

The restaurant entrance is the first glimpse that consumers get into the establishment’s interior. First impressions certainly count, so make sure yours is impactful with glass doors at the entrance.

These can be branded with your restaurant’s name or just subtly decorated around the edges. Guests will appreciate the elegance of these doors, and it will put them in the mood for a classy and memorable dining experience.

2. Hotel Lobby

Hotels are often all about opulence, especially in their lobbies. After all, this is their chance to show the customer what their hotel experience will be like. Large, cavernous lobbies with artwork and decorative flourishes from floor to ceiling are the order of the day.

That said, boring doors will detract from the ambiance these hotels are trying to create. By adding beautiful glass doors to your hotel’s entrance, you’ll complete the look of your lobby.

3. Museum

Museums, especially those that focus on artwork or historical artifacts, are often curious, unique buildings meant to draw in customers. While these may not always appeal to the younger crowd, decorative glass doors in a museum will certainly resonate with adults who are looking for an educational experience at said museum.

These doors will also let the sunlight in, showing off certain exhibits.

4. Upscale Retail Store

Retailers are often in cutthroat competition with one another, trying to outsell each other to win the customer’s loyalty. Retail stores today take great care with their window displays to draw in passersby outside.

Another way to draw in passersby is with a stunning glass front door bearing the name of the retail store. This is certainly something the competition hasn’t yet thought of, giving you a leg up.

Much like the museum example above, these beautiful glass doors will filter in more sunlight, making your store offerings seem almost ethereal.

5. New Business

Last but certainly not least are the startups and other new businesses that dot any city landscape. Although you might not think you have it in your budget, if you work with a glass manufacturer and producer like CGD Glass Countertops, you’ll find a glass door is more affordable than you thought.

You can also use this as a branding opportunity and as a means of keeping employees productive. After all, all those florescent lights give people a headache after a while.

If you’re interested in getting glass doors for your commercial space, contact us at CGD Glass Countertops today.

Just How Safe Is Glass Decor?

You’ve heard a lot about glass décor, perhaps by reading this blog or an industry magazine. Your interest is definitely piqued, but you have one major question, and it pertains to safety.

Is glass décor safe? Can you trust that your glassware like tables, doors, and even furniture won’t shatter?

The answer is yes and no.

Wait, why such a complicated response? Because there are a lot of factors that can go into how safe a glass product is. These include the reputation of the glass manufacturer, the thickness of the glass, and the user’s behavior.

We will now explore all three factors more in-depth.

Reputation of the Glass Manufacturer

You know the old saying that you get what you pay for? When it comes to home décor, rarely is this truer.

If you buy a cheap item, such as a glass table or shower enclosure, you can’t expect it to last forever. The reason the cost is so low is because the manufacturer likely cut corners to produce the item. That means durability and reliability come into question.

To prevent wasting your time and money, research glass manufacturers ahead of time. At CGD Glass Countertops, our reputation is unmatched. We produce a wealth of glass items, including home and commercial glass décor. These items are customizable, too.

Glass Thickness

It almost goes without saying that the thinner your glass is, the more likely it is to break. Again, though, this mostly comes down to the manufacturer. Not all thin glass is fragile, but it certainly does depend.

Yet you may find that thick glass doesn’t necessarily fit every home décor item you want. So what do you do? Do you take a gamble on thinner glass or opt for something you might not really like?

At CGD Glass Countertops, you don’t have to. Our customization begins from the moment you begin planning your glass accent piece. We let you choose the thickness based on the desired measurements of the planned item.

The current glass thicknesses we offer are ½-inch, ¾-inch, one-inch, and one and a half inches. With these thicknesses, you can choose your glass item your way so you’ll be happy with it for years to come.

User Behavior

Another major factor that determines glass longevity is user behavior.

While glass may not be as fragile as a feather, it is breakable. If you’re not careful with it, you could shatter your glass item.

That means, as the owner of said glass item, you should generally avoid the following behaviors:

• Using glass surfaces like bar tops, tabletops, and countertops without a coaster or other protection
• Using a knife directly on these surfaces
• Slamming shut glass shower doors
• Generally acting rough with glass surfaces

You should also encourage your family members—especially children—to be careful around these glass items.

Even the thickest and most well-constructed glass items can break with improper use and care. The more you look after your glass items, the longer they’ll last.