Using Glass Table Tops in Interior Design

When visitors come to your home, where do they gather? Chances are you answered the living room or dining room, which is why these areas of your home should be comfortable, flawlessly decorated, and ready to receive guests. Of course, the design process includes making the right choices when it comes to furniture.

In designing a dining room, selecting the right table is one of the most important decisions you will make. As one of the largest and most used pieces of furniture in your home, a dining table will set the tone for the rest of your decor. In your mother’s day, nearly everyone had massive, solid wood tables that were always dressed with a tablecloth when company came for dinner. Now, we have many more options, including glass tables, which are meant to be used uncovered, as they catch the light and add elegance to your dining room.

Glass table tops are available in a wide variety of forms, tints, and types, although most people prefer a transparent rectangle or oval shape with a beveled (slanted) edge for a dining table. The majority of glass table tops are made of strong safety glass, and will last years with normal usage and cleaning. Glass dining room tables fit seamlessly into most design sensibilities - depending on the cut of glass and the base you choose, they can look modern, traditional, artistic or even rustic.

A more common place to find glass table tops in the home is the living room. In this area, people are usually more open to experimentation with different shapes and etching. Remember also that, depending on its style, the base of your coffee table can provide storage for items such as books, albums, or coasters.

These photos are just a few of the limitless options in glass table tops!

About the Author: Glass and Mirror Pros is a glass company in Orlando dedicated to making customers happy by creating beautiful glass products customized to their specifications. Whether you are looking for a glass table top, glass shelves, shower enclosures or more, we’ll be here for you. We can help you hone your vision and create a unique glass table top that is guaranteed to be the centerpiece of your home! For more creative tips follow us on Facebook!

Thanks to Glass & Mirror Pros for this guest blog post for Design Savvy Interiors

Electric Fireplaces have come a long way.......

This is a guest post from Jeanne Grier, Design Consultant, Stylish Fireplaces, www.stylishfireplaces.ca  by Huntington Lodge.  With the colder weather approaching I thought it was a timely article to add to my blog and Jeanne agreed .  Many of us remember the electric fireplaces of back in the day that were not so great looking nor efficient.  Well, they have come a long way and are a great addition to any space especially when you may wish to change the location, something you cannot do with wood burning or gas. Electric Fireplaces offer so much more flexibility in placement as well as they look great these days.  Please enjoy the article..... and for more information and ideas click on the link provided at the end of the post.

What’s New with Electric Fireplaces?
Today’s electric fireplaces are more stylish and realistic than ever, offering homeowners, and their builders and designers, a wealth of options for every lifestyle.  Before I share some of the latest designs, let’s review the basic features and benefits of an electric fireplace: 

• Zero-clearance design allows installation into, or on, any material.  This means that you do not need to have a fire-proof surround, because there is nothing burning inside an electric fireplace.  If you wish to install in drywall or wood cabinetry, you may do so.
• No combustion means no venting required.  Because there is nothing burning inside an electric fireplace, there is no need to vent it as you would with gas or wood fireplaces.  This means that you do not need to limit installation to an outside wall.
• Plugging into a regular 120 volt outlet means easy installation.  There is no special connection required, and some models offer the option for direct-wired installation and 240 volt connections, for added flexibility.
• Operation with or without heat means a more comfortable environment.  The flame effect in an electric fireplace may be operated with or without heat, as the heater is a separate element that does not have to be turned on when the flames are turned on.  This means that you don’t have to turn off your fireplace because the room is too hot; you simply turn off the heater and continue to enjoy your fire. 
• Flame generation by light bulbs means greater efficiency.  The flame effect in an electric fireplace is created with light bulbs, either incandescent or LED.  It costs from less than a penny an hour, up to 3 cents per hour, to operate an electric flame without the heater.  With the heater turned on, an electric fireplace will use a maximum of only about 18 cents per hour, far less than a gas fireplace.  Plus, there is no standing pilot light required in an electric fireplace, for even greater savings. 

Now that you understand how easy it is to work with an electric fireplace, let’s take a look at the newest innovations.   
The latest Optimyst insert from Dimplex, shown here in the Thompson mantel, uses ultrasonic technology to turn cool water into mist.  When light hits the mist, it creates a realistic burning effect unequalled in the industry.  This insert is designed to fit into existing wood-burning fireplace openings, so you can easily retrofit almost any fireplace.

 

The fastest growing category in electric fireplaces is wall-mounted. These fireplaces are contemporary in styling, and are designed to mount on the surface of the wall, rather than mounting into the wall. This model, with a curved glass front, is from Amantii. It comes with crystals in multiple colours, as well as white stones, so you can style it to suit your décor. It has the option for heat, as with most electric fireplaces.

 

 

Linear fireplaces have become extremely popular over the past few years, perhaps in answer to the popularity of wide, wall-mounted TV’s. Very wide designs are popular in the wall-mounted category, as well as for in-wall models. This Synergy fireplace, from Dimplex, is currently the widest electric fireplace capable of being flush-mounted into all wall, while still offering a heat option. It is 50” wide by 20” high, and fits into 2x8 construction. 

Because of their zero-clearance design, electric fireplaces lend themselves to media cabinets. With a place for the TV and its components, as well as storage for DVD’s, these cabinets offer an all-in-one solution for many family rooms and basements. They come in a host of wood finishes; only this one, the Portobello from Dimplex, comes in a light painted finish. The heat from the fireplace is blown out the front vent, and will not affect the TV above. 

Presented by Jeanne Grier, Design Consultant, Stylish Fireplaces by Huntington Lodge
jgrier@stylishfireplaces.ca
www.stylishfireplaces.ca

 

Guest Blogger from Arcadian Lighting

Hello, everyone! I'm Mari, a writer for Arcadian Lighting, a wonderful online place to find pendant lights, chandeliers, and light fixtures of all sorts. When you visit, please stop by our lighting blog and say hello. I'm so happy to be here with you today at Design Savvy to share a guest post about metal and glass pendant lights. On my list of favorite lights, pendants come in second only to chandeliers. I've pulled together eight rooms that are lit by these beautiful and functional fixtures that will enchant you with their many shapes and sizes. Please enjoy!

Three glass globe pendants shine down on a dining table with x legs, metal-covered top and nailhead trim. I love the cow artwork and botanical plates.

Another trio of pendants is lovely above the breakfast bar in this modern farmhouse style kitchen. The rich color of the metal contrasts nicely with mirrored interiors.

What could be better than this charming group of tiny glass pendant lights? Perhaps that same grouping combined with six Tolix chairs. What an inviting dining space!

This pendant with silvery metallic shade is a perfect companion for the Mid-Century Eames wire chairs. A cheerful sunny space for breakfast with the family.

Glass bell jar pendants with metal trim are a lovely choice for lighting foyers, small or large like this spacious inviting space.

This colorful dining area with banquette seating gets very stylish lighting in the form of a metallic gold lined white cone pendant above the antique table. It's a lovely eclectic mix of styles.

A large cluster of frosted globe pendants looks stunning in this chic dining room. The lights are a nice contrast to the stone pattern on the wall.

Glass cloches have been turned into a trio of lighting fixtures with metal fittings. The glass pendants seem to have been made to hang above this industrial style dining table—and indeed they were created especially for the space. Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 What do you think of these metal and glass pendant lights? Leave us some comments at the bottom and be sure to stop by our website for more ceiling lights, wall sconces, and lighting fixtures!