Glass kitchen tables: choices, pros and cons

Traditionally, kitchen tables have been and are made of wood. But along with this material, as well as with metal, plastic and stone, it is advisable to use glass. Tables made from it are no worse, the main thing is to take into account all the subtleties and nuances when choosing them.

When choosing a kitchen glass table, we must not forget that, first of all, it should be practical, and its appearance plays a secondary role. All key requirements for kitchen furniture are set out in a specialized GOST. Yes, it is intended for catering establishments. However, it is all the more relevant to take into account the basic principles when selecting furniture for the home. It is imperative to look at whether the geometry of a particular table and its structure meet the needs of people:

• his high;

• width;

• type of material used;

• stability;

• reliability;

• comfort.

The table legs must be able to withstand the required load. An important role is played by the strength of the connection between these supports and the table top. Last but not least, it is judged how well the table will look in a particular environment.

Glass furniture looks very nice and fits into almost all types of interiors without any problems. The reflective and at the same time transparent material looks light and pleasant. The indoor space will not be excessively cluttered. In terms of functional properties, glass products are not inferior to other designs.

You should also consider such advantages as:

• undoubted environmental friendliness (almost the same as that of natural wood);

• no danger of rotting;

• absence of bacterial and fungal infections;

• zero risk of parasite infestation.

Problems arise after a while, when it becomes necessary to take care of the glass table. The glossy surface becomes covered with fingerprints very quickly, and they are clearly visible. Even the toughest brands of glass scratch easily and you need to be constantly careful to keep everything in order. Only gentle cleaning compounds are suitable for cleaning.

Glass "rings". It is enough to move some kind of cup or plate, cutlery on it, and immediately a loud sound is heard. You will have to use coasters or softening wipes. Food cools down on a glass surface much faster than on a regular wooden table. And some people may not like the feeling of cold when touching it.

Round kitchen table, along with the more familiar quadrangular designs, is in great demand. Such furniture has been used for many centuries. You can choose such a solution in the range of any self-respecting manufacturer. The very shape of the circle is valued for its demonstration of the equality of all family members and others. After all, each of them is equally far from the middle.

A round table is safer than rectangular ones due to the absence of corners. This circumstance is critically important when furnishing a kitchen in a house with children. It will be possible to place quite a lot of people behind it, and the leg in the middle will not bother anyone. There are also round tripod modifications. They are much more reliable and stable than the single legged versions.

But no amount of legs fixes another drawback - it is almost impossible to put two round tables next to each other. If the countertop is large, it will be very difficult to reach the dishes located in the middle. Because of these considerations, many people shopping for dining furniture prefer square structures... According to the requirements of ergonomics, for every person sitting, whether they are adults or children, there should be at least 0.7 m of free space.

In this case, 3 people can sit behind it at the same time. Even those who live alone often face this need. They deservedly won considerable popularity and oval kitchen tables... Like its round counterparts, there are obviously no sharp corners here. Therefore, it is such a decision that is appreciated by active, hospitable people.

Although the oval table will take up the same amount of space as the round table, it will also accommodate more people. If there is not enough space, you can purchase a small model with an "oval" tabletops 1 m long. As for transformer tables, they will also become a real find for connoisseurs of extraordinary modern styles.

Transforming tables are made both in Russia and abroad. Therefore, adherents of any furniture tradition will be able to find a suitable option. In this case, an important role is played by what specific material the manufacturer used. Structures are often made of tempered glass (the professional name is stalinite). The practicality of the product only increases when a pattern is applied to the tabletop by sandblasting.

Such models are not covered with microscopic scratches (or rather, these scratches are extremely difficult to notice). Tidying up the tempered glass surface is a pleasure. There are also three other varieties of particularly durable material:

• float glass;

• triplex;

• thermally toughened glass.

But whatever the material, people are also interested in the color of the countertop. Glass can be painted in a wide variety of tones - thus it surpasses even the best types of wood. You can choose both those that coincide with the prevailing color, and tonalities that contrast with it. White and black are traditionally a win-win solution.

Despite the popularity of contrasting combinations, the vast majority of people still prefer to use the same colors throughout the kitchen. In this case, the correct selection of shades plays an important role. A difference of 1-2 tones is enough to make the interior more pleasant and graceful (or, conversely, an indefinite vague atmosphere formed).

Yellow, peach and other "sunny" shades cheer up, but they also stimulate appetite. For those who do not have any particular problems with this feeling, it is better to focus on a more familiar and calm color scheme. After all, if white and black don't suit you, there is also green and brown and gray tones (with many tones in each case). Another very unusual solution is tables with frosted glass. Opaque or partially transparent countertops are widely used and can be found in many homes.

Matting is done not from the front, but from the back. This technology allows not only to make the material opaque, but also to achieve original visual effects. The appearance will not be damaged even after long-term use. You can always take such a table outside and use it there. If you don't like the matte finish too much, you can choose options with photo printing.

The difference between glass tables can also relate to the design. A monolithic block looks like a one-piece tabletop, fixed from above or glued to the base. In the first case, several holes are made, which allow you to place the fastening structures. In the second, reliable and very durable adhesive mixtures are used.

Sliding modifications deserve a separate discussion. They are used when they use a small table every day, but at the same time you need to receive guests from time to time. In extendable tables, a relatively simple mechanism is used, located strictly in the middle from the bottom of the table top. Folding tables can also be transformed as needed to increase the size.

Occasionally there are models of glass tables with wooden inserts. But they are not very practical, because the tree is damaged by water and swells. But the legs made of lacquered wood are no worse than their metal counterparts.

Completing the review of glass kitchen tables is appropriate on models with plexiglass worktops. Such a coating lasts a very long time and retains its appearance flawlessly. The popularity of organic glass was very high in the middle of the twentieth century. Now this material is experiencing its renaissance, its demand in the furniture industry is growing again. The polymer can be obtained by casting or extrusion. The second version of the technology is rather complicated and time consuming. Therefore, it is used relatively infrequently.

At the same time, extruded polymethyl methacrylate is not sufficiently resistant to mechanical stress and impacts. It is worth dropping something heavy on it, and the canvas will be almost irreversibly broken. The cast version is much stronger and more reliable in operation. You can find plexiglass in a variety of colors. Professional designers often use so-called soft organic glass, which:

• does not slip;

• safe to use;

• tolerates even contact with hot objects.

First of all, you should pay attention to the size of the furniture. Small specimens are attractive to owners of small-sized real estate. Experts recommend choosing tables according to the height of the tallest family member or regular guest. For the convenience of lower people, seat cushions or chairs with elongated legs are used.

The width of the glass table must be at least 0.6 m for 1 eater. If it is smaller, the seated ones will cause great inconvenience to each other. As for the depth of the countertop, it is usually 0.4 m per user. However, you need to reserve an additional 0.2 m above this so that you can safely place a large dish in the middle and use it.

The geometry of the table deserves a separate discussion. Sometimes there are completely unusual geometric shapes. However, they are not appropriate in every interior. The thickness of tempered glass products should ideally be 0.01 m. And the minimum allowable value is 0.008 m. Quality products made in industrial plants are marked with the words "tempered glass".

Connoisseurs find it best to choose the version with rounded edges. They are as convenient and practical as possible. A tinted table top is more convenient than a transparent one (since it does not allow you to see other people's legs). To find the best compromise between the required size of furniture and the limited area of ​​the room, it is necessary to choose transforming products.

If a store or manufacturer gives a warranty of 2 years or more, this is extremely useful. Triplex glass has the greatest reliability. Blanks from it cannot cost less than 1200 rubles per 1 sq. m. Such glass successfully stops even bullets fired from small-caliber hand-held weapons.

Triplex is cracked, unlike tempered glass, which nevertheless crumbles to pieces on impact. Heat-toughened glass is tougher than regular glass, but less durable than tempered glass. The countertops made of heat-strengthened glass are not afraid of hot objects. However, such material splits on impact into sharp fragments. Therefore, it is not used very often.

In a house with small children or pets, it is advisable to use tables where the glass is framed with plastic. This significantly reduces the risk of injury. A wide variety of materials can be used to make the legs. However, the chrome parts have the greatest visual impact. If the underframe is made of wood, it will be possible to fit the piece of furniture even into the country style; the leg in this case is also made of wood.

A good place to start when discussing the design of a glass kitchen table is that too many people find it unusual and unsuitable for home use. This is the inertia of the past, since 30 years ago the fragility of glass did not allow making furniture out of it. Today it is most appropriate in the high-tech style. To make the composition look original and complete, you need to combine glass and metal elements.

In a minimalist hi-tech version, glass tables should occupy one of the most visible places. An oval shape will be preferred over a round or rectangular shape. The legs should be made strictly of metal. Glass tables work best in combination with glossy white kitchens. However, glass structures are appropriate not only in high-tech environments.

They fit perfectly into the Art Deco atmosphere. In this case, the most important property will be the shine of the glass - it must be used and played around in every possible way. Art Deco tables have an unusual, often sophisticated shape.The table top must be equipped with an original edging and built-in lights. The Art Deco format implies maximum external luxury and sophisticated appearance.

As strange as it may sound, glass can be used even in the style of Provence. In this case, it is used to a limited extent, and the main role is given to wooden parts. Versions equipped with forged metal legs or with the same bedside tables will also look good. Much more often, however, the glass table is used in the avant-garde and pop art styles.

To harmoniously decorate the kitchen, you can use kitchen aprons with a similar photo print. The most advanced solutions are equipped with displays that are connected to the Internet. As for the loft-style tables, they should be placed in a fairly spacious kitchen. If the area of ​​the room is small, this solution will not work. Glass in a loft setting is becoming one of the main materials, the purpose of its use is to create a sense of free space.

The Art Nouveau style is different in that you can show your maximum imagination. The selection of suitable tables is simply overwhelming. Often the emphasis is on the color contrast of parts of the table, while the same contrast should be contained in the room as a whole. In a small kitchen, a glass table will add "air", which will help to avoid visual overflow of space.

It is often said that looking after a glass kitchen table is very difficult. It is not difficult to find stories about glass furniture, which is constantly stained. But the whole point here is the lack of the right approach. Immediately you need to learn a clear principle - we put the plates in the sink, which means it's time to collect all the dirt with a soft napkin from the table. It is not recommended to do this with rigid devices, because even the most durable glass is easily destroyed.

It is best to purchase special rags that are sold in hardware stores. A rubberized rag for cleaning car glass is also suitable. Another option is a microfiber product. It is not recommended to wipe the glass table with ordinary dishwashing detergents. It is much more correct to use compounds for cleaning windows.

When there are small children in the house, a mild vinegar solution can be used. This home reagent is much safer than brand-name drugs. To less often clean and wash the surface, it is advisable to put napkins on all dining areas. Glass top replacement services are less likely to be required if:

• do not put dishes on it, the temperature of which is higher than 45 degrees;

• do not place objects heavier than 50 kg on it (and ideally heavier than 30 kg);

• avoid touching the table with forks, knives, chef's hatchets, scissor blades and so on;

• refrain from washing with aggressive mixtures and cleaning with abrasives.

The acrylic parts of the countertop are washed with a mild soapy solution. You can rub them only with soft sponges. Brushes with dark hard bristles and steel wool are strictly unacceptable. Noticing a small scratch, you can gently, without undue pressure, remove it by rubbing with sandpaper. Further, this place is covered with GOI paste.

See the next video on how to choose a glass table.