Eco-Friendly Kitchen Design

KITCHEN CABINETS

Eco friendly wood cabinets are easier than ever to find .  Bamboo is a wildly popular material for kitchen cabinets. Though not truly a wood – it’s a grass plant – it does have the look, feel and strength of wood.  Salvaged wood cabinets are seeing a renaissance of sorts. Homeowners looking to add a bit of history to their homes as well as being eco sensitive are looking to the past for cabinet materials. FSC certified woods harvested from sustainable forests provide the option of beautiful hardwoods without damaging the earth.

Look to manufacturing processes in kitchen cabinet production – steer clear of kitchen cabinets produced with environmentally damaging practices including the use of Volatile Organic Compounds,(VOCs) , Formaldehyde and other toxic chemicals.

KITCHEN LIGHTING

Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) and fluorescent lights are the best  energy saving options for lighting your kitchen and home.  Kichler Lighting offers the prestigious  “Lighting for Tomorrow Award” winner Design Pro LED Cabinet Lighting (shown above) an innovative and easy to install under cabinet lighting  – whether you choose to DIY the install with the Kichler Cabinet kit or hire out the installation to a pro.  The Kichler LED Cabinet lights provide a bright, warm, white light that shows your kitchen off beautifully,  is a non-heat producing light that uses 75 percent less energy than incandescent lighting, and best of all LEDs are long lasting. On average the Kichler Design Pro LED Cabinet lights will last over 20 years. Kichler also offers incredibly slim and stylish LED discs (shown on left)  that can be used inside kitchen cabinets to provide additional illumination or for under-cabinet lighting  – the choice is yours.

KITCHEN APPLIANCES

Kitchen appliances including refrigerators, stoves and dishwashers can be extravagant energy wasters. Focus your energy and budget on replacing your old kitchen appliances with Energy Star rated products – doing so will pay off for your personal finances with long term savings, and while you’re saving money you will also be helping better the planet with the reduction of your household’s carbon footprint.

The Whirlpool Resource Saver refrigerator (shown on left) is an attractive eco-friendly addition to your kitchen, The Resource Saver beats Energy Star standards by 10 percent – generating power that is the equivalent of a 60-watt light bulb.   The Resource Saver refrigerator is one of several environmentally friendly appliances in Whirlpool’s Eco Kitchen collection which includes a dishwasher that uses a third less water, and an energy-savvy stove that “intelligently” enters a sleep mode to conserve energy.

KITCHEN FLOORING

Linoleum, glass tiles, salvaged stones or recycled flooring materials are perfect eco-kitchen flooring options. Linoleum is a biodegradable natural flooring material that is affordable, strong and easy to keep clean – a must in the kitchen. Recycled  flooring materials like the Ann Sack’s Trend Q collection (shown on left) is created from  up to 72 percent post-consumer waste and comes in a number of gorgeous color combinations. Salvaged stones and ceramics while an expensive environmentally-savvy option are the ultimate in recycling and repurposing. If you decide to use salvaged materials in your kitchen, then seek local sources as opposed to buying salvaged flooring that will require significant transportation.

KITCHEN WALLS

Walls can be painted with low VOC paints (Sherwin Williams’ Harmony paints, Ben Moore’s Aura paints, Certa Paint Pros and Lowes’ Olympic paints), covered with organic, handcrafted  wallpaper or tiled with gorgeous eco friendly tiles made from renewable resources like glass.

If you can find it , Natura by Ben Moore (recently debuted nationwide – ask your Ben Moore retailer)  is the Green Living enthusiasts best option for wall paint:  it has zero volatile organic compounds, is almost odorless, comes in a range of stylish colors and provides a long lasting finish.

If tile is more your style, then consider installing Bedrock Industries’ Blazestone tiles  (shown on left) which are handmade from post-industrial and post-consumer glass – with no added oxides or colorants.

KITCHEN COUNTER SURFACES

Concrete, recycled glass, salvaged stones and surface materials produced from post-consumer and post-industrial products provide a variety of counter top options. Ann Sacks’ Trend Q (shown on right) engineered flooring material previously highlighted in the eco-friendly kitchen flooring section can also be used for counter surfaces and wall covering.

Images courtesy of Whirlpool, Ann Sacks, Kichler Lighting, Bedrock Industries,

Eco Friendly Bath Design

BATHROOM CABINETRY

As is the case with eco kitchen design, there are numerous wonderful, eco friendly cabinetry options for the bathroom. Vanity Flair, a Canton, Georgia manufacturer of bathroom furniture, has crafted an environmentally friendly vanity and medicine cabinet made from Bamboo plywood (Plyboo).  The contemporary styled  Avalon bathroom vanity (shown below) provides stylish storage in an eco-savvy fashion.

PLUMBING FIXTURES

Napola dual flush toilet by Wasauna (shown on left) solves the dilemma often associated with environmentally safe toilets – low flow flush.  Those low flow toilets sort of defeat the purpose of being environmentally friendly if one has to flush them repeatedly. Another great option in the eco-toilet category is from TOTO. TOTO has three categories of high efficiency flushing toilets that provide a1.28 (water) gallon per flush: Dual Double Cyclone Flushing System, E-Max Flushing System and Dual-Max Flushing System. A typical non-high efficiency toilet uses on average 5.5 gallons per flush, and according to TOTO for “a household of 3.2 people over 365 days” that equates to 32,120 gallons of water used. Replacing the non efficient toilet with a high efficiency toilet can add up to a water savings of 24,665 gallons per year – leaving a positive impact on your household budget and the environment.

BATHROOM ACCESSORIES

Some of the eco bath designs discussed here have a sizeable expense associated with them. So what to do if you want to Green  your bathroom but a bathroom remodeling or new plumbing fixtures aren’t in your home’s future?  You can still Green the bathroom by decorating with eco friendly bathroom decor like the sophisticated. black and white Patrick McMullan “So 80s Studio 54”  PEVA shower curtain (shown on left)  from Izola Shower.  The shower curtain is made from PEVA (polyethylene vinyl acetate) instead of PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) , is biodegradable and durable. According to the Healthy Building Network, the critical difference between PEVA and PVC is the chlorine molecule – absent in the PEVA. The Healthy Building Network notes that :

Chlorine is the source of many of the environmental health concerns with PVC, such as the generation of dioxin, a highly carcinogenic chemical produced in both the manufacture and disposal of PVC. Due to its persistent and bioaccumulative nature (it travels long distances without breaking down and concentrates as it moves up the food chain to humans) dioxin has become a global problem and an international treaty – the Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) – now prioritizes the elimination of processes that produce dioxin.

Some of the non chlorinated vinyls (EVA, PEVA, PVA and PVB) are now beginning to be used as direct substitutes for PVC.

TILES

The hand-made glass tiles from  Bonfire Glass Tile (sample of tile colors shown above) are made from 90 percent post-industrial recycled materials.  The recycled glass tiles are available in numerous patterns and designs. Custom tiles for the bath or kitchen can be commissioned.

Image credits and  resources:  Vanity Flair, Wasauna, TOTO, Izola Shower, Healthy Building Network, Bonfire Glass Tile.

Earth Day 2009: Green Design Issue Round-up

• Good Housekeeping’s Green House
• 5 Eco Friendly Paints
• 10 Eco Friendly Flooring Options
• 5 Best Eco Friendly Luxury Linens and Bedding
• Eco Friendly Latex Mattresses
• Salvaged Woods: History Made Anew
• Eco Friendly Candles
• Eco Friendly Bath Design
• Eco-Friendly Kitchen Design
• Good Housekeeping Green Seal of Approval
• Top 5 Eco Friendly Chairs: Green Design Takes A Fashionable Seat
• Top 12 Stylish Eco-Friendly Rugs – 2009
• Organic Blankets: Wrapped in Guilt-Free Comfort
• Eco-Friendly Decor: Love Your Home, Love Your Planet
• Eco-friendly Tiles: Choices abound for those wanting to Go “Green”
• Eco-Friendly Bedding
• 5 Tips For Buying Eco-Friendly Furniture
• Eco Chic in Bedroom Design
• Sitting Pretty in Eco-Style: Sofas

Good Housekeeping Green House

Green House Master Bath	Green House Parlor Floor Wet Bar

Green House Kitchen

For it’s third annual “Green House” program Good Housekeeping has given an old, tired brownstone an eco-friendly renovation. This time Good Housekeeping teamed up with “LEED for Homes” an environmentally friendly certification program from the  U.S. Green Building Council.  The brownstone was renovated in the Summer of 2008 and soon after received the “LEED- Silver Certification, making it the most environmentally-friendly private home in New York City”, according to Good Housekeeping.

The Good Housekeeping Green House is a four-story brownstone on Harlem’s West 122^nd Street – a chic, urban example of the newest lifestyle trends and family-friendly home design.  The home features all of the key environmental hallmarks, including low-flow plumbing, skylights with solar panels, denim insulation, tankless hot water heaters, no-VOC paint, recycled hardwood flooring, a back yard designed by a landscape architect specializing in truly “green” gardens, and more. – Good Housekeeping

Rosemary Ellis, editor in chief of Good Housekeeping, describes the magazine’s responsibility to provide eco designing information, ideas and inspiration  to its readers– including Good Housekeeping’s recent introduction of the Green Seal. The Good Housekeeping Green Seal of Approval will help consumers make informed decisions with regards to “Green” products.

More Information : Good Housekeeping Green Home Makeover

Environmentally Friendly products used in the Good Housekeeping Makeover (source Good Housekeeping):

• Bosch – kitchen appliances; washer and dryer
• CaesarStone – kitchen and bathroom countertops
• Culligan – water filtration system
• Diamond Cabinets –kitchen cabinetry
• EASYHEAT – under-floor radiant heat in the kitchen
• Fresh Aire Choice Paint – no-VOC wall paint
• Kohler – low-flow plumbing
• Lennox – HVAC
• Lennox Hearth Products – fireplaces
• MI Windows and Doors – all windows
• Noritz – tankless hot water system
• Shaw Floors – all hardwood floors and floor coverings
• Velux – solar sky lights

Images courtesy: Good Housekeeping

5 Eco Friendly Paints

1. Sherwin Williams Harmony (sherwin-williams.com)
2. Benjamin Moore Natura (benjaminmoore.com)
3. Lowes Olympic (lowes.com)
4. Certa Pro (certapro.com)
5. Green Planet Paints (greenplanetpaints.com)

10 Eco Friendly Flooring Options

1. Cork
2. Bamboo
3. Salvaged Woods
4. Recycled Glass
5. Recycled Nylon
6. Wool
7. Cotton
8. Sisal
9. Sea Grass
10. Silk

5 Best Eco Friendly Luxury Linens and Bedding

Luxury organic bedding made The Decorating Diva.com’s “Hot 10 Home Decor Trends for 2009”.  In that trend report we highlighted the fact that sleeping Green meant silken comfort as organic bedding manufacturers introduced Earth friendly linens that felt and had the appearance of high-end silks – from designers like Anna Sova who’s beautiful eco-bedding collection comes in at number one .   Anna Sova’s eco-silk dupioni bedding collection is fair labor-made without resorting to the use of harmful, toxic fertilizers, petrochemical pesticides, formaldehyde, heavy metal or azo dyes and silicone sizing.

In our “Luxury Linens Organically Good” we highlighted the number two, three and five best eco-linens winners: Amenity Home (#2) and Maliaka (#4 and #5). Both of these eco bedding manufacturers prove that organically made linens can be beautiful, free of toxic chemicals and bursting with color. Malaika’s beautifully embroidered linens, in addition to being earth friendly, are crafted  and embroidered by underprivileged Egyptian women – giving them the opportunity to better their lives and that of their families and community.

SDH Linens secures the number four spot with their Purists Collection.  The Purists collection bedding is made without any chemical ingredients – no bleach, no formaldehyde,  chemical based dyes or finishes.  The Purist linen collections utilize all natural fibers including: Egyptian cotton, linen/cotton, silk, cashmere and SDH’s proprietary Legna fiber.

1.  Anna Sova Dupioni Silk Bedding

2.  Cream + Lavender Organic Bloom – Amenity Home Bedding

3.  Orange Naniwa Linens -  Malaika Collection

4.  SDH Linens Purist Collection (Jasmine).

5.  Blossom Linens – Malaika Collection

Images and Resources: SDH Linens,  Malaika (Luxe-Brands), Anna Sova, Amenity Home

Eco Friendly Latex Mattresses

Natural Latex, a product of the rubber tree,  is organic, renewable and sustainable. Contains no Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC). VOCs can off-gas and lead to health issues in those with a predilection to chemical sensitivities.

A unique characteristic of a natural Latex mattress is its ability to spring back to form and to provide an extraordinary surface that molds to your body’s every curve. Latex mattresses do not have the spring coils often associated with traditional mattresses– so waking up with pains and aches will be a thing of the past.  Allergy sufferers will delight in knowing that natural latex mattresses are hypoallergenic. Natural latex is resistant to mildew, mold and dust mites. Natural latex is made of millions of self-ventilating interconnected cells giving the latex mattress the ability to keep you cool, comfortable and dry on even the hottest evenings.

Most eco friendly natural latex mattresses come with equally Green mattress covers. Depending on the mattress vendor the cover options may include: bamboo, wool, and cotton.

Simmons Natural Care Latex Foam Mattress (Pike’s Peak). The Pike’s Peak luxury mattress features the best natural latex available, Talalay. In addition to the highest quality natural latex material, the Pike’s Peak mattress provides a firm seating edged composed of soy enhance foam. The Evenloft (TM) Design provides for a very even sleeping surface which can contribute to a better night’s sleep.

Organic Mattress from Savvy Rest. Savvy Rest lets you customized your organic bedding experience, you can choose from 2, 3 or 4  layers of natural latex  (your choice of Dunlop latex or Talalay latex) wrapped in organic cotton or wool.

Cloud Mattress from Natura World made of an eco-balanced combination of natural latex and natural soy foam encased in an eco-friendly and hypoallergenic wool lining covered in a soft cotton blend.

Images and resources: Simmons Natural Care by Danny Seo, Savvy Rest, Natura World

Salvaged Woods: History Made Anew

Inherent in the use of reclaimed woods is the potential to protect the Earth from  further deforestation, however that’s not the only reason to consider salvaged wood products for your home or next remodeling project. Salvaging woods and other materials from old buildings destined for demolition is clearly a labor of love by those who seek to recover materials rich with history and for the homeowner wishing to impart a piece of history to their home.

Many of the wood floors being stripped from properties slated for deconstruction are unique in a way that modern woods can not be – many of those woods were allowed to grow old, and gain characteristics that are not found in today’s harvested woods which are often cut down when they reach a certain age. Woods with these age-imbued distinct markings and visual history have been in high demand. Initially as replacement floors, joists and beams in historical building restoration projects, and then in  the luxury home market as home owners paid premiums for wood flooring salvaged from buildings or 100 year old logs.  In some cases, rare, nearly extinct species of wood have been recovered from deconstructed properties. In the past, those woods along with other materials from scraped buildings and homes would find their way to landfills today they are a treasured gem awaiting salvage and reuse.

Reclaimed woods salvaged from homes, mills and other commercial buildings built before 1941 and with little historical significance are being transformed into new furniture thanks in part to the efforts of companies like Turning House Furniture.  Turning House Furniture plans to debut its new line of  Green furniture crafted from salvaged woods at the Spring 2009 Highpoint Market. The furniture line will consist of three collections (Summer House, Fresh Heritage and Belgian Modern) containing about 100 furniture pieces designed by Caroline Hipple and Dixon Bartlett.

Eco Friendly Candles

Soy candles reign supreme in the world of eco friendly candles. Soy is a renewable and sustainable resource, biodegradable, water soluble , clean burning and non-toxic.   Soy wax candles last longer than their less eco-friendly counterparts, the paraffin wax candle, since they burn at lower temperatures.

KOBO Anisette Orange Pure Soy Candle – hand poured soy wax, organic essential oils and clean burning lead-free cotton wick make KOBO candles safe for the home and the planet.

Green Wisteria Soy Candle by For Every Body (FEB). FEB was started by Becky Anderson back in 1995 as a result of Becky’s concerns regarding the many harsh chemicals found in bath and body products. Her quest for safer and all-natural products resulted in a product line of organic and natural products “For The Home” (candles in this case ) and for personal use. FEB products can be found nationwide at the following retailers:  Kohl’s, Home Depot, Lowe’s and Zellers.

Soy Inspiration Crisp Cotton by Soy Basics. Soy Basics is one of the leaders in the earth friendly home fragrance industry and does not engage in animal testing of their products.

Images and resources: KOBO Retail locations, For Every Body, Soy Inspirations candles