Desire To Inspire - Inspirational Kitchens!

I'm excited to present to you this first kitchen, in a series of wonderful kitchens culled from the Desire To Inspire blog! Jo and Kim, the ladies who are the force behind this award winning blog, (recently named one of the ten most influential design blogs in the blogosphere) have an "eye," a vision for finding stunning interiors. It is the place I go to when I just want to look at interiors to get, well, inspired. In fact, it can be very addicting, looking at these beautiful spaces!

It is not quick and easy to do what Kim and Jo do. The time spent on research behind the scenes is impressive. To create a collection of spaces, which all flow from one to the next, is itself, a creative work. Whether the context is color one day, style the next, a showcase of a particular design firm, or any other theme, we understand what it is we are viewing. It all makes sense.

Let's look at this elegant kitchen. It just speaks to me. I think, because, it reflects my personal style. Maybe that's why I'm choosing this one first. Here's what I love:

• combination of cool and warm colors/shades and the larger proportion of warm shades
  
• contrast of woods
• contrast of colors
• the simplicity
• the artwork
• the personal, lived in, look (it's not sterile!)
  
• the natural, branch-like, touches
  

The clean, yet warm, lines are soft contemporary at its best. I'm crazy about it, what do you think? And, thanks, Desire To Inspire!

 

Kitchen Triangle Smackdown!

Is the kitchen triangle all it's cracked up to be? Well, YES, for the most part. But, today's news in kitchen design is that the kitchen triangle just may not be for everyone! And, the funny thing is, I do believe that my presenting a kitchen plan to a client which does not include the kitchen triangle allows the client to be more savvy and confident in regard to what they want from their kitchen, not less.

In this situation, I gave my clients a wide variety of very different plans which were good possibilities for their space. There is never just one solution, oh no! Some plans had angled islands and peninsulas, including other design solutions, and, appliances in varied positions. 

Long story short, this was the one they chose. Why? For two reasons. First, they both cook. Right now, their aisles between obstacles, all around the kitchen, range from about 24" (that's correct) to 39" in width. Incredibly tight, with no room to move around. Frustrating to say the least. No doorways or windows could be moved.

Second, they have frequent visits from their grown kids and their families, and they love to entertain.  When they entertain, whether for family/casual purposes or other guests, they wanted to have an area where they could set food down in buffet style. This was one driving force for the plan they chose. I reminded them that this seemed to be their focus, to make sure this was the path that was right for them.

When I mentioned that the trade off of this plan is the island's position as an obstacle between the clean up sink and the cooking area, (what a great cooking area it can be) this was not a concern, a trade off that many others could not live with, but, to these clients, is seen more as an advantage than a disadvantage.

Next week, I will give them options for the clean up sink to be on the other wall, switching the refrigerator to be near the sliding doors. Why? Perhaps the sink going on the adjacent wall will bring us more interesting design opportunities for that wall, and send the monolithic refrigerator to where it is less obtrusive. Put the refrigerator where the pantry/storage is? No, the door swing does not work at all that way.  

The plan also allows for good passage to the outdoors, and as my client mentioned, the ability to turn the table chairs around for more seating at the seating end of the room. Designing three areas into one means that the client needs to consider which areas get the emphasis...the kitchen, dining area, or lounging area. This is the critical piece. The answer is different for everyone, there is no right or wrong.  Drawing plans in a simple way, such as this, enables my clients to focus just on countertops/storage, appliance locations and traffic flow. Now, the blanks can begin to be filled in.

You CAN break out of the kitchen triangle. I promise the kitchen police will NOT track you down!  And, if they do, call me, I'll bail you out!

 

Green Kitchen Cabinets - All Or Nothing?

This is a good opportunity to introduce my colleague and friend, Kelly, who just started her blog on, what else, kitchens! It's called Kitchen Sync.

Kelly also has that golden attribute "experience," always a good thing.  Let's add to that, good judgment, good knowledge, and good creativity, and you have an interesting blog. I had asked Kelly if she wanted me to introduce her sooner or later. She forgot to answer that question, so, based on this great post she did today, it's right NOW!

Kelly talks about some of the challenges we designers face today in both identifying what is "green" and defining "green" in methods and materials involved in kitchen remodeling. I've talked about that too, and I agree, there just is no black or white, rather, shades of green. Ultimately, our clients will decide for themselves what their definition of green is. And, I, and Kelly, in the meantime, work hard to increase our knowledge of sustainable issues relating to our clients. Good stuff, Kelly.

 

Antique Kitchen Cabinetry - Get The Look

I saw this gorgeous image from one of my VERY favorite blogs, The Reclaimed Home, and I immediately knew I have much to say about it. For the moment, enjoy this beautiful kitchen. Later today, when things calm down in my schedule, I'll be back to talk about it in more detail. I'm crazy about this look (and it's not even my style.) More later...what do you think of this kitchen?

OK, I'm back.  Let's take this a step further. You want this look, but you really want it to look authentic, but you don't have the time or inclination to scour the flea markets and salvage yards, or if you do, you've come up with something, but not nearly enough to outfit a whole kitchen.

You've got to know about Draper DBS cabinetry. Shameless self promotion aside, you just need to know what this company does. I took on this line of cabinetry for my clients because I was seeking authenticity...and I found it.  To me, authenticity is defined to be as close a replication to an aged patina as possible.

Draper DPS has worked with reclaimed woods, a great way to get a)  modern function and quality from new cabinetry and b) the look of antique cabinetry. Very wonderful.

They also (and truly, this was one of the biggest factors of why I needed to represent this company) hand plane their doors and other wood pieces on request. This means that the doors can have that slightly imperfect, handmade look. They have a variety of other distressing techniques as well. And, do you love that well worn painted look? Draper DBS has that too. Fourteen coats of paint later, a labor intensive process, you can get that multi-dimensional, sort of rippled look that is charming...and authentic!

 

White Kitchen, White Home

Not only is the kitchen white, but most of the home is white too. With accents, texture and little bits of color, it adds up to a gorgeous look. The home we see, today, is my cousin's home, just down the road from the Queen's summer castle in Denmark!

So, yes, we have another white Scandinavian kitchen...we cannot have too many, I think. Enjoy the tour of my cousin's home. She has two small children, and the woman you see in one of the images is her mother, preparing dinner. Oh, the house is 150 years old.

Please enjoy this slide show and tell me what you think!  

Black Kitchens - Trending NOW!

I know you're ready for some wonderful kitchens! Last week was mostly an informational week, and I think we need a few days of kitchen eye candy, or, let's prepare dessert first in our kitchens!

What a treat today, to see THIS blog mentioned on Decor8, by Rachel Perls of Hue Consulting. Rachel talks about the "black" trend in all things interior design related, including kitchens. Black, absolutely, is a trend in kitchens. I'm observing this trend is only getting stronger. I have to say it is stunning. It may be best dressed up, as you see in the little black dress, always a classic.

But, is it a classic, in terms of kitchen cabinetry? That is the question! Surely, we are seeing so MUCH black these days, but I'm still not convinced it translates to a classic in the kitchen. I predict it will be dated in five years.  I'd tread carefully around black, if you can resist it! Can you? 

Take a look at Rachel's take on black. She is a color expert, and her point of view is interesting and insightful. Images from decor8.

Or, you may want to add a black accent piece, rather than commit to black in your cabinetry, as I did in this kitchen I designed before black was even a whisper! There are other black accents in and around this kitchen:

 

Kitchen Ventilation - Copper Hoods

I received this really cute email yesterday from an artisan who makes hand crafted copper hoods. Here it is:

"Hello, I am writing this letter in regards to a product I make that I think you might be interested in, Copper hood ranges, at the moment, I make them in my spare time but I would like to eventually make it a full time job, there a few different styles I can make and I attached a couple pictures.  By trade I am a welder and I learned how to make and design them while working for a company in Alberta Canada, I try to offer the the best possible price."

The fabricator said he works only with design professionals because there are so many critical dimensions involved into custom making a hood, including issues with shape and proportion. Pairing a hood with the proper ventilation appliance becomes a whole separate challenge as well, in terms of dimensions, cfms, ducting options, and more. Likewise, he prefers to communicate with a design professional on finishes, material properties, and all other details mentioned.

Design pros, contact me for further information.

 

 

Kitchen Remodeling Ideas - See the Space

So, we've done more talking about our kitchen remodel in our NYC apartment. We don't necessarily make fast decisions, or if we do make a fast decision, which seems right, that's great, but we still like to let some time pass to revisit those decisions to make sure we were not just being impulsive. We decide, then ponder, confirm the decision, then act. That's our style!

Take a look at the pictures, so you can see the context of what we're going to do and why. Since those pictures were taken a few months back, some artwork changes have taken place, i.e., that huge black/white print is gone, among other changes, and the coffee table replaced. Eventually, we will get a flat screen tv and remove the large (but beautiful) bamboo cabinet.

The first image tells the story!

See that black loveseat? The way we have the furniture arranged, we are able to have two sofas in this small space quite easily. We NEED two sofas, so that we can each have one! We are unable to sit at a sofa without stretching out (mostly!) Invite me to your home and you'll see what I mean...

That one lifestyle detail drives the entire kitchen plan. 

 We need the new sofa to remain in the same position as the black one is now. That means that, by default, the wall will come down only to a height of approximately 42", about 6" above the countertop. This way, two goals are met:

1. Open up the apartment
2. Maintain two sofas

Take a look toward the front door. The only wall that will remain in the foyer area is that little piece of wall, which extends from the front door to the doorway of the kitchen. Everything else will go down to 42" in height or thereabouts.

There will essentially be an "L" shape at 42" high, an entry to the kitchen that goes to the ceiling, and the 26" section of wall at the front door. And, the wide, shallow pantry with shelves? Right now, it has hooks for coats, but I'll put shelving in there for needed kitchen storage. It's about 12" deep, making opening up the kitchen a non issue for storage purposes.

Here is what it looks like now, so you can get the flow of the space. Questions, thoughts, comments, let me have them!

Green Kitchen Design Inspiration

Today's post brings to a close, this special Green Kitchen Design Week. I have learned new information in the course of writing about this topic this week, and I hope you have too. I hope you are more aware than ever before of green design issues, product resources for green kitchens and the oppoortunities available to define "green" in the context of a kitchen remodeling project.

Three easy to remember concepts in living green and creating eco friendly kitchens are the 3 R's:

Reduce

Reuse 

Recycle

This is such a broad topic, I could never cover it in a week! In the future, I will discuss energy efficient lighting, eco friendly flooring, and other building materials used in a kitchen remodel, including how to find green products. Over time, I will also be adding to my green collection of websites and blogs, found on the sidebar. To get started, here are two resources I'm crazy about: Treehugger's How to Go Green and The Lazy Environmentalist, found via K+BB Green. Till then, here is a mostly green kitchen design (remember, you can express yourself in "shades of green") from Natural Home.

 

 

 

Kitchens and Color = Spirit!

Breaking News! Interrupting our regularly scheduled green series (again), I had to show you this. I felt like I hit paydirt when I checked one of my usual sources for decorating inspiration, Domino. Wow, take a look at Domino's reader's entries for their first decorating contest. This category is kitchens and dining rooms. You will quickly see that Dominos' readers are NOT afraid of color, texture, or decorative details! How great are these??

It's always so much fun to look at "real" kitchens, especially when you see real individuality in the design. I see spirit in these homes, and that's a special ingredient for a kitchen design that is always worth pursuing. Five finalists will be selected, and will be presented on October 23.  Good work, readers!

Tip: While you're at it, check out the Renovator's Diary blog, by Brooke Williams, also on Domino. I've linked to September's entries, a good look at Brooke's very interesting kitchen.  

 

White Kitchen - Great Style!

Let's take a brief break from all things green and take a look at a fun, white kitchen! Just cruising around, and spotted this little lovely kitchen on decor8, and I know you all need a kitchen fix, so here it is! What a great idea for instant color and dimension in the space. Of course, I see a cake with candles, but why not put up the banner, say, on a Friday night to start the weekend...

 

Green Kitchen Design - Things To Know

I think I'll throw out some random and useful information about designing green kitchens. These are not in any particular order, but are categorized for easy reference to get one started thinking about incorporating green kitchen design, and overall green principles.

My goal is to keep it simple! Here's why. At this point, (nearly) none of my clients, nor potential clients, are asking questions about designing a green kitchen. They are very busy people, that I know. For many, there is not much time left, with active jobs and families, to become aware of, and accumulate (quickly/easily understandable) knowledge on this issue and how it relates to the kitchen they are thinking about remodeling. Of course, it is important that the "big picture" of sustainable design has a chance to go hand in hand with one's own plans to remodel the kitchen. That's where I come in! Let's take a look at some of these principles which can be easily implemented toward designing green kitchens.

Appliances

So easy. Two words: Energy Star. Household products are awarded Energy status when they meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the EPA and US Department of Energy. It's making a difference..."Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved enough energy in 2006 alone to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 25 million cars — all while saving $14 billion on their utility bills." Quite impressive.

Water Conservation

Reducing consumption of our natural resources, thus, conserving water AND energy, merits understanding and knowledge of this issue, even for those who live in areas where the water supply is not an issue...yet. Why conserve water?

Two handy products in the kitchen to help conserve water are: a foot pedal  to prevent water from running needlessly and hands-free sensor faucets, also, to use water only when it's needed. Water savings are significant with these products.

Lighting Tips  - Take a look, and also take a good look at this great article from Treehugger on How to Green Your Lighting. And, here's a great chart to tell you exactly what to look for, as you transition your lighting from incandescent watts to flourescent lighting. Start with one light and see the difference. Flourescents are not as disappointing as they used to be.  LED lights are what you want to look for, for under cabinet lighting.

Ways To Save Energy In The Kitchen   

I think that's enough to get you going in the right direction! Tell me what you know, or what you've learned, I'd love to hear.  

Green Design - Reuse and Rejuvenate

As mentioned in my previous post, there are other great ways to reuse and rejuvenate, this time, decorative items, in the kitchen!

I've seen many well worn tables and chairs in my time, dining furnishings that have done their job, taken a beating, and often, are best retired, to be donated or handed down to others for renewed appreciation.  

Therefore, again, the answer is not always to buy new! Instead, buy a new table and antique chairs, or vice versa. Look at these beauties that jumped into my email today, from 1st dibs.com.  

 
Same for lighting...the hunt is what's fun. In thrift shops, flea markets, special antique events, shops, on vacation.

Consider buying vintage, antique, for a natural patina an item can only get from time. 

Take a look at this image of a kitchen I designed with vintage lighting and tell me it doesn't enhance the whole kitchen!

I've had more phone calls from people around the country after this was published, asking where they could find this fixture! It's tough to see, but there are two globes hanging downward.

Vintage is green at its most wonderful, rediscovering those gems from yesteryear (I really hate this word, but I just had to insert it, it sounds almost poetic!)  But, there's NO disputing the sentiment!

Reusing Kitchen Cabinetry?

Continuing on the green theme this week, part of the whole green design concept is to "REUSE." There are many very easy ways that we can reuse other, perhaps, older items and get a new (and surprisingly wonderful) perspective in the kitchen.

Point being, you don't have to buy everything new!

First and foremost, you have cabinetry. Sometimes the existing cabinetry is in decent shape, sometimes it's in bad shape. And, even if you can refinish it, perhaps, an option, the interiors are usually old and worn. Of course, oftentimes, the floor plan and cabinetry configuration will substantially change, making it very difficult to adapt the old to the new.

If you want new cabinetry, you should have new cabinetry. I'm not going to pass judgment on those who choose to either hold on to their old, worn, cabinetry, hoping/planning to give it new life, or who buy all new cabinetry, which may not be as green as it could be. It is an individual choice, end of story.

In this new, green, era, I see my role being to offer guidance, education and choices...this is a fundamental philosophy of mine, well before this green issue came upon us. I can help my clients go down a green road, or, perhaps, a lite green road. Should they become more informed about green design, including its issues and products? Yes. What they do with that information is their choice. That said, here are some easy ways to go green!

It's a great idea in old homes, to hold on to, say, the butler's pantry cabinetry, which may be simple, old, yet, charming. I've recommended doing that many times.  It is not cabinetry that one uses every day, and it usually adds to the home architecturally. Weigh this type of cabinetry carefully before thinking about removing it.

Sometimes I also design a built in pantry closet rather than adding additional cabinetry to the space. A pantry can be made on site, with doors and shelves, rather than purchasing more cabinetry. A few pieces of building material as opposed to cabinets. Sometimes this idea works out, and looks great too.

Ask your designer what the alternatives are, as well as the pros and cons, to design something more simple, more integrated with the architecture of the home, or, keeping some of which is already in place. Go down that road a ways.  

(A brief disclaimer...I did not have a say on this wall opening to the right. I would have narrowed the width of the opening and put casing around the sides as well as on top, like the door, perhaps with millwork joining the two openings, and I would have made the white cabinet shorter, or to the top of the opening. It was not my choice to have a two color hutch. What I once disliked, I think I've grown to like...yet, with those changes, I would have liked it better!) 

Induction Cooktops - Cooking Green

Continuing this green series, let's talk about induction cooktops! I went to a cooking demonstration today at the Bosch showroom in beautiful DUMBO in Brooklyn. The showroom is just under the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges and it's a stunning area.

The event was centered around induction cooking. I know something about induction cooking. I seriously considered it when I redesigned my kitchen in the mid 80s, yes, induction cooking was around at that time!  I couldn't get past the pots I had to use, that was my issue at the time, so I went with gas.

I wish I could remember the name of the company who made the induction cooktop (tiles) I almost went with. I can see it now. It was so sexy. They were so far ahead of their time, this manufacturer, there were these wonderful separate, square, induction tiles, I can see them now. And, if I remember correctly, I believe, somehow, they fit flush within the countertop for a very sleek look. Funny how these old memories are coming back.

Fast forward to today, a beautiful October day in 2007. Induction is SO here, so NOW. I'm glad I went to this event, because I didn't realize something very cool (or hot!) about induction cooktops. What I learned, is that induction heat is more powerful, which means it also heats hotter and faster than either gas or electric. Besides all of the other positive properties, this feature really makes me pay attention!

To review, here are the good properties of induction cooktops:

• instant heat adjustment (just like gas)
• 50% more efficient than gas or electric (heat only reacts with the cooking vessel)
• the cooktop is safe to touch when the cooking vessel is removed-paper or other items will not burn
• no gas fuel risks, i.e. leaks
• anyone can install it, unlike gas, unavailable in some areas
  
• clean cooking method
• no noise
• spills do not burn on the cooktop - it's easy cleaning

Downsides? It's pricey! Another, could be electricity failures. I don't see any other compelling negative issues.

Bosch has a few cool features such as auto pot detection. The cooktop recognizes the size of the pot. The cooktops also have a power boost function, helpful to get those pots of water boiling quickly.

I also would like to mention the brand new GE induction cooktop, in 30 and 36" sizes. GE says, a 3700-watt element offers the most powerful induction element in the industry and provides heat across 19 different cooking settings.

It's time to take induction cooking seriously. I sure will be. The major cookware manufacturers have also brought out new cookware just for induction cooking. Finding great cookware is no longer an issue for induction cooking.

Designing Green Kitchens 101

It occurs to me that one of my "life philosophies" translates very well to designing a green kitchen. I'm one who tries to be aware, not only of black and white, but shades of gray in relation to an issue. The shades of gray give us freedom, flexibility, and choices to find the right path toward the right solution, in this case, designing green. It is awareness.

Once one goes into the world of "green design" it's easy to become immersed in a world, not only of green products, but of ways to have a green lifestyle in general. 

You can go down that road as slowly and as near or far as you want to. I find that it is a journey. You can choose to be more "lite green" in your philosophy than "forest green." Think of it as fluid. I am finding the more I know, the more I want to know, forming my own, personal, version of a green philosophy (which is often changing.)

Here are some easy ways to begin thinking green for a kitchen remodel. You can incorporate just some of these ideas to make a difference. Find your own shade of green! Today, I will only focus on cabinetry, appliances, and countertops. Another day, I will address other areas of the kitchen.

My intent with this information is to keep it simple. To offer an easy starting point.

Cabinetry

• Resue/reconfigure, donate, or sell your old cabinetry, perhaps keeping some for storage elsewhere in the home

• If you are redesigning the cabinetry in your kitchen, look for FSC certified woods, formaldehyde free plywood, as a minimum criteria. You do not need to go with a completely green cabinet if it does not make your heart sing. Again, find your right shade of green, as this is one of your most costly investments in the project.

• Look for no or low VOC paints and finishes
  

• Look for cabinetry manufactured in a 500 mile radius

• Design cabinetry for universal design, maximum accessibility, or, multi generational use

• Select products which will be long lasting and durable 

• Add in a recycling center 

Appliances

• Replace old appliances to gain far better energy efficiency

• Buy energy star appliances

• Seriously consider induction cooktops - fyi, the major, high end, cookware manufacturers have produced beautiful, new, cookware just for induction cooking. Induction cooking is 50% more efficient than gas or electric.

• Get pedal or sensor activated faucets
  

Countertops 

This post on green countertops will continue to expand. Take a look, ask your designer about your options, see samples, and then "beat up" the samples to check durability, as I recommend. You want to make sure your countertop can last decades! And, you really want to love it! 

 
Find your own path to green. I do think this is an issue that is worthy of increasing your awareness about, absolutely. You know, with all the media focus on global warming in recent years, here's my philosophy. Few of us are scientists, of course. I'm certainly not. But, my own perception of all the attention on this issue sways me to err on the side of increasing my awareness, as well as my knowledge bank, than the other way around. You'll find the way that is right for you. I do need to advise you to beware of greenwashing. Always something bad comes with something good, it seems.

I have just added another blog link section called "Green Design Blogs" and will be adding to these over time.

Tell me about your green philosophy/thoughts, I'd love to hear them! What do you know, what do you think? What can you share?

Green Kitchen Countertops

Let's take a look at what's in the marketplace for green kitchen countertops! There is a surprising selection of materials, many of which are made from recycled materials. One of the principles of designing green is to buy for durability as well as for the long term. To that end, these materials should, ideally, be sampled before purchase, with a variety of products, such as:

ketchup

red wine
worscestershire sauce
balsamic vinegar
coffee
lemon juice
oil

I would also recommend that you use sharp objects on the samples (except wood!) to determine hardness, scratch resistance, and so on. I strongly recommend living with samples under similar kitchen task conditions for a little while. It's important to see how products hold up before you purchase them! Looking at where the products are produced and their transportation path to your home is another consideration which goes along wtih any product under consideration. Following is a good start at a list of green countertop sources.

Shetkastone.com  Shetkastone is a revolutionary product that has a 100% sustainable life cycle. Products that are produced from shetkaSTONE are manufactured from pre and post consumer waste paper and rely on using none of the Earth's overtapped resources. All by-products (waste created in the manufacturing process) can be recycled back into the manufacturing process.

Eleek   Eleek Recycled Aluminum Countertops are designed specifically to fit standard kitchen countertops. They are custom made to your specifications. Frontwrap, sidewrap and backsplash features can be built in, creating a sleek, modern integrated surface.

Lithistone  Environmentally appropriate technologies are combined to create our proprietary mixes, which consist of a natural mineral binder, different grades of sand and stone, recycled material, and organic mineral pigments. Lithistone can be customized to meet virtually any specifications with regards to size, shape, colors, and textural variations.

Squak Mountain Stone  A Fibrous-cement material comprised of recycled paper, recycled glass, coal fly-ash and Portland cement. Material is hand-cast into “slabs” as an alternative to natural or quarried stone. Resembles soapstone or limestones.

Trinity Glass Products   Recycled glass and concrete countertops

Eco-top  EcoTop is composed of a Forest Stewardship Council-certified 50/50 blend of bamboo fiber, a rapidly renewable resource, and recycled wood fiber salvaged from demolition sites. These materials are bound together by a water-based resin formula that is both petroleum-free and VOC-free. Because of this, EcoTop products can earn you up to six points on your next LEED project.

IceStone  IceStone® durable surfaces are strong like granite, not as porous as marble and heat-resistant like stone. The chemical composition is benign and 99.5% inorganic making it a very safe material from the standpoint of toxicity and fire resistance. Due to its high recycled content and Cradle to Cradle Certification, IceStone® materials can be used towards LEED points.

EnviroGlas  EnviroGLAS Terrazzo is made of post-consumer and post-industrial recycled glass.  Over 40 billion glass bottles are made every year, and 75% of them wind up in landfills.  Many municipalities have stopped collecting glass for recycling due to a lack of market.  We offer a solution to that problem. Each EnviroGLAS product is about 75% recycled glass and 25% binder by volume.

Richlite  Richlite Company, a manufacturer of paper-based countertops, offers a collection of warm and natural-feeling surface materials that breathe new life into the kitchen, bath and office. Richlite’s® unique paper surfaces bring a soft and comfortable ambience to a room that's rarely achieved through cold, hard stone and plastic solid surfaces. It’s made from environmentally sustainable resources and is an attractive, durable, long-lasting material that complements a variety of design tastes.

Avonite  Avonite's solution has been to adhere to the principles of sustainable design - the art of designing and constructing building which comply with the principles of economic, social and ecological sustainability and conservation. Widely acknowledged as an innovator in solid surfacing, Avonite Surfaces has leveraged that excellence to create ecologically sound products which are cost-effective and elegant.

 Alkemi  Made from 60% post industrial aluminum waste and resins. It is strong and exquisitely beautiful to the eye. Surfaces may sanded and buffed to a matte or high gloss.

Vetrazzo  All of the glass used in Vetrazzo is recycled, and it makes up about 85% of the total material. Most of the glass comes from curbside recycling programs. Other glass comes from windows, dinnerware, stemware, windshields, stained glass, laboratory glass, reclaimed glass from building demolition, traffic lights and other unusual sources. Every Vetrazzo surface has its own history. Due to its high recycled content, using Vetrazzo can help your project qualify for LEED certification. 

Craft-Art Company  Wood countertops and reclaimed wood. Eight new reclaimed wood countertop options are now available from Craft-Art.  The use of beautiful wood from the 1800s and 1900s, eco-friendly and functional, supports the goal to recycle the Earth’s resources as part of the sustainable building movement. Barn Red Oak, Chestnut, Beech, Heart Pine, Cypress, Barn White Oak.

Endura Wood Products  Endura Wood Products offers a wide variety of certified and rediscovered woods and wood products for homes and business. We believe that sourcing and offering only certified and rediscovered forest products is the best way to insure that our children can still see -- and use -- both the forest and the trees.

Syndcrete  Natural cement based, pre cast product, green/sustainable, high recycled content, chemically inert, no off-gassing, aggregates: post consumer bottle glass, tempered glass, wood chips, metal shavings, shells, more. Contributes from 2-8 LEED points. 

Bio Glass  Glass is made of almost 100% crystalline silica in the form of quartz containing 70-72% weight % silicon dioxide. Bio-Glass consists of 100% recycled glass. Bio-Glass colors depend on recycled components (hollow glass, tableware, and/or factory shards)

Caeserstone  CaesarStone is the first and only quartz surface to earn the ISO 14001 Certification for its compliance and commitment to the best green manufacturing processes. The company is committed to creating a better quality environment and is implementing procedures to prevent pollution and waste reduction at its manufacturing facility. In addition, CaesarStone is also certfied ISO 9002 (Quality Management standard) and NSF 51, is LEED (new commercial construction and major renovation projects) compliant and sports the Good Housekeeping Seal.

VitraStone  We fabricate eco friendly sinks and surfaces made from a special blend of ceramic cement, fly ash, and recycled glass. VitraStone has a soft satin finish with endless color and design options. We offer a selection of standard sink and countertop systems along with a custom design service. We are available nation wide and will ship anywhere. For residential and commercial applications, VitraStone is a smart choice.

Take a look at this article on green countertops, very interesting.  I hope to work toward seeing and handling all of these products personally and will report back as I do, as well as letting you know about other materials I come across. Please let me know if YOU have come across a green countertop material! Would you consider a green countertop product?

Sustainable Design and Living

More to think about today! When I went to Copenhagen in August, I visited the Danish Design Center. There is a permanent exhibition of a FLOWmarket, a market, divided into a mindset devoted to the examination of three categories of sustainable growth:

individual

collective

environmental flow

A holistic point of view and movement toward sustainable growth needs to encompass these three categories.  More from the Danish Design Center:

"Sustainable growth is all about generating growth on more than just an economic and a technological level. Indeed, throughout the 20th century we have witnessed how a one-dimensional view on growth has resulted in a wide range of imbalances on 3
levels:

Man’s relation to himself (rising stress, depression, and obesity curves, addiction, eating disorders, information overload, “always-on-line”-syndromes, symptom treatment etc.)

Man’s relation to society (over-consumption, increasing violence, xenophobia, global inequality, cultural rectification, conflicts over resources, commercialisation etc.)

Man’s relation to nature (pollution, agricultural toxics, factory farming, decreasing bio-diversity etc.)

Phenomena that individually and together bear witness to an unhealthy development of our societies that we can and must seek to reverse - or at least reduce - and push in a more holistic direction."

Please take a look at the flikr slideshow of this exhibition, I found it to be very thought provoking and still do. And, here is another point of view from Apartment Therapy Green obout this exhibit. Take a look. 

How can this thinking be translated to remodeling one's kitchen? Actions can be taken toward thinking holistically about a project. From donating or selling one's cabinets rather than disposing of them, to seeking products made within a 500 mile radius, to searching for environmentally friendly products, and so much more, to be talked about in the coming days and beyond. I just wanted to share this insightful exhibition with you.

Green Kitchen Design Week!

I'm excited to start this week out on a green note! This week I will be talking about green design as it relates to kitchen design and general principles of the many ways there are to think green.

I'm happy today, to introduce you to Jeff Holloway, CKD, a force behind the new blog, K+BB Green.  It's a blog about greening our kitchens and baths. I'm late to the party introducing Jeff, although he and I have been talking since the summer! Busy schedules intervened, and I chose to wait to introduce his blog until after he attended the Green + Design Conference to hear his thoughts on the subject and connect to what he learned.

It's a blog I certainly will be watching with great interest, especially since we are both kitchen designers. I have been very remiss in writing about green kitchen design, and that will now change. There is so much to say about kitchens, other than green related topics, but, I feel privileged to have my blog as a platform to promote responsible issues such as this, and I will do much more on this issue. In that regard, I will be attending my third seminar on green kitchen design soon. I'm finding that the more I know, the more I care about the issue.

Here are a few posts about the recent conference that Jeff wrote. First is about The Lazy Environmentalist.  And, another post on first impressions.

Here's what Jeff wrote to me as a general introduction to his blog, K+BB Green:

Time To Rethink Green, by Jeff Holloway, CKD

The design community is too focused on the products of green. This feel-good approach is not going to be effective over time. Product choices are driven by trends, trends are fashion and fashion goes out of style.
 
Specifying green products into our designs is a great start, but designers should focus more on the actual issues that have created awareness for sustainable design and then implement products and practices that can contribute to a solution. There is a lot more to this than choosing sustainable flooring, cabinets and countertops.
 
The commercial building industry gets it. The LEED guidelines that they use to help design their buildings work. Instead of requiring the use of certain products or even construction techniques, the program sets certain goals for buildings. For example, a building gains points for achieving a certain percentage of water or energy reduction compared to non-green buildings. So architects and designers are forced to look at the project as a whole rather than the individual parts specified.  We can learn a lot if we look at what LEED has accomplished.
 
Green design is much more than compact florescent lights and the latest and greatest countertop materials fabricated from recycled material. Designers should be specifying green products for some other reason then the proverbial “because we think it’s the right thing to do.” We need to educate ourselves about the why and then implement a plan that helps us design environments that keep our clients healthy while conserving our resources.