Earth Day is April 22 -- Designers Celebrate!

Designers have always put their own spin on things, so when I wanted to get the skinny on the best new green products for your homes (and mine!), I went to my designer friends, and a few other folks in the know. Here are their finds, along with a few of my favorites.


WALL CANDY

There is an unsung hero in the tile industry: Fireclay Tile. Fireclay has many "green" options available that do not sacrifice aesthetics. In fact, in the majority of projects in which I specify Fireclay, the client is unaware that it's green.

Fireclay's Debris Series recycled tile on shower walls
in a Mitch Levey-designed bathroom

Mitch Levey - Designer/Tile Specialist
Mitchell Keith Tile & Bath Collection
Tampa, Florida

My favorite sustainable product is Kirei Board. Kirei is a pre-finished sheet good that's made from sorghum straw. Unlike a lot of products that disguise the fact that they're made from agricultural waste, Kirei draws attention to the fact that it is essentially a board made out of straw. It has a natural geometric pattern to it that I find irresistible. Kirei can be used anywhere you'd ordinarily use a veneer --on cabinets, furniture walls and even floors. It's made with a formaldehyde-free, water-based bonding agent that produces zero VOCs. I sheathed a knee wall in a kitchen with it last fall and have another, similar use for it coming up in June.



Paul Anater - Designer/Blogger
kitchenandresidentialdesign.com
St. Petersburg, Florida


I love 3form's products: Their resin-based Varia is made from 40% post consumer products. They have virtually endless finish and color choices, and each piece is made upon order. You can also place anything inside of the resin - grasses, flowers, fabrics etc. - for a truly unique look. We have used this product to replace the glass traditionally used in cabinets, wall screens, exterior canopies, and even for custom-built furniture. 3-form has truly proven to be one of the most versatile products we ever found and is specified in almost all of our projects.


Dean Larkin, AIA - Architect
Dean Larkin Design
Los Angeles, California


The gold star I would give to a green interior design product goes to the Ripple PaperForms wallcovering from MIO. It's strikingly modern and helps with both acoustics and insulation in a room. It's made with a modular design, so the tiles can be arranged to create different patterns. Because they're modular, you can also replace tiles that become damaged. And you can paint them so they can be any color needed to match the interior design scheme. The tiles are made from renewable and recycled content (100% post and pre-consumer waste paper), and are recyclable. Twelve square feet of this tile costs $32, so they're affordable in the bargain.



Nicolette Toussaint - Designer/Blogger
Living in Comfort and Joy
Comfort and Joy Interior Design
San Francisco, California

Interstyle Ceramic & Glass, one of North America’s leading glass tile manufacturers, has a new collection of linear mosaic tile with recycled content. Icestix comes in 1/2″ x 2″ and 1/2″ x 4″ tiles in straight, running bond and random stagger sheets. The collection is available in 12 textured color blends. Linear tile will be a hot trend in 2009. You can install it vertically as an accent at a range or cut up the sheets to mix it with large field tile.



Ann Porter, CKD - Designer/Blogger
KitchAnnStyle.com
Kitchen Studio of Naples
Naples, Florida


COUNTER-INTUITIVE

I find the new developments with concrete to be really promising. Today, we can find concrete with up to 90% fly ash content, and there is experimentation going on with tweaking the basic recipe to create new properties in the concrete."

Concrete vanity top and integral sinks
by Tampa-based Concrete-N-Counters

Mary Jo Peterson, CKD, CBD - Designer
Mary Jo Peterson, Inc. Design Consultants
Brookfield, Connecticut

My absolute favorite new green product for residential applications is Paperstone. The colors within this product line are perfectly bold and saturated and can give a kitchen or bathroom countertop a strong look, without looking busy. The best part about the Paperstone is that seven colors within the Certified Series consist of 100% post-consumer recycled content. It is spectacular to know that a countertop made of paper and resin can be just as strong and stain-resistant as the other quartz products out today. This product is truly unique.



Rachael Clayton - Countertop Specialist
Florence Marble and Granite
Tampa, Florida

I'm a big fan of Vetrazzo recycled glass countertops. I first saw these beauties up close and personal at the 2008 Kitchen/Bath Industry Show. They'll work in traditional, transitional and contemporary rooms. My only qualification is that they need to be periodically sealed, (like granite, wood or marble.) If Vetrazzo is not available in your area, look for a similar surface called IceStone.


I also love solid glass countertops, like those produced by ThinkGlass and BioGlass. Glass is a versatile material stylistically, though I like it best in contemporary settings. It's also durable and sustainable.

Glass slab countertop from ThinkGlass

Jamie Goldberg, AKBD, CAPS - Designer, Blogger
Gold Notes
Jamie Goldberg Kitchen and Bath Design, LLC
Tampa, Florida


ENERGIZER HONEYS

My favorite new product is the Lennox SunSource Solar assisted heat pump. By using a single solar panel, this unit can result in additional eight to 10 percent energy savings. Although not suitable for all situations, it just goes to show you what great innovations are possible.



Tom Rinicker - Home Inspector/Blogger
GreenandEasyHome.com
Inspector Help
Land O'Lakes, Florida

My favorite green product is the geothermal system for heating and cooling your home. I like this system from both the environmental and financial perspectives. On the front end, you pay more for a geothermal system than for a conventional HVAC system. However, you will recoup your investment while protecting the environment. There is also an energy tax credit that you can discuss with your tax advisor.

Geothermal Unit by Northern Heat Pump

Susan Lang - Designer/Blogger
Designing Your Dream Home
Design With Susan
Nashville, Tennessee


SIGNS OF LIGHT

I love LED technology for many reasons. It's incredibly energy-efficient. It's cooler than incandescent or halogen lighting when installed under wall cabinets in a kitchen. It is incredibly versatile, and can be installed in ceilings, cabinets, backsplashes and countertops. It's increasingly turning up in decorative fixtures, as well.

LED Pendants from Progress Lighting

Jamie Goldberg, AKBD, CAPS - Designer, Blogger
Gold Notes
Jamie Goldberg Kitchen and Bath Design, LLC
Tampa, Florida

Eco-luz by Varaluz has stylish designs that utilize recycled or reclaimed materials in their products. This Mini Chandelier has petrified wood shades made from left-over stones from other projects, and the hand-forged frame is made with 70% (or more) recycled steel. This means that it is good for the environment, as well stylish for your home!


Abby Kluender - Lighting Specialist
Lighting Style Blog
Bellacor.com
Mendota Heights, Minnesota


You might like this related Gold Notes post:













Four Products for a Healthier, Style-Smart Kitchen

ISLAND FEVER III - STYLING YOUR ISLE

'Tis the season of decking halls, lighting menorahs and Auld Lang Syne. Why not add styling a kitchen island to the traditions list? If you're putting one 'under your tree' this season, make sure it does your home proud!

I'm often asked, "Does my island need to be the same as my other cabinets?" It doesn't. But it needs to look like it belongs in the same space. Here are a few cabinetry dos and don'ts on achieving this effect:


DO...

* Match the island's door style to the other "peripheral" cabinets. If you've always loved bead board style doors, an island is a great spot to add them, (as a little bead board goes a long, long way!), but match the rails and stiles, (the door's "frame") to the peripheral cabinets in terms of size and shape.



* Use the same door style if it's available in a different wood - e.g., stained cherry peripherals and painted maple island; white peripherals and stained maple island.

* Consider using the same style and wood species, but in a colorful stain. For example, your peripheral cabinets are a golden oak; choose a moss stain for the island.



* Match the knobs or pulls on the island with those on the surrounding cabinets. If the same finish works on both, go that direction. Otherwise, find the same style in a finish that looks better on the island's coloration.


DON'T...

* Use an island to change your kitchen's style. It will just look out of place.

* Add elements to an island that look out of place with the rest of the kitchen - e.g., fluted columns, steel legs or grape corbels that don't tie into anything else in the room.



* Try to pair new cabinets of an almost - but not exact - finish. It will probably look a bit "off kilter," especially if one is real wood and the other laminate.

Here are some countertop dos and don'ts to consider, as well:


DO...

* Feel free to use a different countertop material or color on your island, especially if you're upgrading. This is your kitchen's focal point, and a great place to add a style statement and material improvement to your kitchen.



* Coordinate the color of the island top to another element in the room. For instance, cherry tops on a painted black or white island will look great with cherry peripheral cabinets topped with granite.

* Factor in the pattern of the peripheral tops when choosing your island's counter. If the peripherals are topped by a granite with flowing movement, choose a quieter, more solid-colored material for the island - perhaps a quartz or concrete.

* Consider your lifestyle when choosing a hard-working top for a busy island. If you're a busy, low-maintenance gal, choose a low-maintenance top. If you're a gourmet guy with sleek style, know that absolute black polished granite is going to compete for attention with your Beemer.


DON'T...

* Go overboard on countertop drama. Too many focal points equal no focal points, just eyestrain. If you've got one strong style point on the peripheral tops, go quieter on the island.



* Overlook the island's function when choosing your tops, or the material's essential properties when considering that function. For example, let's say you opted for an entertaining center island and equipped it with a wine captain. Understand that at some point in its life, a glass of red wine or a Bloody Mary will either spill or leave a ring on that counter. If you were inspired by your honeymoon in France and opted for creamy marble tops, please remember how darkened and mellowed those café tops were and don't cry over spilled guilt.

* Blow your budget on island cabinetry and be forced to settle for tops you wouldn't otherwise choose. Save up for a time when you can afford what you want in both, along with qualified, professional installation.



* Don't choose your countertop fabricator from a flyer left on your windshield, or because someone is offering the lowest price in town. Ask for recommendations from friends or a designer, builder or contractor you respect.

Don't miss Island Fever I - Sizing up your options or Island Fever II - Equipping the dream if you're new to this blog.


PHOTO NOTES

In order of section, top to bottom:

CABINETRY DO (Green islands) - This kitchen works because the beadboard style on the peripheral cabinets ties into the reeded legs on the island and the cream and green coordinate beautifully. Matching stone tops unify the look. Bertch Cabinets.

CABINETRY DO (Blue island) - The island's blue relates beautifully wtih the blue tiles in the backsplash, and shares a door style with the white maple surrounding the room. The wood top provides a rich accent. Craft-Art Wood Countertops.

CABINETRY DON'T (Black island) - This kitchen avoids being a "don't" by matching the island's heavy legs with the pair flanking the range. The door style on the black island also matches the surrounding cabinets. Crystal Cabinets.

COUNTERTOP DO (Glass-topped island) - The island is clearly the focal point in this kitchen, with its curved lines and glass top. The island's curve mirrors the pantry and soffit curves and the glass top becomes the stand-out star. Bertch Cabinets.

COUNTERTOP DON'T (Maple island) - This island's white top whispers, rather than shouts, and its whiteness coordinates with the backsplash tile. The effect is clean, modern and pulled-together. Kraftmaid Cabinetry.

COUNTERTOP DON'T (Black island) - This homeowner -- a client of mine -- wanted practical but stylish-looking tops. She opted for quartz by Cambria and got both. Cambria and Jamie Goldberg Kitchen and Bath Design, LLC.

COUNTER INTELLIGENCE

You may notice that my Style/File feature has been updated. The new one features a wide array of good-looking countertops. I call this slideshow, “Counter Intelligence,” as it focuses on the many wonderful choices available to add style and functionality to your space. Let me elaborate…


Corian

Pros
Seamless appearance, integral sink capability, repairable, easy maintenance, new Illuminations line is semi-transparent, allowing it to be beautifully backlit.

Cons
Easily scratched or burned, usually unnatural in appearance, less market appeal than natural stone.

Onyx

Pros
Rich and elegant in appearance, no two are identical, natural stone is highly desirable.

Cons
Needs to be sealed, easily scratched or chipped, expensive.

Wood

Pros
Natural beauty, durable, high market appeal.

Cons
Care needs to be taken in wet areas, expensive, needs to be well-maintained.

Glass

Pros
Environmentally-friendly, dramatic appearance, easy maintenance.

Cons
Expensive.

Tile

Pros
Tremendous selection, do-it-yourself installation possible.

Cons
Natural stone tile needs to be kept sealed, grout can be difficult to maintain.

Granite

Pros
Naturally beautiful, each slab is unique, heat- and scratch-resistant, durable, high market value in many areas of the country.

Cons
Needs to be kept sealed to avoid staining, higher maintenance, radon concerns for some styles, typically no warranty available, can be expensive -- especially for exotics.

Concrete

Pros
Wide range of styles, personalization possible, seamless appearance, integral sink capable, high market value.

Cons
Needs to be kept sealed. Expensive.

Quartz

Pros
Easy maintenance, excellent durability, long warranties, stain-resistant, high market value.

Cons
Often unnatural in appearance, expensive.

Stainless Steel

Pros
Choice of chefs, seamless appearance, easy maintenance, stain-resistant.

Cons
Scratches easily, expensive.

There are more choices, of course, including limestone, copper, pewter, soapstone and other exotics. Feel free to contact me if you’re interested in a material that isn’t profiled here – including laminate.

“Counter Intelligence” wasn’t meant to be all-encompassing, just darned eye-catching and, hopefully in this accompanying posting, informative.