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


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Four Products for a Healthier, Style-Smart Kitchen

TREND WATCH 2009: THE YEAR AHEAD

What does 2009 hold in store for American homeowners? What trends will we embrace? What products will we bring into our homes this year?

While I don’t have a crystal ball, I’ve been tracking my own projects and prospective clients and asking colleagues for their predictions. Here’s what I think we can look forward to in this intriguing new year…

I don’t think we’ll see the housing market rebound for a while, so most folks will be staying put. That being said, they’re going to continue being interested in improving their living spaces. Three or four years ago, that meant a lot of flash and keeping up with the Joneses. I think – no, I hope – that the consumption for its own sake trend has passed. While people still want luxurious touches and high performance appliances, they want them more for what the comforts, durability and specific features they add to their daily lives, rather than just for the brand appeal. What people are asking for now are:

Time savers – like storage organizers, low-maintenance countertops and multi-tasking appliances that add hours to one's day and simplicity to one's life will be increasingly in demand this year. Last year was tough for many Americans, and taught us what's truly important -- time spent with the people we love, giving back to the communities that nurture us and being grateful for what we have. Products that help us pull together and serve a quick neighborhood pot luck will sell faster than ones that need endless buffing.

CaesarStone quartz top in new 4330 Deep Gray... Skimpy maintenance, super style

Spaces that work for how people really live, not how a magazine says they should will influence how we remodel our homes and select or build new ones.

Kitchens will continue to be the home's gathering space, with more and more functionality, and exert even more pull over the spaces around them. Landing zones in or near the kitchen will continue to be created for cel phones, backpacks, briefcases, iPods, mail and all the other stuff we carry in and out.

Televisions will move into the kitchen more and more, as the family spends more time there and wants to keep up with the world. Televisions will also move into more master baths, as that space continues its evolution into true master retreats.

This CWP custom kitchen features space for homework and home work

Water and energy savings, and the accompanying utility bill reductions, will become factors in more and more remodeling (and building) projects. Some clients will be motivated by the financial rewards, others by the global considerations, many by both.

LED lighting will find its way into even more fixtures, from its current strengths in under-cabinet and recessed ceiling lighting, to contemporary pendants, sconces and chandeliers.

More code restrictions on water use will lead to more tankless water heater and dual flush toilet sales. Plumbing manufacturers will continue working on ways to couple the spa shower and tub experience they love marketing with the water savings our communities demand.

Dual flush toilets, like Kohler's new Persuade model, save water, without sacrificing style

Better, healthier materials, not just better-looking ones. Many clients remodeling today have already updated a bath or kitchen in the past five years and don't relish going through the process more than absolutely necessary. They plan on staying in their homes indefinitely, and are asking about products that will last a long time. Many also have health concerns about a family member with asthma or cancer, and want products in their home that won't create a hazardous indoor environment.

This contemporary Neil Kelly custom kitchen is friendly for your family's environment... And the planet's

More personalization and comfort at home will be important to more and more clients this year, as they seek to make their house a personal refuge from a harsh world. They'll build in materials and accents from travels they've enjoyed and mementos of people close to them. "Rooms to go" will give way to rooms to grow together in.

This Pottery Barn new for 2009 Marin sofa invites relaxation in five fabric grades and about 50 colors and patterns

Upgrades that allow them to age gracefully, safely and successfully in their own homes and communities. AARP reports that 90 percent of Americans want to stay put as they age, rather than relocate to an assisted living or nursing home facility. Clients in their 40s, 50s and 60s will be looking for ways to make their existing residences work for them into their 70s, 80s and beyond.

Companies like Moen, Kohler, Kraftmaid and others with mass market appeal are planning for this demographic with more stylish and accessible-oriented products. Look for this trend to continue in 2009 and accelerate in future years as the economy rebounds.

The slide-bar shower head, grab bar and bench from a bath I redesigned for a
50-something couple will take them comfortably into their senior years

I believe that people will continue to add style, functionality and comfort to their homes in 2009, and spend some of their happiest hours there.

Happy New Year.