Kitchen & Bath Business - November/December 2020 - 32

SPECIAL SECTION

Today's Healthy Home

N o w a n d t o m o r r o w, t h e w e l l n e s s
notion is constanatly evolving

SUSTAINABLE, SMART, AGING-IN-PLACE OPTIONS. All those have more
than a few things in common - the most important being that they can help
contribute to the concept of wellness in the home. According to the Global
Wellness Institute's 2018 " Build Well to Live Well " report, the global wellness
real estate and communities sector - with a focus on healthy design, creation
and redevelopment - will grow from $134 to $180 billion from 2017 to 2022.
When asked for her definition of wellness, Anna Janke, WRID, NCIDQ,
interior designer and owner of Franklin, Wis.-based Peridot Design Group,
answered that it is the state of being physically and emotionally healthy. Our
homes should reflect spaces that support our health on multiple levels and
provide a sense of organization and ease.
" We can't control what's outside the front door, but we can control the
inside, " said Rebecca West, owner of Seattle-based Seriously Happy Homes.
" Clients today are looking for a sense of safety and belonging in their homes;
they want a refuge where they are well taken care of. "

ABOVE " U-shaped pulls or

handles that are easy to
open with one hand oï¬er
universal use for all abilities, "
said Janke, who used them
in this kitchen. She also
speciï¬ed ultra-compact
Dekton Trilium countertops,
which are created with up to
80 percent recycled material,
and a Greenguard-certiï¬ed
wide-plank, low-gloss, luxury
vinyl ï¬ooring. Photo by Tom
Krueger Photography

A SENSE OF SUSTAINABILITY

Several healthier options for your clients' homes are also considered environmentally friendly. Despite the fact that many of us have been spending a
lot more time outdoors in light of the current pandemic, as the weather gets
colder, people will be coming back inside. This means things like improved
air quality is top of mind for many of today's homeowners. This includes
better ventilation in both the kitchen and bath to rid the air of harmful gases
and prevent the growth of bacteria in wet areas. Air purifiers can also help
eliminate allergens, making our homes healthier spaces in which to live.
The use of low- or no-VOC materials is also good for humans as well as
the environment.This can be accomplished by specifying tile over carpeting,
cabinets made without formaldehyde and non-toxic paint.

According to Annette Stelmack, LEED- and
WELL AP-accredited founder and principal of
Denver-based design firm Inspirit,she selects countertop materials that have the Greenguard and NSF
(National Sanitation Foundation) rating, which
means they do not contain additives that can break
down and re-release themselves into the environment.She also makes sure the products she specifies
are lead free, including adhesives and grouts.
Faucets and other fixtures with filters can encourage regular, healthy hydration and can eliminate chemicals during the bathing process. Stelmack looks for those that are Water Sense labeled,
which not only takes into account the efficiency of
the fixtures but also their performance.
SECURING THE SAFETY ASPECT

By CHELSIE BUTLER

A sense of safety in the home is also important to
the overall concept of one's well-being. This can
address all ages in a household - for those living
or aging in place to those who need a little more
care because of a broken bone or a pregnancy to
little ones who want to help out in the kitchen.
Items that pay heed to safety and accessibility include things like curbless showers, non-slip
flooring choices (think also safer transitions) and
easy-to-reach storage with pullout units and fullextension drawers.

/ NOV.-DEC. 2020 / KBBONLINE.COM / The official publication of NKBA (NKBA.org) and KBIS (KBIS.com)

http://www.KBBONLINE.COM http://www.NKBA.org http://www.KBIS.com

Kitchen & Bath Business - November/December 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Kitchen & Bath Business - November/December 2020