K+BB - September 2008 - (Page 30)

T rends Renew & Refresh Eco-friendly, recycled products heat up the kitchen Fueled by the demand from eco-conscious consumers, green products made from renewable and recycled materials are becoming increasingly popular in luxury kitchens. “People who are buying high-end products still want to to be green and incorporate earth-friendly products into their designs,” noted Sattie Clark, cofounder of Eleek, a sustainable manufacturer of sinks, lighting and surfaces. “We want to make sure that the products we are offering are part of the big-picture solution.” Green, however, does not mean unattractive. Today’s designers have access to a wide variety of environmentally friendly alternatives for countertops, backsplashes, cabinetry and ﬂooring that allow them to create beautiful kitchens while saving the planet too. And to avoid the depletion of natural resources, more manufacturers are taking steps to ensure that these products are readily available. “The more the merrier,” Clark said. “There is room for all when it comes to sustainability.” “New green products for countertop considerations are not only beautiful but functional,” said Carolyn Robbins, owner of Carolyn Robbins Site Design. Some also incorporate scrap materials that may seem, at ﬁrst glance, counterintuitive. For example, compressed recycled paperboard, often mistaken for being fragile, is in fact very durable, as well as water-resistant, said Robbins, and offers a viable option for countertops. For other kitchen components, manufacturers such as Eleek are recycling aluminum scraps from local suppliers into durable kitchen sinks and decorative hardware. SAVING NATURAL RESOURCES The market also abounds with alternatives to old-growth timber for kitchen ﬂooring and cabinetry. Many of these employ sustainably harvested wood or salvaged materials, as well as ultra-low-VOC and waterbased adhesives and finishes. Popular choices for cabinets include those made of wheat board, straw board and even formaldehyde-free plywood, while Marmoleum and biodegradable linoleum are ideal for ﬂoors. If wood is desired, FSC-certiﬁed planks are not only environmentally friendly, but easy to assemble. With prices dropping, green products are coming on strong. Advocates agree that designers should play a key role in educating the public about lessening their environmental impact and helping them to navigate the increasingly crowded market. “Ten years from now, all products in kitchen and bath showrooms will have a green component,” Wood said. “Companies can not afford not to meet the demands of the public.” s —Matthew Marin SALVAGING SCRAPS One of the hottest green trends in kitchen design is the use of recycled glass, especially in tile format. Available in a wide variety of colors and sizes for creating backsplashes, cabinet inserts and even room dividers, glass tiles provide seemingly endless design possibilities and do not emit VOCs that can impair indoor air quality. According to Maggie Wood, LEED AP, ALLIED ASID, principal of Maggie Wood Design LLC, designers should choose glass tiles made with at least 30- to 40-percent post-consumer materials, as “ﬁve to 10 percent is just a drop in the bucket.” For countertops, crushed, recycled glass terrazzo can make an impact in any space and comes in an array of colors. In addition, it’s easy to maintain, durable and odorless. 30 + K BB September July 2004 2008 / www.kbbonline.com / The Ofﬁcial Sponsor of K/BIS www.kbis.com http://www.kbbonline.com http://www.kbis.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of K+BB - September 2008

KBB - September 2008
Contents
Online Contents
Online News
Editorial
Feedback
Dates
Digits
Focus
Consumer
Trends
Products
Options
Profile
Design
Hospitality Suite
Guest Appearance
Green
Access
Additions
Practice
Education
Editorial Index
Ad Index
Favorites

K+BB - September 2008