KBB - April 2009 - (Page 66)

Favorites 3 1 2 Robin Wilson’s Top Product Picks Having suffered from asthma and allergies her entire life, New York-based designer Robin Wilson is acutely aware of the importance of an eco-friendly and healthy home. “I was one of those kids that people in the hospital knew,” she said, and in a time when shag carpets were in vogue, “my parents had to go back to hardwood ﬂoors and tile at home because the ‘plasticy’ smell of a new product could be a little overwhelming.” Her experience has led her not only to focus her design practice on creating sustainable and healthy living environments, but also to espouse a more holistic and inclusive view of what it means to be eco-friendly. She said, “I’m an ecofriendly lifestyle expert who believes in helping people do what they can in their homes and their lives to facilitate healthy living at an affordable and practical price point.” As part of that, her ﬁrm, Robin Wilson Home, recently licensed its name to Holiday Kitchens for a line of earth- and budget-friendly cabinetry (1) made from FSC-certified lumber and kiln-dried to prevent offgassing in the home. Available in a variety of ﬁnishes, including bamboo, wood veneers, stainless steel and coconut palm, the cabinets come with a lifetime guarantee, are manufactured in the U.S. and, incidentally, will be installed in the home of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., which is being transformed into a “laboratory” of green solutions in all price categories. When completed, it will show visitors “that you don’t have to live totally off the grid, that you can live in a normal house and still be eco-friendly,” Wilson noted. The Kennedy kitchen may also feature another of her favorites, PaperStone countertops (4), which are made from petroleum-free resin and 100-percent post-consumer recycled cardboard or office paper. Scratch-resistant and able to withstand temperatures of up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, the countertops patina over time and, according to Wilson, are warmer to the touch than stone—a welcome bonus in the winter. For a splash of drama on a countertop, backsplash or even the treads of a staircase, Wilson likes 3form’s Varia line of ecoresin panels (2), which are offered in a wide array of colors, ﬁnishes, textures and interlayer materials, including grasses, natural ﬁbers and ﬂowers. “The product that I really love is their bamboo rings and their seaweed,” said Wilson. A perfect addition for more urban and contemporary kitchens is Dornbracht’s Cleanset 1 (3), which Wilson describes as simply “fabulous.” Consisting of a Tara Ultra and a Proﬁ spray, the ensemble boasts a tall, coiled gooseneck design and restaurant-inspired good looks that bring a touch of industrial chic to any loft space. For the bath, where water efﬁciency is key, Wilson is a fan of Kohler’s Persuade dual-ﬂush toilet (5) and Oxygenics’ showerheads (6). The former is a contemporary-style two-piece model that delivers a ﬂushing performance of 1.6 gpf for solid waste and 0.8 gpf for liquid waste, while the latter features built-in aerators that “make the water drops feel bigger, so you can take a shorter shower, saving water, yet still get the same force,” Wilson said. “It’s a win-win for everyone.” One could say the same of Wilson’s approach. s —Alice Liao 4 5 6 66 + K BB April 2009 / 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 KBB - April 2009

KBB - April 2009
Contents
Online Contents
Online News
Editorial
Focus
Trends
Products
Options
Profile
Abroad
Design
On the Hill
Mixed Message
Green
Tech
Additions
Education
Editorial Index
Ad Index
Favorites

KBB - April 2009