Turning into THE WORLD'S COOLEST RECYCLER

Managed by co-CEOs, IceStone LLC manufactures ornamental surfaces from recycled glass and cement, finds traders in social enterprise circles and creates markets that attain green builders.

ICESTONE LLC is keeping tons of glass out of landfills and transforming it into high-end countertops and vanities. IceStone* surfaces glimpse like modern-day terrazzo, the faux marble flooring designed from marble chips set in clay. But rather of marble and clay, Ice-Stone is a mosaic combination of recycled glass and cement.

The system for production IceStone surfaces was developed by Tim McCarthy, who opened Ideal Harbor Structure Middle (GHDC) in 1998 in a 55,000 square foot factory in the Brooklyn (NY) Navy Property to commercialize the merchandise. McCarthy died of cancer in 2001 earlier than becoming able to completely start the provider or the item. His spouse, Carol McCarthy, set GHDC's assets and products up for auction in November 2003. Peter Strugatz and Miranda Magagnini ordered them.

Strugatz and Magagnini number one satisfied in 1995 at an Investor's Circle conference. The two ended up traders in social reason organisations (involving them, they have been concerned in fifteen private equity specials.) They formed a minimal liability partnership, Magagnini-Strugatz Ventures, so they could purchase a corporation in Brooklyn where by they each are living. "We understood that we would be working a 70-hour-week and did not want a very long commute from our families," explains Magagnini. They heard about IceStone from two resources, Investor's Circle, who the preceding proprietors had approached for funding, and a colleague who was on the board of the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

"I looked at IceStone from a advertising and marketing standpoint," says Magagnini. "I saw that it could be a marvelous triple bottom line agency that could be beneficial for employees and for the atmosphere and nonetheless return finances to traders." They started off a new organisation, IceStone LLC, renegotiated the lease for the factory put to use by GHDC at the Brooklyn Navy Lawn, and filed for a patent for the IceStone* production method.

Because 2003, Magagnini and Strugatz have raised $six million for their provider from a group of angel traders including Ben Cohen, cofounder of Ben & Jerry's Homemade, Inc. Greg Steltenpohl, 1 of the founders of Odwalla juice business and DaI La Magna, founder of Tweezerman Corporation. "Dal is our largest investor and the initial particular person to compose us a verify, for which we're tremendously grateful," states Magagnini. "We haven't accepted any enterprise capital funding so much," she adds. "All the traders have been progressive angel investors who believe that in our social mission."

The angel funding was employed to develop the factory, improve production capacity, commence branding IceStone, and advance the solution. "We built it stronger, much less porous and in a bit more awesome hues," notes Magagnini. "We did a great amount of R &. D with world-class researchers. Producing the world's sexiest concrete is not the least difficult factor to do. You have to maintain the glass and cement from breaking apart."

Investors in IceStone LLC are also partners and obtain quarterly studies on the company's actions. "When Peter and I have been personal traders, we many times didn't get updates on the companies we invested in, so we make positive we permit our traders know what we're doing," says Magagnini. Some of the traders serve on the company's Board of Advisors.

The company has obtained $500,000 in grants from New York State, together with $200,000 in study and advancement funding from the Environmental Financial commitment System (EIP). That cash flow was put into use to streamline the production procedure, decide to buy products, increase production potential and accelerate the revenue cycle. Other grants have been for waste reduction and to train staff members in "lean" manufacturing.

A amount of community organizations also helped kick off IceStone LLC, for example the Brooklyn Economic Advancement Corporation, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. New York Industrial Retention Network and Brooklyn Navy Yard. "These people young and old essentially did want us to be excellent," states Magagnini. "They served us locate resources of grant funding, renegotiate the lease for our facility, and guidance us locate fine staff. It normally requires a lot of people today to get you started in a new company."

SOCIAL Venture BACKGROUNDS

Prior to IceStone LLC, Strugatz was president of Strugatz Ventures, a private equity purchase company that money different transportation, healthy and natural foods enterprises, purchaser items and schooling. The enterprise fund invested in many suppliers among them Stonyfield Farm Yogurt, Hypercar, Wild Planet Toys, Zipcar and Utah Ventures. Strugatz is a former board member of the Social Enterprise Network and the ALS Association. He is an advisory board member of Underdog Ventures, a enterprise money fund that hyperlinks investors with socially responsible corporations, and Verite, a nonprofit corporation that identifies worker exploitation or wellbeing and security violations in the workplace, and develops packages to correct them.

Magagnini is a native of Brooklyn, exactly where she lives with her husband and two youngsters. She is the former chair and a present board member of Verité. She has considerably more than 25 decades of sales and profits, advertising and corporation turnaround practical knowledge. In the course of the 1980s, Magagnini helped develop sales and profits of HäagenDazs Ice Cream and Soho Pure Soda, which led to the acquisition of Häagen-Dazs by the Pillsbury Company and Soho by Seagrams. Considering that then, she has directly invested in a selection of providers like Stonyfield Farm Yogurt and Lipton Corporate Childcare. Strugatz and Magagnini serve as co-CEOs of Ice Stone LLC, and are equivalent partners in the service.

Product or service Specifics, FABRICATION

IceStone® surfaces are a combination of 75 % recycled glass, 17 to 18 % white Portland cement, pigment and proprietary elements. IceStone surfaces are marketed as a sustainable option to mined purely natural stone such as granite and marble, and engineered stone manufactured from quartz and polyester resin. The company's blog, www.icestone.com, states that 85 percent of mined all natural stone is imported from other countries, necessitates substantial quantities of fossil fuel to transport to the U.S., and is typically mined below hazardous functioning problems.

The recycled glass used in IceStone is previously presorted in accordance to shade and size. "The glass has to be tremendously thoroughly clean in buy to adhere strongly and tightly to the cement," says Magagnini. "If there are bits of debris in the glass, we reject it." The business enterprise pays ten instances greater for its glass than glass tile companies who can shop for damaged glass with dirt in it. "They can place it in a glass furnace and melt away off the dirt," she explains. The clean glass essential is not available in New York State, and is sourced from crushing and sorting facilities elsewhere. "More than time, we would like all of the glass to arrive from New York," she adds. At most, 25 % of glass in the United States is recycled, she says, in comparison to ninety to 95 % in Europe. "We're in the dinosaur days the following." The business enterprise bought 385 tons of postconsumer and postindustrial recycled glass in 2004, 750 tons in 2005, and expects to choose 2,000 tons in 2006.

IceStone is produced by an emission-totally free and chemical-absolutely free technique. The glass is very first combined with cement and poured into molds. The molds are then vibrated and place into curing chambers to raise the strength of the slabs and lessen their porosity. When the slabs are cured, they are popped out of the molds and polished on a great Italian stone-polishing device. The finished slabs are 52.five-inches wide by 96-inches lengthy by one and a person-quarter inches thick and weigh 500 kilos. They are polished to a superior gloss previously getting shipped out of the factory. Stone fabricators cut the slabs to the desired sizes working with traditional stone cutting gear and edge, seal and set up the solution for the consumer. The fabricators can also customize the complete of the solution by sandblasting or honing the surface area.

IceStone surfaces come in 24 typical hues together with neutrals, earth tones, pastels and vibrant colors these types of as green, blue, yellow and orange. Ice Stone LLC also results in custom shades for massive business installations, like as the colours (light green tea pearl and cayenne pearl) for the hundreds of tabletops becoming put in in new Starbucks retail suppliers. "We can make Ice Stone surfaces in more or less any coloration by adding pigment to the background combine and then choosing from a wide variety of sizes and hues of glass," states Magagnini.

Writer: Tucker, Molly Farrell

Bay Area Company Vetrazzo Redefines What It Means to Be "Green"

Bucking a National Trend, Makers of Vetrazzo Recycled Glass Countertops Focus on "Triple Bottom Line," Keep Living-Wage Jobs in USA

SAN FRANCISCO -- In today's market where sales of green building products are growing by 30 percent a year, every company is trying to claim that their product is "green." The makers of Vetrazzo recycled glass countertops are redefining what it means to be green by producing the most eco-friendly surface materials on the market, and honoring the triple bottom line of "people, planet, and profit" in their everyday business operations.

Vetrazzo believes that a green product should do more than just use recycled materials or avoid release of dangerous airborne toxins -- it should solve an environmental problem. Vetrazzo does just that by creating a new market for waste glass, including glass that cannot be recycled into other products. Each countertop panel is made from 550 pounds of crushed recycled glass from traffic lights, windshields, and beverage bottles. In 2007, Vetrazzo transformed over 250 tons of recycled glass -- including 125 tons of waste glass not recyclable elsewhere -- into beautiful, functional surface products.

"Sustainability is achieved when you no longer have to sacrifice aesthetics for the good of the people or the planet," says James Sheppard, president of Vetrazzo. "People won't do the right thing if the right thing isn't gorgeous."

The company's revolutionary commitment to the triple bottom line -- serving people, planet, and profit -- is the larger story.

PEOPLE: At a time when manufacturing jobs are outsourced all over the world, Vetrazzo is keeping living wage jobs at home. They offer full health and dental benefits while paying 50 percent higher wages than many other West Coast manufacturing jobs. With its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in a remodeled Ford auto plant, Vetrazzo focuses on local hiring in economically depressed Richmond, California. Workers enjoy natural light, safety equipment that goes well beyond what is mandatory, and a continuing education program. Vetrazzo believes this investment in their people produces highly motivated workers, greater retention, and a top-quality product.

PLANET: Vetrazzo's most obvious commitment to the planet is the use of recycled glass that would otherwise go directly into landfills. Vetrazzo offers a "green alternative to natural stone" like granite and marble, which come with a steep environmental price tag.

"Quarried stone products are usually produced in developing countries that often don't have adequate worker safety regulations and are quarried in a way that is very destructive to the environment," says Sheppard. And burning the fossil fuel necessary to transport those heavy materials halfway around the globe releases greenhouse gasses that contribute to global warming.

Even the company's daily operations are designed with the planet in mind. Vetrazzo operates on a closed-loop water filtration system, saving approximately 150,000 gallons per month. The factory will be 100-percent solar powered by year's end.

PROFIT: The socially responsible entrepreneurs of Vetrazzo wanted to do more than make a green countertop, they wanted it to be beautiful, durable, and distinctive. And they wanted the entire company to be sustainable with a focus well beyond economic profit. The community's economic health and the planet's environmental health are equally as important as the bottom line at Vetrazzo.

About Vetrazzo

Vetrazzo, LLC transforms recycled glass into artful home or commercial surfaces including countertops, tabletops, and walls. Invented and first produced in 1996 by Counter Production, Vetrazzo surfaces enable customers to showcase their individual sense of style and respect for the environment. Vetrazzo uses only recycled glass, in a patent-pending formulation comprised of 85-percent recycled glass by weight. Vetrazzo is made in the United States, with headquarters in Richmond, Calif., and dealers and fabricators across the country. For more information, visit www.vetrazzo.com.

A Way of Life: Toxicity in Our Environment and Eco-friendly Cleaning Products

Because toxicity has become a way of life, and we must breath and eat, we are continuously exposed to pesticides and polluntants, some stored right under our kitchen sinks, says a report from the Silent Spring Institute in Newton, Mass., and the Harvard University School of Public Health.

The study was published last October in Environmental Science & Technology, Sedona, Ariz., naturopath doctor Teresa Dale, Ph.D. says "demonstrates that we are exposed daily to a wide array of chemicals that affect our hormone systems." Chemicals like phthalates and alkyphenois may heighten the risk of hormone-linked diseases like breast cancer and testicular cancer.

To limit your exposure, "read labels carefully, use nontoxic cleaning products and avoid using indoor pesticides," says Environmental Protection Agency spokesman Dave Dergan. There are nontoxic cleaning products and pesticides right in your kitchen. If you have baking soda, white vinegar, borax, and rubbing alcohol in your pantry and bathroom, you have the basic ingredients to make your own cleaning products and pesticides that don't cost you an arm and a leg. I have included formulations for making your own products from these items and many more at the end of this article.

There are plenty of effective, earth-safe cleaners that you can buy or make. Using these alternatives will reduce the toxic burden in your house and environment. By switching to environmentally friendly cleaners protects your health and that of the community you live in while reducing air, water, and ground pollution.

I bet you are asking yourself, "So why isn't everybody doing it?" There are very few people who actually read the labels of the products they purchase and even fewer who know the impact these chemicals can have on our bodies. Most people do not take the time or have the time to research the chemicals that go into these products.

Not all "green" products are created equal, some have simply added essential oils to make it smell like the formula has changed. "You need to read the labels carefully to check for irritating chemicals, such as chlorine, ammonia and artificial fragrances and dyes," says Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D., a preventive-medicine specialist in Tucson, Arizona. "Buy cleaners from health-food stores or retailers specializing in environmentally friendly products."

"Eco-friendly cleaning and laundry products are the next frontier of environmentalism," says Marci Zaroff, former publisher of Macrocosm and CEO of Under the Canopy, an organic fabric clothing company. "It's an inexpensive, easy and effective way to protect our planet and commitment to life."

Here are some options to get you started onto the path of "thinking green":

* CITRUS OILl; sold in health-food stores and home improvement stores, fills rooms with the smell of oranges and is far more pleasing to your nose (unless you like the smell of hospitals).

To clean or polish wood floors, dilute 1 c. of citrus oil in one gallon of hot water, and mop with a sponge. For floors that are greasy, simply use a stronger solultion. You can also clean kitchen counters and tabletops with this solution. Citrus doesn't strip the protective sealants. On porous surfaces like marble or granite, only use diluted oil and it should never be allowed to sit on a surface, always wipe it dry when finished.

* TEA TREE, THYME AND LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OILS: these have been proven to have more antiseptic in some studies than phenol, the most common chemical disinfectant. Many disinfectants contain chlorine, which reacts with organix matter in drinking water to produce potentially carcinogenic trihalomethane.

To make a natural disinfectant mix 20 drops of one of the above mentioned essential oils and 1 cup of water in a spray bottle. Apply and let sit for 15 min. or until dry.

* BAKING SODA: Baking soda (or bicarbonate of soda), an alkaline substance is used in fire extinguishers, antacids, and sparkling water.

You can use it to clean your tubs, sinks, countertops in the kitchen and bath. Combine 3/4 c. baking soda, 1/4 c. of borax and enough diswashing liquid to make a smooth paste or if you prefer a pleasant smell, add 1/4 t. lemon juice to the paste; pour down your sink drain to deorderize and to unclog your drains you put 1/2 cup of baking soda in drain and add a cup of vinegar, wait 30min. and pour hot water down drain. I use this method once a month on all the drains in the house to keep them clear.

*BORAX: Borax, like is's close relative, boric acid, has relatively low toxicity levels, and is considered safe for general household use, but the powder can be harmful if ingested in sufficinet quantities by young children or pets. Keep it out of their reach.

Borax is toxic to plants, so in the yard be very careful when applying borax onto or near soil. It doesn't take much to leach into the ground to kill off nearby plants and prevent furture growth.

But it is great for rubbing out heavy sink stains, even rust in your stainless steel or porcelain sinks. Make a paste of 1 cup of borax and 1/4 cup of lemon juice, put some of the paste on a cloth or sponge and rub it into the stain, then rinse with running warm water, the stain should wash away with the paste.

You can also remove mildew from uphostery and other fabric by soaking a sponge in a solution of 1/2 cup of borax dissolved in 2 cups of water, and rubbing it into the affected areas. Let it soak in for several hours until the stain disappears, then rinse well. To remove mildew from clothing, soak it in a solution of 2 cups of borax in 2 quarts of water.

Want a way to clean your toliet bowl and leave it spakeling whiite without those dangerous fumes? Use a stiff brush to scrub it using a solution of 1/2 cup of borax mixed with a gallon of water.

VINEGAR: Vinegar is known as nature's most practical liquid and is so versatile that you can use it in the kitchen and bath, laundry and garden, housecleaning and car cleaning, even pet care and personal care.

Damp mopping with a mild vinegar solution is widely recommended as a way to clean wood and no-wax vinyl or laminate flooring. Be sure to check with the manufacturer of the flooring because even when diluted vinegar's acidity can ruin some floor finishes, and too much water will damage most wooden floors. But if you want to try vinegar on your floors, use 1/2 cup white vinegar mixed in 1 gallon warm water. You may want to start with a trial application in an incomspicuous area. Before applying the solution, squeeze out the mop sthoroughly (or just use a spray bottle to moisten the mop head).

To liven up dull wood paneling, mix 2 cups warm water, 4 tablespoons white or cider vinegar, and 2 tablespoons olive oil in a container, give it a couple of shakes and apply with a clean cloth. Let it soak in for several minutes, then polish with a dry cloth.

To keep your computer, printer, and other home office gear clean and dust free, dampen a clean cloth in equal parts white viegar and water, sqeeze it out well and start wiping. Before you start, make sure that your equipment is shut off, and never use a spray bottle; you don't want to get liquid on the circuis inside. Have a few cotton swabs on hand for getting into tight spaces (like between the keys of your keyboard).

To make a scratch on a wooden tabletop much less noticeable, mix some distilled or cider vinegar and iodine in a small jar and paint over the scratch with a small artist's brush. Use more iodine for darker woods; more vinegar for lighter shades.

To remove white rings left by wet glasses on wood furniture, mix equal parts of vinegar and olive oil and apply it with a soft cloth while moving with the wood grain. Use another clean, soft cloth to shine it. To get white water rings off leather furniture, dab them with a sponge soaked in full-strength white vinegar.

For the great outdoors, vinegar can get rid of bugs and ants or you can use it as an insect repellent and clean you outdoor funiture and decks.

Pour equal parts white vinegar and water into a spray bottle and spray it on anthills and around areas where you see ants. Ants hate vinegar, and it won't take long for them to move on. Also, you can spray picnic and children's play areas to keep ants away. If you have lots of anthills, pour full strength vinegar over them.

Going camping or fishing? Here's an old army trick to keep away ticks and mosquitoes: About three days before you leave, start taking 1 tablespoon cider vinegar three times a day. Continue throughout your outing and you just might return home without a bite.

Before resorting to bleach to remove mildew on your deck or your patio furniture, try these milder vinegar-based solutions.

*Keep full-strength white vinegar in a spray bottle and use it wherever you see mildew. The stain will wipe right off must surfaces, and the vinegar will keep it from coming back for a while.

*Remove mildew from wood decks and wood patio furniture by sponging them off with a solution of 1 cup ammonia, 1/2 cup white vinegar, and 1/4 cup baking soda in 1 gallon water. Use an old tootbrush to work the solution into tight spaces.

*To deodorize and inhibit mildew growth on outdoor plastic mesh furniture and patio umbrellas, mix 2 cups white vinegar and 2 tablespoons dishwashing liquid in a bucket of hot water. Use a soft brush to work it into the grooves of the plastic and for scrubbing seat pands and umbrella fabric. Rinse with cold water; then dry in the sun.

RUBBING ALCOHOL: Be sure to not confuse denatured alcohol with rubbing alcohol. Denatured alcohol to ethanol (drinking alcohol) to which poisonous and foul-tasting chemicals have been added to render it unfit for drinking. Often, the chemicals used in denatured alcohol are not ones you should put on your skin. Rubbing alcohol is made of chemicals that are safe for skin contact, most often it's 70 percent isopropl alcohol and 30 percent water.

Ticks hate the taste of rubbing alcohol as much as they love the taste of your dog. Before you pull a tick off Fido, dab the critter with rubbing alcohol to make it loosen its grip. Then grab the tick as close to the dog's skin as ou can and pull it straight out. Dab again with alcohol to disinfect the wound. This works on people too.

The problem with ice packs is they won't conform to the shape of the injured body part. Make a slushy conformable pack by nixing 1 part rubbing alcohol with 3 parts water in a sel-closing plastic bag. The next time that sore knee acts up, wrap the bag of slush in a cloth and apply it to the area.

This is just the tip of iceberg of ways to use eco-friendly products that you can make yourself. I have used most of these recipes for the past 10 years. They cost next to nothing to make and the results are fabulous. I use olive oil and vinegar to clean my furniture and I don't have to dust again for a month. The solution seems to repel dust, just mix the olive oil and vinegar like you would for a salad dressing.

Author: Angela Carter

Neat Spacing Saving Recommendations for Your Bathroom Lights

Convinced you've looked by way of plenty of designer magazines and you fantasize about a palatial bathroom. It really is so great that you have privacy inside of your private room. It's your private oasis retreat far from the maddening universe. You are surrounded by darkish sandstone tiles and thick recycled glass containers type walls, hiding your toilet.

A double vanity sparkles with brushed nickel faucets and surrounded by glass, your counter sits uncluttered. Gem tone candles twinkle beside your Jacuzzi bath and dried lavender scents the air. Deep plush natural cotton towels are nestled beside your stroll-in closet glowing with gentle lights as you pad in slippers out to benefit from your therapeutic out of doors shower.

Your alarm clock buzzes, you awaken from a stupor, stumble out of bed, and trip through mislaid sneakers. Sad to say facing truth, to head to your true bathroom not a single thing a good deal more than a closet with no organic light and the ambiance of a low priced hotel room littered with all the requirements of daily grooming.

All is not misplaced, as a issue of point dealing with a modest area can be lots of entertaining and there are some essentially cool, even ego-friendly recommendations offered to you, for a modest budget. That is assuming you happen to be not likely to knock down partitions or actually buy a new home. Arrive to believe that of it, making a number of lights advancements can be a person of the most cost-effective upgrades to a residence in advance of you strategy to promote. Kitchens and bathroom are highly scrutinized by long run residence consumers.

Let's get commenced with some lighting fundamentals. Lighting like most d�cor choices, have to be practical in addition to satisfying to the eye. It is really a exceptional guess that your active lights in the bathroom are outdated and fail to serve your elementary requirements.

The a few completely different kinds of light serve alternative necessities let us see how it can influence your bathroom lights prerequisites:

� Ambient Light � Ambient or typical lighting aids you move safely close to a room or location. This is the light that replaces natural sunlight and without having a window or skylight, it would be vital in your bathroom. Thinking of a tiny bathroom space, we can rule out the require for hanging lights like chandeliers or pendant lights. Even though they are often employed to illuminate room and present overhead lighting, your bath room is at a high quality. Use of flush mounted or conceivably recessed cans could be an option for the most important bath location or other the toilet and/or shower. Care may want to forever be taken in the bathroom to guarantee that your lights alternatives withstand moisture.

� Project Light � Undertaking lights, in most cases turned on manually, can help you accomplish targeted projects this sort of as reading, sewing, cooking, research, game titles, or working on your personal pc. When it comes to bathroom structure, proper lighting is required for the basics of grooming, regardless of whether it be shaving or placing on makeup. Task lights can be supplied by recessed and track lighting, pendant lights, and transportable lamps. Appearance to make certain that this lighting prevents eyestrain, so it will need to be glowing but does not render a distracting glare or shadow.

� Accent � Accent or decorative lights is most normally put to use for illuminating walks with subtle light, or to highlight a essential object or focal stage in the property or adjoining landscape. We may possibly not be hunting for drama in your bathroom or have the need to have to spotlight a piece of art give good results. You could 100 % alter the lighting dynamics of your bath or powder space by placing a modest table lamp on your counter and eliminate the use of your old overhead fluorescent fixture. You know, the one particular that buzzes and flickers and drives you nuts in the early morning. For other rooms in your household accent lights can be achieved by by using track, recessed, or wall-mounted fixtures.

If you have obtained a modest finances to go with the smaller bathroom, right here are a couple of brainstorm suggestions which can be carried out in a short sum of time. They may just benefit you just take a few measures nearer to setting up the ambiance of a minimal extraordinary personal retreat. These same tips can do the job for a guest bath or powder room, most definitely wherever you want to ensure a great welcome for your associates and friends and family.

� Mirrored Lights arrive in a range of sizes, are especially specially designed for bathroom use and incorporate both equally lights and a mirror. This is a fast resolve to get a contemporary and trendy start looking.

� Mirrored Cabinets can deliver substantially required space to do away with countertop clutter and they also can be observed to merge lighting as perfectly.

� Likely 'green' could practically necessarily mean a new paint position in addition to electricity effectiveness bulbs and very simple drinking water conservation. Compact spaces can be transformed with dark colours and a person of the hottest colours now is turquoise.

� Cotton Towels - spruce up all those fatigued towels with some plush organic cotton ones. White versus a freshly painted wall will appearance smashing.

� Organize clutter � hide your grooming and make-up clutter by putting the goods in woven baskets, a leather box, or probably just cleaning out drawer area.

� Other light options - bathroom spot lights, notably for warmth and bathroom down lights may likely be the noticeably essential solution for your bath or shower spot. If living with your boxed-in fluorescent lighting is a have got to, limit its use with a small-scale ornamental lamp or at minimum a handful of strategically put and scented candles.

It isn't going to get much to greatly enhance your bathroom at present and it just would most likely be that 1st stage to reaching your fantasy retreat quicker than you feel.

Author: Kathryn Dawson

Going Green in the Bathroom Can Be As Simple as Lighting or NOT

While we might dream about the luxury of an Old World style bathroom, grandiose in the amount of space and offering comfort in the most private of rooms, truth be told, our bathroom may be much smaller than our fantasies. However, that should not stop us from renewing our tiny space with some of today's hottest eco-friendly trends in bathroom designs.

Eco-friendly can also be eco-pretty, as you discover ways to get back to nature and save money with energy efficiency throughout your home. Natural elements and lots of color can give you a complete bathroom makeover with very little expense. Let's take advantage of Mother Earth and look at ways to embrace her beauty and going green.

When we say 'going green' we mean literally, as turquoise is absolutely one of the hottest colors of the year. Turquoise is a calming hue and easily makes you feel the warmth and gentle breezes of a tropical paradise. It's easy to blend the colors of ocean seascapes with bamboo, organic cotton towels, and natural botanical skin products.

Create ambiance for a slower pace by accenting your bath countertop with tall glass canisters filled with dried lavender, rosebuds, and other dried flowers. Create warmth by using gem tone colored candles of ocean blue, lush green foliage, and sunset oranges. Enhance your setting, minimize use of your overhead lighting and illuminate your bath with an elegant, energy-saving table lamp.

Bathrooms do not need to be the stark and cold places of our childhood. Use of earthy palettes and textures such as brushed-nickel, leather, stone, and glass, can all add to create a clean and reflective quality to your bath which is both comforting and luxurious and a long distance from ultra-modern styles.

No matter what size of room you have to work with or what style of bathroom you desire, the space does provide a very functional purpose in your home. With that in mind, let's consider the necessity of lighting and things you need to consider, especially relative to the impact of your utility bill. Energy efficiency lighting is now becoming fashionable, as well as functional.

As a rule of thumb, general lighting takes care of 90% of the bathroom lighting needs; that includes ceiling lights, soffits, and wall sconces. Task lighting is needed for the remaining 10% and is required to perform the personal grooming activities. Most importantly, bathroom lighting should provide plenty of even, shadow-free lighting for shaving, grooming, and applying makeup. To 'face the day', you need the same image in the mirror as you would see in the natural daylight.

In the past, bath designers overwhelmingly chose incandescent bathroom lights over more efficient fluorescent fixtures because they buzzed, flickered, glared, and lacked dimmer options. Responses to energy regulations have led to fluorescent fixtures with dimmable ballasts, accurate color representation, and cool white and full spectrum colors, along with higher quality materials and innovative design styles. This all translates to delivering beautifully lighted rooms while keeping your utility bills lower.

When looking to upgrade your lighting, you should take note of some contemporary and beautifully illuminated bathroom cabinets. In essence, manufacturers have combined bathroom mirrors with lights offering some really cutting edge and sophisticated designs. Again, when space is limited, an option like this is a great functional solution.

If you still cannot find fluorescent lighting to fit your needs, you can also consider efficient halogen lighting options. No matter what, natural lighting is the best and cheapest form of illumination. If you are planning a major bathroom renovation, you can always consider installation of a window or skylight to lessen your dependence on electricity.

When it comes to energy efficiency in your bathroom, you are not limited to just lighting and water conservation. Other strategies for going green in your bathroom could include replacement of the following:

� Cabinets and Vanity Tops made from wheat-board or other low volatile organic compounds (VOCs) materials. Standard cabinets can off-gas potentially harmful VOCs for up to 15 years.

� Ventilation or a vent fan to remove odors, airborne irritants, and moisture needs to be left on for at least 20 minutes after a shower. Consider a timer to ensure for that vent fan or if space and design permits, include a operable window for natural ventilation and daylight.

� Tubs and Showers � Shower surrounds should be made from recycled glass, ceramic or porcelain tile. Recycle an old tub with a professional refinishing, although they are typically more comfortable, as older tubs are wider and deeper, they will also require more water to fill.

� Flooring � Tile and natural linoleum are the best choices to hold up in a bathroom environment. Cork and bamboo flooring may be an option, just ensure it can weather the water exposure.

Going green in your bathroom might just be as simple as changing the color of your bath towels; hopefully we have given you many more ideas for energy efficiency and lighting.

Author: Kathryn Dawson

Cutting-edge countertops: high design meets earth-pleasant: an eco selection for every single kitchen

ECOTOP (demonstrated in Concrete) This blend of bamboo, recycled paper, and wood fiber was initially made use of for skateboard ramps. Amount $35/ Sq. ft- ECO-FRIENDLIness 100%drinking water centered resin, FSC-licensed. info Klip BioTechnolo gies, Puyallup, WA (kliptech.com)

FUEZ GLASS (proven in jade) With recycled glass, fly ash, stone, and shells, it is really a lot more resilient than marble. Cost$8o/sq. ft. ECO-FRIENDLINESS 60% to 80% recycled products, which include beer bottles constructed making use of a hundred% wind-produced electrical energy. Information InFuez, Portland (fuez.com)

BOTTLESTONE (revealed in Mocha) Done of kilnfired recycled glass and ceramic binders, it resists warmth and stains. Can be customized created by using wine bottles. Price $68/sq. ft. ECO-FRIENDLINESS eighty% recycled content material no VOCs.Data BottleStone, Los Altos, CA (bottle stone.com)

DURAPALM (demonstrated in Midnight Palm) Harvested From coconut palms, this wooden is somewhat stronger than oak. Expense $23/sq. ft. ECO-FRIENDLINESS a hundred% derived from outdated, nonfruiting palms. information Smith $ Fong, San Francisco (plyboo.com)

SQUAK MOUNTAIN STONE (proven in Pure) An option to quarried stone, slabs are built of fly ash, submit-industrial crushed glass, and very low-carbon cement. Cost $50/sq. ft. ECO-FRIENDLINESS fifty% recycled articles for example paper, one/three less C[O.sub.two] developed in the course of production. data Tiger Mountain Improvements, Woodinville, WA [squak mountainstone.com)

Recycling your countertop To always keep outdated or outdated countertops out of landfills, start looking for a deconstruction (not demolition) services in your location, or get hold of a regional salvage center for knowledge on types of materials authorized. To get hold of your closest salvage lawn, head over to buildingreuse.org

PHOTOGRAPH BY THOMAS J. Story

Author: Jess Chamberlain

7 Solutions to Modernize Your Family home

Present day design and style, with cleanse lines and a suitable connection to the outdoors, will be the foremost housing pattern for the following several ages. In response to a a lot more complex planet, homebuyers react to spaces that are easy, light, and soothing. They observe place makeovers on tv, get d�cor catalogs in the mail, and have a prosperity of on the internet assets. Homebuyers at present are mindful of existing pattern trends, and they fancy the clear lines of present day homes.

Simplify & De-clutter

A minimalist interior is the foremost phase toward the contemporary model that today�s consumers have a passion for. Scaled-down spaces can be overwhelmed with things. Less factors are a lot easier to exhibit and always keep the emphasis on the architecture. Mid century present day furniture, with cleanse lines and functional style and design, is rather in style. It is a excellent blend with a light, open interior. Sparse d�cor, hard surface floors, white walls, and plenty of glass give a cleaner, simpler appear.

Space for Dwelling & Operating

The downturn in the market and the trend toward green living has led to a whole lot more productive use of room in homes. There is an curiosity in livability, instead than showiness. Bathrooms are smaller and a great deal more sensible, but closets are still generous. Formal dwelling, media, or work out rooms that are unconnected to other core areas are likely to not be used. These spaces could very well be converted to studies or property offices. Buyers who succeed on line are increasing in number, and they have deliver the results space at household.

New Countertops

In the recent previous, to upgrade a residence was to �granitize� it. In the present day, granite is shifting apart in favor of new possibilities. Recycled glass and engineered stones are escalating in popularity, in line with the green trend. Soapstone, extensive used in labs, is in need. The organic start looking of limestone, concrete, and marble have a following. Stainless steel is a positive fit with modern kinds.

Retro Is Again

Updated mid-century modern day houses are fairly a lot in demand. Geometric designs and enormous flower models from the 1950�s and 60�s are in. Marimekko, Danish modern-day, IKEA, Eames, and early present day furniture are a perfect in shape with today�s styles. Older customary residences can be up-to-date with smooth finishes, these as industrial light fixtures, flat cabinet doors, very hard surface area floors, and subjected windows. Open shelving in kitchens are a nice in shape. Today�s flat screens suit in simply, and the trend is to have a little more of them in spots like kitchens or baths. Contemporary design and style with a retro feel will be the main edge in the next 5 a long time.

Grey is the new Neutral

Red and gold are out. Thick texture on walls is out. Significant faux is out. White and off whites are in. Pastels are in. Taupe and grey are merged with white for a innovative glance. Create a splash of deep color � turquoise, chocolate brown, plum � and you have today�s look. A gentle natural pallet, these types of as cream, sisal, and raw wool is in. On wood, the two the normal bare glance and darkish stains are implemented.

Tricky Surface area Floors

Challenging surface floors are a element of the green pattern. Carpets hold dirt, dust mites and other allergens. Concrete, stone, cork, all-natural linoleum, bamboo, and wood are preferred floors at this time. Bamboo, which grows a foot per day, is appealing and sustainable. Ceramic tile continues to be a solid fit for baths, and is being explored for kitchen counters. Large ceramic pieces set tightly collectively offers a new appear with plenty of new colors.

External is In

A whole lot more than actually, prospective buyers want to working experience the outside. Large, sliding glass doors and screened porches have prepared a comeback. On restricted urban lots, glass partitions open the inside to a private yard. Yard gardens, covered patios with out of doors kitchens, and pools are all appealing to today�s customers.

Author: Roselind Hejl

AS Near AS two COATS OF PAINT

Allyson Buck and Sarah Heinbaugh are taking an Earth-pleasant strategy to interior style and design.

The good friends-turned-organisation- partners are the proprietors of Interi- Living, which opened in January at 301 E. Pikes Peak Ave., on the eastern edge of downtown. The retailer sells sustainable, eco-friendly inside finishes these as cork and bamboo flooring, recycled glass countertops and Mythic paint, a nontoxic, very low-odor paint.

"We're the only dealer in the Colorado Springs place that has this paint," Heinbaugh reported. InteriLife also delivers products and services which includes interior design and style and custom made millwork, and Buck and Heinbaugh are preparing to deliver workshops.

Buck is an inside designer, whilst Heinbaugh is an artist. The two are from Texas, but they didn't meet right until they arrived to Colorado. In one of those it can be-a-modest-earth stories, it turned out that their husbands attended substantial school collectively in Texas.

Amid InteriLife's lines is American Clay, a all natural-earth veneer plaster - and a product or service that commenced Buck down the path to setting up InteriLife with Heinbaugh.

Buck discovered about American Clay from Deborah Hall of Hall's Partitions, a distributor for the products.

"I definitely liked the product or service," Buck stated. And in delving into it, Buck also got to know Hall.

It was Hall who had the concept for the new organisation.

"She distributes to alternative dealers in Colorado, and a great deal of them have a emphasis on green," Buck says. "So she believed it would be a effective option for someone to do that in Colorado Springs. She assumed of me, and I believed it was a great thought, and I considered of Sarah, and we just did it."

The showroom is found within what was formerly element of Hall's Partitions. Buck and Heinbaugh rent the area. Hall is not component of the enterprise.

The two relied on cost savings to get the online business going. As befitting a green enterprise, they took a green tactic. Their cabinets, for case in point, arrived from ReSTORE, which sells recycled putting together supplies.

Heinbaugh sees a need for green products and services. The challenge, she said, is "we just will need buyers to know that we're here."

She and Buck acknowledged that they had qualms about beginning a business in a down overall economy.

But it truly is spring - a time when property owners think about family home tasks, they mentioned.

And, Buck explained, "We've got no way to go but up."

Speak to the writer at 636-0272.

Author: Invoice Radford

Repair Options for Plastic Laminate Countertops

In the early years of my career in the countertop fabrication business, I sold a large number of plastic laminate countertops. When I went into business for myself 17 years ago, I started out specializing in repairing and modifying solid surface countertops. My thinking at that time was that the potential for repairing plastic laminate countertops was limited, and I wanted to focus totally on my new specialty. Eventually, though, I developed an interest in new business opportunities.

As the years went by, I gradually added more products to the range of countertops my company services. Our first expansion was to begin repairing quartz countertops. Then we added butcher block, granite, marble as well as many other natural stones, in addition to concrete and recycled glass countertops to our product mix.

Occasionally, we would be asked to repair a plastic laminate countertop, but in most cases, we declined. My perception was that the repair options were limited and the countertops themselves were relatively inexpensive. As a result, most customers would choose to live with minor damage, or they would complete a do-ityourself repair, or replace the countertops with new ones. None of these options involved hiring a professional repair service.

I'm now in the process of re-evaluating that opinion. In a recession, it seems unwise to ignore any reasonable business opportunity, and consumers will often consider repairing a product they may have replaced when times were better. If you Google the phrase "recession shoe repair," you will find dozens of articles about shoe repair shops all across the country that are swamped with business in the form of hundreds of pairs of old shoes stacked up waiting to be fixed. Shoe repair is a perfect example of a countercyclical business - one that improves when the overall economy is poor. Perhaps repairing plastic laminate countertops is a similar market niche.

REPAIR OPTIONS

Accordingly, here's some information about a variety of products and services that allow plastic laminate countertops to be repaired and refinished.

Since 1956, Kampel Enterprises has been manufacturing its Seam-Fil product. This product is intended to fill seams, nicks and chips in plastic laminate surfaces. Available in one ounce squeeze tubes in 20 standard colors, the product can be blended by the user, or Kampel will custom mix the product for an exact color match to a specific laminate. After it cures, the result is a very durable repair. Visit KampelEnt.com for more information, or contact one of their 700 distributors, or order online at AmericanTechnologyI nc.com.

Burns from hot pots are a common form of damage to plastic laminate countertops, and this type of damage is usually too extensive to be repaired inconspicuously. Vance Industries in another company that has been offering a repair solution for decades. The Vance Built-in Surface Saver is a tempered glass cutting board with a stainless steel frame. The product is designed to be permanently installed as an insert into the countertop, centered over the damaged area. The product is available in two sizes measuring either 12"xl5" or 16"x20", and a variety of colors of both the glass cutting boards and the steel frames. Visit Vancelnd. com for more information.

I've been frequently asked if it is practical to paint plastic laminate countertops in order to change the color or cover damaged areas. Over the years, I've seen some paint jobs that have held up poorly, and ended up looking worse than the original countertop. I've rarely seen a repainted countertop that looked really good. Consequently, I've tended to recommend against the idea of repainting countertops in the past.

I'm rethinking that opinion. Just because many people have failed to do a good job doesn't mean that it's impossible. The key to success is selecting the right products that will bond securely to the laminate, and result in an attractive, durable, sanitary surface.

One well-known company, Miracle Method, has been successful in refinishing plastic laminate countertops. Miracle Method originated in 1979 as a franchise operation specializing in refinishing items like bathtubs and porcelain sinks. With over 120 locations and an emphasis on quality and customer service, the company may be the best choice nationally for professional refinishing of plastic laminate countertops. Enter your zip code at MiracleMethod.com for a referral to a franchise near you.

Michaela Harbert has perfected her own successful four-step technique for refinishing plastic laminate countertops, and now provides this service professionally in the Cleveland, OH area. She calls her process Countertop Transfauxmations, and she has produced and sells a DVD and manual that explains the entire process. The process involves faux finishing and is completed with hand tools such as rollers and sponges as opposed to spray guns. With proper preparation, her method can cover areas that have moderate burn damage as well as chips, nicks and gouges. I've ordered the DVD, which is available at ByYouLLC.com, and will report on the results in a future column.

Thomas' Kitchen Art is a division of Eagle Specialty Products, a company based in St. Louis that supplies ingrethents for manufacturers of paints, coatings, inks, caulks, adhesives and metal working fluids. Thomas' Kitchen Art has introduced two products that can be used for refinishing plastic laminate countertops. One is called Liquid Stainless Steel, which is a unique paint composed of microscopic particles of stainless steel in a clear, automotive grade acrylic resin. Marketed primarily for appliance refinishing, it can also be used to simulate a stainless steel countertop. Visit LiquidStainlessSteel.com for complete information.

The company's second product is Giani Granite Paint for Countertops. This product is a complete kit with all of the ingrethents needed to create a faux granite finish on a plastic laminate countertop. Included is a black primer, three complementary colors of mineral paints that are applied in a specific order to produce a granite effect, and a clear protective top coat. The company says that the system is based on automotive grade polymers like those used to manufacture car bumpers, and that the surface is exceptionally durable after two weeks of curing, although the refinished countertops can handle light-duty usage after just 48 hours. Kits in six basic colors are available, but the final look can be customized by varying the proportions of the mineral paints, or by adding other colors of acrylic paints. Visit GianiGranite.com for complete information.

These products and services offer the promise that plastic laminate countertops that are moderately damaged or worn, or that no longer match the color scheme of the kitchen or bath, can be refurbished for many additional years of service.

Author: Heaphy, Jim

Brighten Your Home with Glass Tiles

A dark and dull home interior is not usually what homeowners strive for. It still occurs probably because of light-absorbing carpets and hardwood. For this reason, many people are deciding to integrate glass tiles in parts of the house. Glass is reflective, making areas seem brighter and larger. Adding radiance to a home is only one draw of glass tiles. It offers many other beautiful and practical benefits to a home.

Glass tiles come in an array of colors, shapes, sizes and designs. A homeowner can choose from a wide collection of either standard or custom tiles or they can hire a tile artist to create a one of a kind piece for their home. This method has become trendier recently because of the endless custom possibilities and aesthetic appeal. Glass has been used for centuries in every type of constructions because it is resilient. Water-proof and non-porous, glass resists moisture and will never stain or harbor mildew growth, making it a natural non-allergenic material. In addition, they never fade, scratch or decay, which means endless application possibilities without the risk of damage. These facts have been proven through time.

Since glass tiles can withstand harsh conditions, unlike many other surface coverings, it is ideal for a multitude of applications. Fireplaces, wall backsplashes, kitchen and bathroom floors or countertops are just a few examples. Glass is even weather-proof enough for outdoor use. It is very popular as pool tile because of its strength and attractive mosaic design possibilities. From a �green� standpoint, the developing innovations of recycled glass make it healthier for the environment. Recycled glass is in no way inferior to non-recycled glass. It creates a unique and often sought after appearance that can resist the same conditions as any newly-created glass.

Glass has extremely easy maintenance. Everyday glass cleaner will do the trick. Due to its recent increase in recognition and competitive availability, glass is very reasonably priced. Glass tile applications have seen an increase lately due to recent anti-slip products, making it more ideal for floor applications. Though glass is resilient, it can still break due to abuse. Floor-rated tiles are recommended in high-traffic areas. These are more resistant and less likely to crack. Upon deciding glass is for you, remember these specialty tiles require specific installation methods, so be sure to hire a professional. From design to finish, glass tiles make a beautiful addition to any home.

Author: Bruce Mendes

The Value Of Remodeling And Residing Sensible

Final week was the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day. Truthfully it came and went without having very much fanfare - and I am not positive why. The green movement is right here to stay and hopefully inspires all of us to understand that the selections we make inside of our residences impact all kinds of things approximately us. We have a obligation to our children to set the illustration and stimulate them to dwell a a bit more environmentally accountable and healthful life-style.

I am making a concerted work to dwell more responsibly and to design and style my projects much more efficiently. Establishing and designing green is honestly an working out in sensibility - exactly where newly built and renovated houses are intended to be increased vitality and drinking water productive, tough, more time lasting and healthful to live in due to great indoor air good quality - at no cost of radon moisture and mildew.

So if you are pondering about renovating, remodeling or retrofitting, which rather simple "green" enhancements would include the most worth to your dwelling?

- Kitchen area remodels customarily give you the most appropriate ROI in your place. Certain you can renovate and repurpose current space, but just replacing your outdated laminate countertops with a new recycled glass counter surface area, or changing out that outdated cracked ceramic floor tile with a very sustainable bamboo content, will immediately include worth to your property and enrich your air quality at the similar time.

- Rest room upgrades often run a near 2nd to kitchen enhancements and their return on investment. By repainting with small or zero paints, re-grouting your tiles, or changing all your older plumbing fixtures that conserve water will not only create worth but help you save capital as clearly.

- Raising your power performance by improving upon the R-values in your attic insulation or basement and crawlspaces will enable minimize your electrical power charges - which in flip improves the overall appeal of your dwelling.

- Incorporating photo voltaic panels or geothermal heat pumps are a costlier dedication than a customary HVAC procedure - still add huge appeal to a house. If nothing else schedule standard routine maintenance at minimum 2 times a 12 months to be certain that your recent method is operating efficiently.

- Previous single pane windows are a portal for making it possible for cold air in, and warm air out. Replacing leaky windows with double paned ones will immediately improve your insulation and help save power. But keep in head, replacing the windows on an older historic residence would seriously reduce its worth by transforming the integrity of the construction. In that situation adding storm windows on the exterior of those previous single pane windows quickly raise your home's insulation value.

Writer: Lori Gilder

New digs in the park

Perfect news at the trusty ol' Yosemite Lodge at the Falls, whose just-okay rooms have definitely relied on their stone's-throw proximity to Yosemite Falls to draw a crowd. Now, two prototype eco rooms have opened, with all the efficient, natural, substantial-tech touches you would count on, as well as a critical upgrade in style. Headboards of are living-edge hickory are a swirl of a centerpiece, and colorful countertops are created of glass from curbside recycling bins in San Francisco. With luck, the lodge will start converting a good deal more rooms by the finish of the yr. For now there's no assure, but it doesn't hurt to request a person of the green rooms when you reserve. From $207 yosemite park.com

Coming with the complete gang? Examine out the swish new John Muir Property at Evergreen Lodge, which blows away the frumpier rentals at Yosemite West. Sleeps ten $895 evergreenlodge.com

Writer: Lisa Trottier

Eco-friendly kitchens are gaining steam

By Lynn Underwood

MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE

Just a few years ago, calling a kitchen green would have meant the walls were painted sage.

Today's green kitchens have nothing to do with color. They're environmentally friendly, energy-efficient and nontoxic. They boast countertops made of recycled glass or paper, and floors of renewable bamboo or cork. The appliances use less energy, and paint with low volatile organic compounds (low-VOC) keeps the air clean.

Eco-friendly kitchens, a byproduct of the green building movement, continue to gain steam, even in the sluggish economy, because more people want their homes to be healthier. They also want to do what they can to minimize the impact on the environment. But it took some time for green design to move beyond the back-to- basics style.

Michael Anschel, principal at Otogawa-Anschel, was one of the architects on the front lines of green design in Minnesota. He helped develop the Minnesota GreenStar certification program in 2006, which includes guidelines for green kitchen remodeling projects.

"At the time it was a radical concept, that you could use linoleum and cork and salvaged granite, and it could look high-end and classy," he said.

Now, manufacturers are crowding into what's considered a hot market, offering green building products in a wide range of styles, colors and prices.

"There's no limit to cool products that have green attributes," said Anschel. "Five years ago, it was a struggle to find low-VOC paint. Now it's at big-box stores."

But there's more to green than a label on a package, said designer David Heide, owner of David Heide Design Studio in Minneapolis. He considers good design a key green component.

"A bad design filled with lots of green products that end up in a Dumpster five years from now isn't green at all," he said.

Here are some different ways to the same green end by several Minnesota firms:

GREEN-MINDED MAKEOVER

By Natural Built Home; www.naturalbuilthome.com.

The motivation: Owners Eric and Shelly Hatting designed their new kitchen, then looked for green products. "We've always liked the look of the materials," said Eric. "The fact that they were formaldehyde-free and mostly recycled sealed the deal."

The stuff: The cabinets are built without formaldehyde, with doors made from sustainably grown poplar wood fabricated into veneers. The recycled paper countertops "feel as hard as stone," Eric said. Multicolored recycled glass covers the center island. Instead of putting in a new floor, the Hattings refinished their existing maple one. All the paints and finishes are low-VOC. While they paid a little more for some of the green materials, Eric said, the end result is a kitchen that "is more visually appealing and re- uses materials."

A BETTER BUNGALOW

By David Heide Design Studio; www.dhdstudio.com.

The motivation: Owner Molly Dinneen wanted to update her Craftsman-style kitchen, but hoped to incorporate many of the room's existing materials. "There's nothing more green than re-using what you have," said David Heide, her designer.

The stuff: Dinneen patched and refinished the existing wood floor and restored and reinsulated the kitchen windows. She recycled her old appliances and replaced them with Energy Star appliances. The new formaldehyde-free cabinets are made of wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, which means it comes from a well- managed sustainable forest. Other green features include a low-flow faucet, under-cabinet halogen lights and a clay farmhouse sink that can be recycled.

BEECH WOOD BEAUTY

By Otogawa-Anschel Design Build; www.otogawa-anschel.com.

The motivation: Cathy and Mike Spengler's whole-house remodeling included an updated kitchen. "It was such a big project that we wanted it to be the least wasteful and energy-efficient as possible," Cathy said.

The stuff: They used beech salvaged from Lake Superior for the formaldehyde-free cabinets. "It's such beautiful wood, and it's so cool that it has that history," she said. The countertops are composed of granite and onyx remnants, and the breakfast bar is made of oak certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. While the Spenglers installed energy-efficient, triple-paned windows, they repaired and refinished their existing hardwood floor.

"A green kitchen makes me feel less guilty about having what feels like a fancy kitchen," Cathy said.

Scripps Howard News Service

Author: Lynn Underwood

New Services

Bench Seat Fits Aging-In-Place Set

Liners Immediate has released a bench seat that measures 25''x15-three/4'' and is constructed for comfort and ease and the transfer of most people in need to have of the resource. The bench matches along the back again of the side wall but can be installed along the soap dish wall in much larger showers. It is available in four solid colors and facet wrap material is out there in all of the wall colours the enterprise has.

www.linersdirect.com

Circle No. 202 on Products Card

Glass Countertops Supply Custom Appearance

ThinkGlass creates an array of custom made glass countertops that are made from a hundred% recyclable glass. Every countertop is distinctive, with a sizeable selection of molded textures and hand-painted shades obtainable. Consumers can decide upon their glass thickness, edge remedies and even include LED lights. The countertops are obviously resistant to scratches, mildew and mildew, and can endure significant heat with no need of cracking or scorching, the firm notes.

www.thinkglass.com

Circle No. 201 on Product or service Card

Shades Abound in Glass Vessels

Custom Fused Glass Bowl Vessels from Meyda Custom Lights element a wide variety of hues and models. The Tropical Fused Glass Bowl Vessel is kilnfired, fused glass in colours of blue, yellow, green and red swirl and stripe motifs. The vessel stands four.25'' tall and 15'' broad.

www.meyda.com

Circle No. 204 on Item Card

Hardware Has Ornate Design and style

The Empire Collection from Richelieu Hardware features a assortment of decorative knobs and pulls. The pieces are crafted from cast iron and are accessible in many dimensions and finishes.

www.richelieu.com

Circle No. 206 on Product or service Card

Odor Challenges Solved with Indoor Composter

The CompoKeeper is engineered to guide with composting of meals scraps in the kitchen. The CompoKeeper performs like a large zip lock bag lining the inside of a waste bin that can be opened and closed applying the foot pedal or turning the hand lever. Retaining compost in the CompoKeeper allows recyclers to retailer food scraps with out the unpleasant odors and facet results of indoor compost storage.

www.compokeeper.com

Circle No. 203 on Solution Card

Fridge Drawers Offer you Rapid Cooling

Perlick Corp. has added Refrigerator Drawers to its C -Series item line of refrigeration programs. Piece of the company's moderately priced sequence, the 24" Refrigerator Drawers function five.three cu. ft. of capacity, and every drawer is deep sufficient to accommodate a gallon of milk. The series is driven by a peaceful 700 BTU compressor, with the firm's RAPIDcool refrigeration solutions making it possible for for quick temperature pull-down.

www.perlick.com

Circle No. 205 on Product Card

Mosaic Combines Slate and Glass

Bellavita Tile's Botswana series of tile mixes slate and glass for a shimmering yet normal appearance. The Botswana series arrives in 6 colorways: Makgadi White (proven), Chobe Earth, Okavango Savannah, Mashatu Gold, Nxai Sand and Savute Night. The mosaic pattern is fashioned by combining 1''x1'', 1''x2'' and 2''x2'' tiles on a 12''x12'' sheet.

www.bellavitatile.com

Circle No. 207 on Solution Card

Architecture Influences Hardware Design and style

Born out of a partnership somewhere between Reveal Designs and the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, the original series in the Taliesin Layout Hardware Assortment feature stylish, hassle-free lines. The Series 630 and Sequence 631 can be combined for an eclectic glance, and aspect four.25'' pulls that can be finished with stainless steel and a preference of beech, walnut, oil rubbed bronze or as strong stainless items.

www.reveal-models.com

Circle No. 208 on Products Card

Vary of Options Marks Lav Sequence

The Marquee Selection of undercounter lavatories from Porcher incorporates three measurements, four designs and six totally different surfaces - developing 96 decisions in all with the various sorts of methods out there. Inspired by the faceted attractiveness of diamonds, the symmetrical, vitreous china sinks are to choose from in round, oval, square and rectangular with chamfered detailing. The three shades -white, biscuit or black - are made available in a entirely glazed or matte complete.

www.porcher-us.com

Circle No. 210 on Product or service Card

Hardware Line Delivers Plenty of Choices

Nice Knobs! is a line of wood knobs, cabinet pulls and appliance pulls offered in a large number of shapes and dimensions, as very well as 11 wood species. Shown is a set of cherry knobs and pulls that work with many designs of cabinetry.

www.niceknobs.com

Circle No. 209 on Solution Card

Laundry Unit Brings together Washing & Drying

Ariston's new ARWDF 129 & 129 S Mix Washer/ Dryer is compact at just 24'' extensive. Condensation technological know-how has and reuses the sizzling air created by the drying process, allowing excess moisture to leave through the drain hose. The unit can wash and dry loads in less than 60 minutes.

www.aristonappliances.us

Circle No. 211 on Solution Card

Drawer Sides Produced from White Birch

Castlewood by AMS introduces Birch Plywood Drawer Sides produced from one/2''-thick C -2 grade white birch plywood with a protective apparent UV complete. The drawer sides characteristic a tight birch core that is at no cost from voids and core overlaps, and CARB compliant. The drawer side banking institutions come in 96'' lengths with prime edge banded and are to choose from in a number of heights from 2'' to 12''. Drawer blanks are grooved to acknowledge up to a 5mm drawer bottom.

www.castlewood.com

Circle No. 212 on Merchandise Card

Fan/Lights Feeling Humidity

The Humidity Sensing Recessed Enthusiast/Lights from Broan-NuTone resemble a recessed light but characteristic a humidity sensing switch that triggers the concealed, tranquil ventilation fan. Energy Star-competent, the fan/light elements SensAire systems to aid guarantee moisture is successfully exhausted at the supply.

www.Broan.com

Circle No. 214 on Product Card

Resource Double Oven Saves Vitality

Whirlpool recently released the Resource Saver Double Oven Range. The upper oven employs 50 percent much less power and preheats in 50 percent the time, in contrast to a whole-size oven. End users can bake at two separate temperatures simultaneously. The electrical double oven has a blended 6.7 cu. ft. capacity.

www.whirlpool.com

Circle No. 213 on Solution Card

Customized Stainless Hood Vents Multi-Functionality Stove

Four Seasons Metals not long ago completed the layout, manufacturing and set up of a custom stainless steel, 4-light vent hood for a sizable multi-purpose stove that benefits 5 cooking aspects - an oven, griddle, hibachi/wok, deep excessive fat fryer and rice steamer. The hood characteristics industrial grade lights and a 2500 cfm fan able of venting all five cooking areas at after, if critical.

www.fourseasonscorp.com

Circle No. 215 on Products Card