Category Archives: Sustainable Products

Countertop Intelligence

I became inspired to investigate countertop material choices when I read an article in New York Times entitled, “What’s Lurking in Your Countertop?” Unbeknownst to me and I am certain many of you, allegations have been made that granite countertops may emit levels of radon.  Please don’t panic.  I have granite counters in my home.  I have done some research on alternative choices to granite and you will be amazed at some of the choices which are gorgeous and some are even Eco friendly. I have included a link to the article written in July 2008 so you can do your own research.  What’s Lurking in Your Countertop?

3Form

This company’s credo is high design and low impact.  They have some of the coolest stuff on the planet.  3form is the leading manufacturer of award-winning, sustainable materials and architectural hardware solutions for the Architecture + Design industry. The samples above are their Varia Ecoresin® system, with 40% recycled content, encapsulates color, organic materials, and textures within translucent resin panels. Use 3form Hardware with our innovative material to create walls, dividers, doors and other architectural solutions.  Be sure to go their website and look at the company video. You can find this product at 3-form.com

 

Criss Cross Nest
Criss Cross Nest
 

Bumble
Bumble
 

Sada
Sada

DuPont™ Corian®

Corian® is a composite material of acrylic polymers with mineral additives has been around for 40 years and comes in wide array of colors. Corian® is easy to clean and is certified kosher. Because Corian® is nonporous, stains do not penetrate the surface. With proper cleaning, Corian® also resists the growth of mold, mildew and bacteria. Corian® is also heat and scratch resistant. You can find this product at corian.com

 

Pompeii
Pompeii
 

Blueberry Ice
Blueberry Ice
 

Canyon
Canyon
 

Raw Silk
Raw Silk
 

Adobe
Adobe

IceStone

IceStone durable surfaces are made from 100% recycled glass and high performance concrete. IceStone® products are the ideal choice for sustainable countertops. IceStone can also be used in back splash, bathroom vanity, table top, bar top, interior wall, and commercial flooring applications. Beautiful shower and bathtub surrounds and kitchen sinks can be made with IceStone as well. IceStone surfaces can be mounted vertically or horizontally. Currently, there are 27 available colors, but the palette is infinite. You can find this product at icestone.biz

 

Aurora Gold
Aurora Gold
 

Blue Ice
Blue Ice
 

White Pearl
White Pearl

Alkemi

Alkemi is made from recycled surface material composed of post-industrial scrap waste (35% by weight-as certified-or 60% by volume). Made from fine flake aluminum milling scrap-which commonly burns up as a heavy smoke pollutant when exposed to conventional aluminum recycling-ALKEMI leaves no hazardous footprint. You can find this product at renewedmaterials.com

 

Koi
Koi
 

Natural
Natural
 

Paprika
Paprika

Vetrazzo

All of the glass used in Vetrazzo is recycled, and it makes up about 85% of the final material by weight. The largest proportion of glass comes from curbside recycling programs. Other glass comes from post industrial usage, windows, dinnerware, stemware, automotive windshields, stained glass, laboratory glass, reclaimed glass from building demolition, and other unusual sources such as commissioned traffic lights. You can find this product at vetrazzo.com

 

Charisma Blue
Charisma Blue
 

Cobalt Sky
Cobalt Sky
 

Alehouse Amber
Alehouse Amber

ThinkGlass

For the discerning homeowner (this means deep pockets), for the unique room, for a breathtaking approach to kitchen or bathroom design, glass is the leading edge, new trendy material for kitchen, bathroom or raised bar countertops. Make sure you look at some of the installations on their website as this looks amazing when lit. You can find this product at www.thinkglass.com

 

Aqua
Aqua
 

Crystal
Crystal

I hope I have inspired you to think of alternative ways to cover your countertops throughout your home and office. Happy hunting for fun and fabulous countertop materials.

By:  Charisse Marie Colbert, CMC Design Studio

 

Green, Green, Green, What Does it Mean?


Eco friendly, energy efficient, environmentally safe, green design, low impact, minimal footprint, natural materials, recycled, renewable resource, and sustainable are some of the many terms you read or hear about that describe the global green movement.  The intention of the green design movement is to tread carefully on our earth by our everyday lifestyle practices and in our building procedures. There are so many certifications, classifications, labels and terms describing the many products and standards of green practices, it is difficult to navigate your way through it all. Here is a short list and descriptions according to the organizations listed of some of the many classifications and terms you might see.

Eco Logo http://www.ecologo.org

Founded in 1988 by the Government of Canada but now recognized world-wide, EcoLogo is one of North America’s largest environmental standard and certification mark. EcoLogo provides an assurance that the products and services bearing the logo meet specific standards of environmental leadership and sustainable products.

Energy Star http://www.energystar.gov/

Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices. You will typically see this rating on household products ranging from appliances, cooling and heating systems, home electronics, lighting and office equipment.

For the home, energy efficient choices can save families about a third on their energy bill with similar savings of greenhouse gas emissions, without sacrificing features, style or comfort. ENERGY STAR helps you make the energy efficient choice.

  • When looking for new household products or a new home, look for ones that have earned the ENERGY STAR. They meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the EPA and US Department of Energy.

FSC http://www.fscus.org/

Forest Stewardship Council FSC is an independent, non-governmental, not for profit organization established to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests. Purchasing wood and wood products with this label gives the assurance that consideration of the environment and wildlife was given. The label can be seen on furniture, flooring materials, and wood building supplies.

Greenguard http://www.greenguard.org/

The mission of the Green guard Environmental Institute GEI is to improve public health through programs that improve indoor air quality. GEI was founded in June of 2001 to establish a true third-party product certification program based on proven emissions standards and to provide specifying and procurement professionals with a resource for low-emitting products.

LEED http://www.usgbc.org/

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), provides standards for environmentally sustainable construction.

LEED was created to accomplish the following:

  • Define “green building” by establishing a common standard of measurement
  • Promote integrated, whole-building design practices
  • Recognize environmental leadership in the building industry
  • Stimulate green competition
  • Raise consumer awareness of green building benefits
  • Transform the building market

Recycle

This symbol is recognized all over the world to designate recyclable materials.  There are many versions of it but it is typically seen with three arrows moving around in an unending loop. 

US Green Building Council http://www.usgbc.org

The U.S. Green Building Council is a 501(c) (3) non-profit community of leaders working to make green buildings available to everyone within a generation.  Their mission is to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life.

VOC

Volatile organic compounds are organic chemical compounds that have high enough vapor pressures under normal conditions to significantly vaporize and enter the atmosphere. These compounds are found in cleaning products, paints, paint strippers and can seriously affect the indoor air quality. When purchasing these types of products, it is best to look for Zero-VOC or Low-VOC.

Water Sense http://www.epa.gov/watersense/

WaterSense is a partnership program sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a means to efficiently use water, save water, and protect the environment.  The WaterSense label will be on water-efficient products such as faucets, sinks, urinals, toilets, showerheads, and landscape irrigation systems.

This article is written by Charisse Marie Colbert, an interior designer at CMC Design Studio www.cmcdesignstudio.com, practicing in Arizona.

Lovely Linen

Linen is a natural bast fiber which comes from the stalk of the flax plant. It grows well in moist climates. The majority of the flax plant is grown in Belgium and Ireland. Turning the flax plant into fibers is a labor intensive process which is why it tends to be an expensive textile.  Prized for its elegance since ancient Egyptian times, linen is the world’s oldest natural fiber. The finest linen in the world comes from Ireland where it goes hand in hand with the country and is as familiar there as the shamrock.

Linen is a crisp, strong fiber with an appealing texture and is one of the strongest natural fibers. The luster of the fiber comes from the natural wax content which is creamy white to light tan. The fiber can be easily dyed and the color does not fade when washed. Getting linen wet actually makes it stronger.  Linen does wrinkle easily but also presses easily. Linen will also fade in the sun. The uses of linen range from draperies, sheer casements, slipcovers, upholstery, wall coverings and bed, table and kitchen linens.

Linen cools you faster than any other fabric including cotton. While it is prone to creasing and wrinkling, it is often woven with cotton or rayon to reduce wrinkles. Linen launders beautifully and gets softer and more lustrous when washed. Dry cleaning is recommended for linen draperies due the potential for shrinkage.

Often thought to be delicate and fragile, linen is actually stronger than cotton and wool and is second to silk in its fiber strength. Because linen is so strong and durable, now you know why the Egyptians used it for their mummy wraps and the Romans shielded themselves with linen awnings at the colosseum.

Have a look at some lovely linen textiles. . . .

Websites where textiles were found:

Fabricut, KravetQuadrille, S. Harris, Trend, and Vervain

Bamboozled? Become Enlightened About Bamboo

What do you know about bamboo? I have to admit, I barely knew anything about the plant and its many uses until recently. A panda bear munching on a stalk of bamboo, a 1960s Tiki room bar ala Trader Vic’s style or a pair of chopsticks are some of the images that came to mind when I thought of bamboo. Those images have been replaced with blankets, counter tops, diapers a.k.a. nappies, fabrics, flooring, pajamas, sheets and towels. In today’s world bamboo has many uses. The reason for its popularity is because it grows so quickly and has no negative impact on the environment. The plant is sustainable and biodegradable.

Bamboo stalks are ground up into a pulp and then spun and woven into a soft and silky fiber to make towels, sheets, fabrics and pajamas. The velvety tactile properties of bamboo textiles are amazing. It is also more absorbent than cotton, which makes it an excellent choice for towels. There are also inherent antibacterial properties in bamboo. Bamboo has a very strong tensile strength as a building material for flooring and other construction materials. All of this is good news for the planet and consumers. I hope you enjoy looking at all the products I found using bamboo. Please don’t be bamboozled any longer about bamboo.

bamboo

bamboo-forest

panda-eating-bamboo

bamboo-bar

bamboo-wallpaper3gingko-wallpapergingko-wallpaper2

bamboo-cutting-boardbamboo-basketbamboo-soap1

bamboo-umbrellabamboo-carvingbamboo-hangersbamboo-hangers2bamboo-hangers3

bamboo-table-mcguire2

bamboo-natural-wall-sconce

By:  Charisse Marie Colbert, CMC Design Studio

Here are some links to websites used for this article:

Bamboo Diapers,  Bellacor, UmbrellaTotally BambooWallpaper,   HangersMcGuire Furniture and Mobboa