My Design Secrets

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If you are going to remodel your kitchen and would like to do it in an eco-friendly fashion, consider using the following materials in your new design.

Appliances- Certified with an Energy Star label.  Use a convection oven versus a conventional oven to save energy. 

Cabinets – FSC-certified plywood, wheatboard, bamboo, formaldehyde-free MDF, reclaimed wood, recycled timber, or recycled steel.

Countertops – Granite, engineered stone, recycled ceramic tile, FSC-certified wood, recycled steel, recycled glass, recycled plastics.

Flooring –  Bamboo, cork, linoleum, stone tiles, recycled glass tiles, recycled metal tiles, reclaimed & sustainable woods.

Lighting – Copper light fixtures, recycled glass, recycled aluminum, recycled steel, sustainably harvested wood, and post-industrial waste products.  Be sure and use energy-saving fluorescent bulbs.

Storage – Store food in glass and ceramic pieces instead of plastic.  They are easier to clean, do not hold odors, and if on display, aesthetically much more pleasing.

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~ Lorrie

Reuse and Recycle 

First, consider the items you have that might just need a little TLC.

• Friendly Facelift - Sometimes an old favorite just needs a little pick-me-up.  Try a sunny coat of paint on an old table, a new shade for Grandma’s lamp, or reupholstering your favorite chair.
• On the Move – Consider moving accessories, lighting and furniture to another room.  You will be amazed how different the piece looks and how it dramatically changes up a room. 
• Friendly Swap – Talk to your friends and family about what you are looking for and what you are willing to part with.  You might just have a perfect match.
• Dispose With Care – If you have decided that you are ready to part with that sofa, chair, or rug, do your best to pass it on to someone else  who can use it.  (www.freecycle.com, www.craigslists.com, & www.goodwill.org)

Ready to Purchase ? 

 Let’s start from the ground up in the world of eco-friendly decor.

This Hickory Hand-Scraped Flooring is from Eco Timber Flooring. The fantastic character and warmth would be perfect in any room. It is Certified according to the Principles & Criteria of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) as well as being LEED certified.

Flooring 

There are lots of eco-friendly options ranging from cork to reclaimed wood.  My best advice is to do your research like you would for any other purchase.  Be honest with yourself and make sure the flooring works with your lifestyle (and the dog’s and the kids’).  And it’s not just the wood or cork you have to consider.  Make sure you have information on any adhesives and sealents that will be used as these often contain volatile organic compounds (VOC’s)  Just because the flooring is eco-friendly, does not mean the vendor is customer friendly.  Assume nothing and ask a lot of questions.  Get a firm quote, ask about warranties and post-installation care. (Though I have not specified it for any of my clients, my flooring company tells me they are getting a lot of service calls for bamboo flooring, so be vigilant.)

• Eco Timber - Sustainable exotics and hardwoods.
• Check out your local architectural salvage companies for great deals.
• epanko – Cork options for every style.

An Angela Adams rug is truly a thing of beauty. The design, colors and textures mimic the beauty of the natural world.

Carpet & Rugs 

This is where things are getting interesting.  Area rugs can be made from a variety of natural and recycled materials bringing us a fantastic array of textures and designs that are truly amazing.  Along with checking that the rug is made from a sustainable material (recycled items, wools, cotton) make sure it’s made using earth and people friendly practices.  All the better if it’s made in the USA!  This will lessen the use of fossil fuels for transport.

• Flor - Carpet tiles for your whole room or just an area rug.  You can send your old tiles in to be recycled.
• Rug Studio - Sisal, Sea grass and Jute are a good, natural place to start.
• Angela Adams at Velocity – One of my personal favorites.  She makes earth-friendly wool rugs and they are a member of Rug Mark – assuring your rug is child-labor free.

Now that you have the floor covered, are you ready to start adding some furniture?  Then stay tuned for the Eco-Friendly Furnishing Guide Part II this Friday! 

I was in yoga class the other day desperately trying to concentrate on something other than the muscles burning in my legs when I looked down and started thinking about the cork floor they have in the studio.  It’s really nice.  Chances are you have heard or read something about cork flooring lately.  It’s being touted for its eco-friendly properties, versatility and resilience.  But I bet most people still don’t know enough about cork to give it serious consideration when exploring flooring options.  So here’s a primer on where it comes from, how its manufactured, what it costs and how you can integrate it into your own home design. 

Where Does Cork Come From?

It’s the outer layer of the cork oak tree that grows in the Mediterranean area.  It is light colored, insulative and very sound absorbent.  The type we use as flooring is indeed the same as the cork in your wine bottle.  The bark naturally splits every 9-15 years and can be harvested safely without harming the trees.  The trees can live up to 500 years making it a sustainable and renewable resource.   Portugal is home to 30% of the world’s cork trees and produces 70% of the cork worldwide. 

I love the exotic look of Ardosia from epanko. It's available from 12"x12" up to 12"x36".

What Makes Cork a Great Flooring Material?

• Comfort- It feels great to walk on because it is naturally shock absorbent. 
• Durability – It can be compressed up to 40% (by high heels and heavy furniture) and return to its natural shape. 
• Impermeable- It is naturally resistant to liquids. 
• Low Maintenance- Cleaning instructions vary by manufacturer.  All suggest regular sweeping/vacuuming but cleaning solutions recommendations vary.
• Hypo-allergenic- It does not absorb dust so it’s great for people with allergies or asthma.  Suberin is a waxy substance in cork that naturally repels insects, mites and mold.
• Eco-Friendly – It comes from the earth and can be recycled.  Just opt for low- or no-VOC sealents.

Where Should You Use Cork in Your Home? 

You can use Cork just about anywhere in your home.  It’s great for kitchens or anywhere you are on your feet for extended periods of time because of it’s soft feel.  I also like it for kids rooms and recreation rooms because it’s soft and durable.  It can also be used in high humidity areas such as bathrooms, basements and laundry rooms but standing water can damage it so be careful.  Since it’s a natural material, it can fade, so it should not be exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods of time.

The small accent tiles in this kitchen tie the cork in with the traditional look.

What Designs and Finishes are Available?

In order to make floors, the cork is ground up in to pieces of varying sizes.  The pieces are sorted  by size or mixed together to form a variety of styles.  Once you have chosen the style you like, then you can move on to color!  If you are a purist you might want to stick with the natural, warm brown tone.  But if you want to jazz it up, there is a rainbow of colors available.  With tiles you can create any design you can dream up.

How does the Material Come and How is it Installed?

Cork Tiles

Cork tiles come in many shapes and sizes.  Squares and rectangles start at 6″ and go up to 36″.  Various shapes are available from hexagons to herringbone.  Pretty much anything you could do with tile, you can do with cork.

They are cut to size and glued to a clean, even surface.  Once the glue has dried, the floor is sanded and sealer is applied.  There are many tiles available that are pre-finished.  You cannot install cork tiles over other wood or tile floors.  They must go directly onto the subflooring.

This drawing shows us the elements of cork plank flooring.

Interlocking Cork Panels

Cork Panels made like other laminate floors and are pre-finished.  They have cork on the bottom, MDF,  a cork core, a cork veneer and then an acrylic varnish.  Because there are other materials involved, it’s important to speak to the manufacturer about all the components of the flooring material if you are looking for an eco-friendly product. 

These panels require a floating floor installation.  Depending on the product, you may be able to float it over a tile or wood floor.  Some may require it be removed.

Whether you go with tiles or planks, always order an extra box or two for repairs down the line.  Dye lots vary and you want repairs to blend in.

I love this rich color and pattern variation in Cordovan from Epanko.

How much does it cost?

The average cost of a cork floor is $5-$10 a square foot installed.  As with any material, it can vary greatly (from $3-$22 per sq. ft.) depending on the quality and design.  If you are an experienced do-it-yourselfer, you can save a couple of dollars per square foot by installing it yourself.

Cork Flooring Sources:

West Cork

Globus Cork

duro design

epanko

Here’s are some great tutorials:

This Old House ~  How to Lay a Floating Cork Floor.

eHow ~ How to Install a Cork Tile Floor

So if  you are selecting flooring for new construction or are renovating your existing home, cork is a wonderfully versatile and attractive option.  It’s comfortable, easy to maintain, eco-friendly and beautiful.  Personally, I love it and am already planning on installing it in my next home.

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What is resilient flooring?  It’s one of those materials that people kinda, sorta understand.  I wanted to explore it further with you because these days it’s offering some interesting design options.  First of all, resilient flooring is a broad term used for a few different kinds of flooring that you may be more familiar with, for example linoleum, vinyl and cork.   By definition it refers to flooring material which has a relatively firm surface but that also has some give and “bounces back” after objects of heavy weight have been moved.  It has long been used in many commercial environments, such as schools and health-care facilities, because of it’s many positive qualities:  it’s durable, comfortable under foot, good looking, long lasting, cost effective and relatively easy to install. 

The Cork Collection has a clean and modern Swedish look to it but it's not real cork.

The stone is really handsome and warmer on the feet than porcelain tile.

In the past, homeowners have used it mainly in bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms and foyers.  For a while, it was not very stylish and the first thing that was ripped out when moving into a new home.  Homeowners got bored with the muted colors and flecked designs, though I have always loved a great black and white checkerboard pattern!  The reason I am talking about it today is that quite a few companies have really stepped it up with the style options and it’s definitely worth a second look.  Armstrong, in particular, has come out with it’s MODE Flooring collection and I bet you will be surprised at the cool options being offered.

I love the mix and match options, they are endless!

Most of the styles come in 16″x16″ tiles and some of the wood styles come in 6″x36″ planks.  You can mix and match the tiles to create whatever look suits you.  This is a very affordable way of getting a custom tile look at a fraction of the price.  You can have it installed using traditional adhesive if you are confident that you are going to stick with the floor for a while.  Or you can use Quick Tac if you want an “easy down/easy up” option. Either way, it’s worth considering for your next flooring project!

The Planks Collection has a warm, rustic look.

Shop for a variety of flooring options in My Secret Database!

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Boutique hotels provide wonderful interior design inspiration.  Unlike large, chain hotels, the interior designers are often encouraged to focus on ambiance above all else and make the guests feel they are enveloped in luxury.  Occasionally I will show you some great hotel interiors that deserve your attention and give you some insight as to why the design works and how they pull it together.

The photo above is from the Setai in South Beach, Miami.  Their motto is “Be embraced by Serenity”; and you can certainly see they live up to this promise.  This bedroom creates a wonderful mood and achieves a delicate balance.  Let’s start at the bottom and make our way up.  The flooring is a combination of teak and slate.  The combination of flooring gives you a nice balance of warmth and coolness as well defining the spaces.  The simple linens on the bed are graceful and crisp.  This is a look that it is easy to create in your own bedroom.  The wall color is creamy and warm.  Nothing too bold to take away from the beautiful wood.  Lighting, now this is critical.  They have used 3 different types of lighting in this room.  An overall light from the ceiling that highlights the bed and could be used for reading.  The sconces add drama and ambiance along with the floor lamps which are a good idea for a small spaces where nightstands are a squeeze.  All lights are controlled from switches beside the bed.  There are a lot of straight lines in this room but the central focus is on the soft, light colored bed that softens the space and balances the feel.   Overall a great design.

Make sure to explore the Exotic Style in My Secret Database!

Designers have long known the benefits of high quality leather. It’s durable, long lasting and beautiful. A very cutting edge company called York Street Studio is finding new places for leather in your home. The company is making leather panels and tiles for walls and floors and they are gorgeous. They are water resistant, easy to install and easy to maintain. You can use them in the kitchen, office, or just about anywhere you please. Take a look at the selection offered on their website. You’ll be amazed!