Eco Kitchen

A striking palette and eco-friendly features live well within traditional design.

This family craved an energy-efficient and casually sophisticated kitchen. Luckily, green living isn't confined to a particular design or lifestyle anymore-this makeover shows that green can look great in any home.

The small island is made from the same cabinetry and countertops used throughout the kitchen. Thanks to casters attached to the bottom, the island can be moved around the room to provide more usable space where it's needed most.

"I love the layers of warm color-caramel cork floor and countertops, dark chocolate cabinets, and spicy red walls."

The homeowners chose cork flooring because it's made from renewable materials. In addition to being eco-friendly, cork provides a soft surface underfoot.

Trend Update

• Eco-Friendly
  • When you make thoughtful, environmentally conscious choices, you're also taking steps to improve the design in your home. For example, the eco-friendly aspect of cork flooring helps you feel good about conserving resources, but it provides a more personal benefit as well -cork flooring features a comfortable cushioned feel underfoot, so it's easier on your feet and knees. As with all design choices, the best eco-friendly elements are ones that make your home work better for you.

• Casual Vibe
  1. Cup pulls in a satin-nickel finish complement the metallic finishes used throughout the room; they're also easy to grasp. Sought-after butcher-block countertops help maintain the kitchen's casual style.
  2. A stainless wall oven and microwave combo provides convenience. The base cabinet underneath offers space for storing pots and pans.
  3. The vent hood has a high CFM (cubic feet per minute) rating for better air filtration.
  4. A pot filler in a polished-chrome finish eliminates the need for carrying heavy pots from the sink to the cooktop.

What they did

• The Challenge:
  • This kitchen lacked suitable storage and countertop space; it also needed improved traffic flow for the large family. Additionally, the appliances were dated and inefficient.
• The Solution:
  • Removing a pantry, an unused door, and part of the wall adjoining the dining room created a more functional area. Carefully chosen products, such as ENERGY STAR® qualified appliances and renewable cork flooring, provide a more eco-friendly kitchen. Thanks to a dramatic color scheme, this space also satisfies the homeowners' style.

Going Green

Environmentally friendly design is within your reach. Check out these suggestions.

1. Save Choose ENERGY STAR® products, from light bulbs and kitchen appliances to ceiling fans and dehumidifiers, to help you save energy and help the environment. An added benefit-you could save up to 30% on utility bills.

2. Reuse Salvage items large and small that are in good shape and simply could use a face-lift. If you need to get rid of old sinks or appliances, give them to charity or sell them in a yard sale (instead of hauling them to the landfill).
3. Conserve To conserve water, turn off the tap while brushing your teeth in the morning and at bedtime, which can save up to 8 gallons of water per day. It's also important to promptly fix any drips or leaks; a leaky toilet can waste about 200 gallons of water per day. To conserve energy, establish the habit of turning off the lights when you leave a room.
4. Renew Seek out items made from rapidly renewable, sustainably harvested, or recycled materials. Options for flooring include cork and bamboo, as well as recycled or recyclable carpet or linoleum made from natural linseed oil.
5. Recycle Keep a recycling bin in or near your kitchen so that you easily can designate items for recycling.
6. Compost Suitable kitchen scraps, such as coffee grounds and apple cores, can be made into compost. Composting can reduce household waste and supply organic material for your garden.
7. Select For your household cleaning, look for naturally derived cleaning supplies, such as the line of products from Method, or opt for age-old solutions, such as baking soda and vinegar.
8. Imagine Think about accessible design as a part of green design. You'll help ensure the longevity of your home and conserve resources that would be spent on changes down the road.

     

     

Total Votes: 0

• Project Illustration (18.81MB, PDF)

Skillset: Advanced

Rough Cost Estimate: $26,525*

Cabinetry Countertops $14,110
Hospitality center $4,530
Lighting $5,145
Paint $1,560
Desk project $125
Corkboard wall project $625
Bench project $335
Accessories $95

Rough Time Estimate: 2 months**

Cabinetry

• cabinets (Diamond, Gresham Cherry, Chocolate, special order)
• cup pulls (Diamond, Bright Satin Nickel, Model RH30, special order)
• knobs (Diamond, Ultra Brushed Nickel, Model RH24, special order)

Countertops and Backsplash

• butcher-block countertops (special order)
• backsplash tile (3- x 6-inch, American Olean, Greenwich Village, Biscuit MT11, special order)
• gray grout

Appliances

• refrigerator (Frigidaire, stainless, Model FRS6LF7GS, #208225)
• dishwasher (Frigidaire, stainless, Model FDB2415LFC, #18522)
• 30-inch gas cooktop (Frigidaire, stainless, Model FGC30S4DC, #107565)
• 30-inch wall oven/microwave (Frigidaire, stainless, Model PLEB30M9EC, special order)
• 30-inch wall-mounted hood (Broan, Rangemaster, stainless, Model RM523004, special order)

Plumbing

• under-mounted apron sink (Elkay, stainless steel, Model ELUHF3320, special order)
• sink faucet (Giagni, Hudson, polished chrome, Model H1-PC, special order)
• pot filler (Giagni, polished chrome, Model KPT-PCL, special order)
• under-sink water filtration system (Whirlpool, Premium, #152246)

Paint

• vertical shelf stacker (30-inch, ClosetMaid, maple, #59969)
• grass-cloth wallpaper (#29148)
• 1 (48- x 96-inch) sheet of 15/32-inch plywood
• 1 (36- x 72-inch) sheet of acrylic (#11289)
• wallpaper paste (#52892)
• 1 package of 2d nails

Corkboard Wall Project

• walls (Valspar Ultra Premium, Terra Cotta Red 2004-3A, eggshell)
• trim (Valspar Ultra Premium, Snow Cap 7003-8, semi-gloss)
• butcher-block oil and finish (Watco, #43860)

Lighting

• 4 recessed lights
• under-mounted cabinet lights
• pendants (Portfolio, polished nickel, #205839)
• wall plates (Lutron, stainless steel, #21069)
• dimmer switches (Lutron, stainless steel, #239660)

Accessories

• coffeemaker (Cuisinart, #138000)

*Does not include labor costs or applicable taxes, which vary by market, or the cost of tools.

**Does not include lead time for special-order materials.

Selection varies by market.

Availability varies by market.

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