Durat & Oceanside Glasstile Used in Eco-Friendly Kitchen Renovation
When Stacy Glass, a design-conscious environmentalist, and Jeff Glass, a function-conscious engineer, set-out to renovate the woefully outdated kitchen of their 1939 home, material choices were enthusiastically scrutinized. The couple sought to promote harmony and flow between the kitchen and living space and the dense forest setting of their home. Health and safety, sustainability, and modern clean aesthetics were all of utmost importance.
They decided to keep the original kitchen footprint, plaster walls, and brick chimney, but removed walls to open up the kitchen to the living space. Steel with 75% recycled content was used to support the new openings. For millwork, they chose regional reclaimed walnut. Cabinets were constructed with FSC-Certified, urea-formaldehyde free plywood. Low or No VOC adhesives, caulk, grout, and paint were used throughout. For countertops, they landed on Durat recycled solid surface in creamy color #760 to contrast the walnut cabinetry. Durat has a warm silky feel, it’s durable and microbial-resistant, contains 30% recycled content and is recyclable at the end of its life, so it met all of their qualifications. For a backsplash, Oceanside recycled glass tile was used in color Cane Iridescent which lends some shimmer to the space. All appliances are Energy Star Certified and their prized Liebherr refrigerator was clad in reclaimed walnut to blend in with the rest of the walnut millwork. LED lights, the most energy and environmentally friendly option, were used in the ceilings and under cabinet. And, they selected a low flow, aerated faucet to conserve water and reduce monthly utility bills.
The resulting new kitchen is a beautiful eco-friendly marriage of both form and function that embodies the natural setting of the home and honors the original architecture.
