January Vignette - Clean Slate
Each new year feels like a clean slate to fill however we choose. This palette is clean and balancing with neutral whites and grays in assorted textures. It combines materials that could be used for casework, walls, and countertops. Materials from back to front:
-Eco-Gres Asia recycled porcelain tile, Waterloo White
-Meld Micro recycled glass and concrete countertops, Concrete
-Bark House Laminate panels, White Birch
-Durat recycled solid surface for horizontal or vertical surfaces, color 910
Bio-Glass Featured In House Beautiful’s Bathroom Of The Month
The May 2011 issue of House Beautiful magazine features a spa-inspired bathroom that uses White Diamond Bio-Glass countertops. Bio-Glass is 100% recycled and recyclable glass. In regards to the Bio-Glass, the homeowner said, "It just glows. It adds a glamorous note." Other bathroom finishes include teak, marble tile, and a round porcelain tub. R. Scott Bromley of Bromley Caldari was the architect on the project. For more information on Bio-Glass, contact us.
Trinity Commons Apartments Defines Eco-Luxury Space with Bio-Glass
Trinity Commons apartments in Durham, NC, used Bio-Glass countertops from CaraGreen to help achieve their luxury aesthetic and LEED Silver goal. The developer, Crosland, set out to build a healthy place to live, for both the residents and the earth. Crosland designers selected sustainable surface materials, like Bio-Glass, which is made of 100% recycled glass and fully recyclable. Bio-Glass tops are used for the main reception desk, as well as a communal kitchen area and computer workstations in the lobby.
To improve indoor air quality, Low-VOC paints, carpet adhesive, and eco-friendly insulation were used.
Energy and Water efficiency are a priority inside and outside the building. The development is in an urban infill location, close to Duke University Hospital, two major bus lines, and restaurants, to reduce automobile usage. There are plentiful bike storage racks and preferred parking spaces for low emitting and fuel efficient vehicles. They will even have recharging stations for the Nissan Leaf when it’s available. High levels of lighting controls are in the residential and common spaces to allow occupants to control their lighting needs. When CaraGreen visited, we noticed the bathroom lights were turned off upon entry and there was signage politely asking visitors to keep them off when not in use. Dim hallways use the most energy-efficient light bulbs. Low flow water fixtures, including dual flush toilets and waterless urinals are installed. Native and adaptable drought-resistant plant species were planted to cut down on water usage by 50% and no sod was used. To reduce the heat island effect, there’s shade landscaping, most of the parking deck is under a light colored surface, and there’s a white membrane on the roof to minimize the build-up of heat from solar gain. A customized HVAC system helps reduce ozone depletion by requiring zero use of CFC based refrigerants in the HVAC and refrigerant systems. And, the site was designed to control the amount of light that leaves it and disturbs the neighbors. This improves nighttime visibility and reduces the impact on nocturnal animals.
For more information on Bio-Glass or to request samples, contact us.
Underwriters Labs Uses Bio-Glass
Bio-Glass was recently used for the reception desk at Underwriters Laboratories University Training Center. O’Brien/Atkins was commissioned for the design and branding of the training center, which is located on the third floor of an existing building on UL’s RTP campus. The scope of the project included design concepts for the first floor lobby, which is the primary entrance for UL University attendees, and needed to reflect the UL training center brand. In the lobby, the Bio-Glass reception desk greets visitors. The color used is Oriental Jade and the desk is a curvy arc-shape with two worktop levels fabricated by Custom Stone and Marble. Behind the desk is a spacious credenza, which is also topped with Bio-Glass. This material is made from 100% recycled glass and is 100% recyclable, making it a perfect choice for UL, as their mission is to work for a safer world and they believe in supporting the production and use of products that are physically and environmentally safe.
For more information on Bio-Glass, contact us.
Stellar Bio-Luminum Installation at Raleigh-Durham International Airport
The second phase of RDU's Terminal 2 opened just days ago and Bio-Luminum tiles, available through CaraGreen, are artistically integrated as a wall finish in the high tech design. Bio-Luminum tiles are appropriately made from 100% post-consumer recycled aluminum from reclaimed aircraft parts. The tile installation features an overlay of clear glass with graphics that depict diagrams of the airport terminal. The majority of the graphics are blue, with the exception of a red one, which signifies where the material is installed. The terminal also incorporates poured terrazzo floors installed by David Allen . And, a gigantic spiraling steel sculpture by Lydio Rubio entitled Gate of Earth. RDU's Terminal 2 is the combined work of Fentress Architects, O’Brien/Atkins, and Freelon. 
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Eco-Terr Tile Used in New Soho Beach House Hotel
Soho Beach House, which just opened this fall in Miami, used Eco-Terr tiles, available through CaraGreen, in its design. Soho Beach House is an oceanfront boutique hotel and private members’ club. This is the third North American property for Soho House, who has properties in Europe as well. Using inspiration from Miami Beach history, Eco-Terr tiles, were a natural fit and used in the lobby and pool area.
Martin Brudnizki was the Interior Designer for the project and combined Miami’s historical South American and Art Deco styles with the Soho brand’s European glamour. Eco-Terr terrazzo tiles were chosen as flooring for both the lobby and the pool deck and washrooms. A traditional wood-paneled lobby exhibits part of Soho House’s art collection, has a Cuban coffee bar, and has a grand piano, which is complimented by Eco-Terr in Oyster White and Moor Green. The Art Deco inspired elegance continues to the pool deck with a 100-foot-long pool bordered by communal lounge beds and gardens where members and guests can relax and socialize while en joying full waiter service. Oyster White and Baby Blue Eco-Terr surround the deck and washrooms and seam nicely with antiqued cement tiles in the adjoining courtyard. The Eco-Terr tiles were cut on site to make various patterns and borders for the floor.
For more information on Eco-Terr Tiles, click here.
Images by Soho Beach House:
Visit to Greenbridge Development in Chapel Hill
Greenbridge development in Chapel Hill is a mere 2 blocks from CaraGreen. I’ve driven by it countless times, heard bits about its McDonough design, and knew materials CaraGreen was providing for the project. But until recently, I’d never toured the buildings, which really brought its remarkable design, both in terms of sustainability and aesthetics, to life for me. Mark Vevle of Greenbridge Developments was kind enough to give me a tour of the site.
Exterior & Green Spaces
We started out on the breezy Rosemary Street courtyard entrance, which will eventually be filled with shops and restaurants. The courtyard is flanked by the two buildings that compose Greenbridge, which are clad with distinctive yellow brick, which was selected because it is manufactured in NC by Cunningham Brick Company and has high-recycled content. The buildings also use high-performing Solarban80 Low-E glass for windows. These materials, as well as steel, concrete, and wood, combine to create a complex and interesting exterior design.
We go up a flight of stairs, and we’re looking out on a lush green paradise, which is the green roof atop the lobby space. Mark tells me that Xero Flor installed the green roof in just a couple of hours. A few of the many benefits of green roofs is that they increase air quality, contribute to more efficient heating and cooling systems, provide safe nesting grounds for birds, and provide relief to the city’s water infrastructure during storms by retaining 35-90% of rainfall. Plants are integrated in other ways as well. For example, there are planters filled with vines that will climb up the building by way of a modern wire grid trellis, and residence balconies are separated by containers of dwarf evergreen trees.
Interior Finishes
We head to the stairwell en route to the residential units. Even the stairwell has a good vibe. It is primarily raw concrete, but there are touches of adventurous orange and forest green paint that provide a hip, outdoorsy feel. Sherwin William’s ProGreen low-VOC paint is used throughout. We stop off on the fourth floor, and there’s signage made out of Bio-glass, a 100% recycled glass and cradle to cradle certified product available through CaraGreen. Metal holders that have been cut with the unit numbers and room names on them cup rectangular pieces of Bio-glass. The Bio-glass practically glows.
We explore a number of units to see the various mixes of finishes and layouts. Owners were given the opportunity to choose from finish packages designed by Sitzer Spuria Studios, the interior designers for Greenbridge. Or, in some cases, owners made their own custom selections. For countertops in kitchens and bathrooms, Meld ecoX and xposed concrete slabs, which are made locally in Raleigh and contain recycled content, or Eco-Terr slabs, which contain recycled stone, are used. For backsplashes, Eco-Gres recycled porcelain mosaic tiles and Oceanside recycled glass tile are used. All cabinetry is made from no added formaldehyde sheet goods and glues. Flooring in the main living areas is either bamboo flooring or Turning House Millworks engineered wood flooring. Carpet, used in the bedrooms, is Shaw’s Anso nylon carpet, which is Cradle to Cradle certified. And, terrace flooring is ECOmax recycled rubber tiles by ECOsurfaces, which contain close to 90% post-consumer recycled content. It seems every finish has been thoughtfully selected.
Energy and Water Efficiency
For lighting, Cree LR6 LED lights are installed, which use just 8 watts, have a 25-year lifespan and are made locally. Greenbridge has a solar thermal hot water system that uses 90 solar panels to heat 4,750 gallons of hot water per day, which significantly reduces carbon emissions and promotes energy independence. There’s also a high-efficiency water sourced heat pump which will save energy and carbon emissions while providing individualized climate control to tenants. The HVAC system is designed to be at least 30% more efficient than standard systems, and there’s a Fresh Air Exchange system, which keeps residential units supplied with clean filtered fresh air. An intake at the top of the building draws fresh air in, passes it through a series of allergen and particulate filters, and then delivers fresh air to each unit at the front door, while old air exits out vents in each bathroom. Dual flush toilets, low-flow water fixtures, and energy efficient appliances have been installed in units as well to further conserve water and energy.
Greenbridge is a trailblazing LEED project in NC, which CaraGreen is proud to supply materials for. For more information on this project, visit the Greenbridge website.
Eco-Cem In The Design Brew At Starbucks
Starbucks, which aims to achieve LEED certification for all new, company-owned stores globally, has developed 4 new design concepts. Eco-Cem, available through CaraGreen, is specified in three of the four designs. Each new and renovated store worldwide will use one of these four themes: Heritage, Artisan, Regional Modern, and Concept Store.
Coverings Etc, makers of Eco-Cem, recently visited a newly renovated South Beach Starbucks to see the Artisan design firsthand. Artisan stores celebrate simple materials like exposed steel beams, masonry walls, and hand-polished woodwork to create the feel of a creative gathering place. Eco-Cem Windsor Grey, composed of cement and recycled wood pulp, is installed as a wainscot throughout the sales area. The installation was simple; it was screwed to the wall with black drywall screws and a piece of cold rolled steel angle iron is used as a top trim.
Greenbridge Uses Eco-Friendly Countertops From CaraGreen
Greenbridge in Chapel Hill, NC is a mixed-use development seeking LEED Gold certification. It has world-class energy, water, and air quality management, then goes beyond to provide thoughtfully selected sustainable interior materials throughout. The team on this project includes William McDonough, architect, Sitzer Spuria Studios, interior design, Weaver Cooke Wilson, general contracting, and CaraGreen, materials supplier.
We’ll be covering various aspects of Greenbridge’s design over the next few months as the building nears completion. This month, our focus is on countertops. Owners were given the choice of Meld ecoX, Eco-Terr, or granite for kitchen and bathroom tops. EcoX contains 70% recycled glass in a concrete base. Slabs are made locally in Raleigh, NC and everything that goes into them is sourced from within 500 miles of the manufacturing facility. Eco-Terr also contains 70% recycled content, but it is comprised of granite and marble chips, leftover from quarry production, in a cementitious binder. Both ecoX and Eco-Terr are hard, durable surfaces and sustainable alternatives to granite. The use of these high-recycled content materials helps weave Greenbridge's sustainability story together throughout the building and brings it to life for the building's residents.
For samples of ecoX or Eco-Terr, contact us.
Durat Counters and Eco-Gres Asia Tile Featured in Interior Designer’s Kitchen Remodel
Kitchens and Baths magazine by Woman’s Day recently covered the remodel of Ulla Lange’s kitchen, in which she used Durat for countertops and Eco-Gres Asia tile for a backsplash (both available through CaraGreen).
Ulla lives in a 1960s ranch home in Boulder, Colorado and is an interior designer with a masters degree in architecture. Her old kitchen was cramped and disorganized, unlike the rest of her airy home, so she decided to become her own client and embark on an environmentally-friendly remodel of the space. She gutted the room and altered the layout to make it more functional and inviting. Ulla selected Durat solid surface material, which contains 30% pre-consumer recycled content, for countertops. She used a warm-gray Durat color along walls, and for a center peninsula, she used a heavenly blue shade. “I wanted splashes of color to keep it fresh, but not so much that it would be overwhelming” said Ulla. She also used two shades of Eco-Gres Asia recycled porcelain tile for her backsplash, a pale blue and wheat-gray. These 1" x 6" tiles contain 36% pre-consumer recycled content. For cabinetry, she used locally produced, formaldehyde-free cabinets with a wheatboard core. For cabinet doors, some are white melamine and others are 3form eco-resin with capiz shells embedded in between layers. To complete her remodel, she upgraded her old appliances for new energy efficient ones and put in long-lasting halogen bulbs for lighting. The final result is a modern kitchen that is practical, fun, and environmentally conscientious.
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