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
Durat, Meld, and TorZo Surfaces Used In EMD Chemicals’ Building As They Pursue LEED Gold
EMD Chemicals’ new corporate office in Philadelphia, PA, designed by L2Partridge architecture and interiors, is seeking LEED Gold certification. The space features a number of sustainable finishes, including Durat solid surface, Meld Micro concrete, and TorZo Tiikeri panels. Durat color 540, a warm gray, was used in a café and was fabricated by Giffin Interior & Fixture. Meld Micro Natural #70 was used for tops in the main lobby and was fabricated by BC Stone. And, Torzo Tiikeri Onyx was used for both pocket doors to the main conference rooms off the lobby and prominent cabinetry and was also fabricated by Giffin. These progressive materials were selected for their strong sustainability profiles, contribution to LEED, durability, and modern aesthetic. Our Philadelphia rep, Ethos Sustainable Finishes, worked closely with the architect and contractors on the space and shared these pictures with us.
CaraGreen TV Launches on YouTube
CaraGreen TV is now on YouTube! Our first video tests if red wine will stain Durat solid surface material (spoiler alert, it doesn't). In the video, CaraGreen's own Barbara Ford, Inside Sales Manager, makes the stain disappear with a little elbow grease. And, the video is filmed in a gorgeous kitchen that has Durat countertops. To watch it, click here. We welcome your video test ideas, email us.
Introducing Monthly Material Vignettes - November Rain
This palette soothes the senses with its cool aqueous tones and restful grays.
It combines materials that could be used for flooring, casework, and countertops.
Materials from back to front:
-EcoTimber EcoBamboo Woven flooring, Silver Lining
-Meld Micro recycled glass and concrete countertops, Concrete
-TorZo Tiikeri recycled sorghum straw sheets for casework or flooring, Emerald
-Bio-Glass 100% recycled glass sheets for horizontal or vertical surfaces, Oriental Jade
-Durat recycled solid surface for horizontal or vertical surfaces, color 202
For more information on these materials, contact us.
Dacusville Elementary School Uses Eco-Friendly Durat
Dacusville Elementary school in Easley, SC features Durat solid surface as an interior finish. Initial project photos are of a round media center desk, which demonstrates the thermoforming capabilities of Durat. The school was designed by architecture firm LS3P Associates LTD in Columbia, SC, who selected whimsical light blue and brilliant red Durat for the job. The general contractor is Bowen & Watson out of Georgia. And, the millworker is B &H Millwork in High Point, NC. The school has Energy Star certification and will open this fall. Stay tuned for additional photos of Durat in this school, as well as nearby Chastain Elementary. For more information on Durat, or to request samples, contact us.
Brixx Pizza Remodels with Custom Durat Tabletops
Brixx Wood Fired Pizza in the historic Dilworth neighborhood of Charlotte, NC commissioned 21 custom Durat tabletops for their space. The Dilworth restaurant was the original Brixx location, which opened in 1998, and the tables were part of a remodel of the space. They selected Durat color 260, a soft cream, which serves as a backdrop for warm, bright colors used as accents throughout the space. Leslie Povall from Tobin Starr + Partners, the architect on the project, told CaraGreen that the tables looked fantastic and “Durat is truly a special material and it created the interesting and tactile nature we wanted the table to evoke.”
CaraGreen is getting ready to deliver Durat tabletops for two additional Brixx locations in Gastonia, NC and Woodbridge, VA. And, another store is getting started in Clear Springs, TN. As Brixx expands in the SE over the next few years, CaraGreen will continue to work with them and provide custom Durat tops for their restaurants.
Durat is easy to maintain and extremely durable, making it ideal for commercial applications. Durat is available in more than 70 vibrant colors and custom colors can be tinted to order. Durat has the capability to create custom works, either by creating custom molds or fabricating their sheet goods, to efficiently meet the exact needs of projects. And, the material contains 30% recycled content, is 100% recyclable, and can contribute to LEED credits.
For more information on Durat or to explore a custom Durat project, contact us.
Pink Durat Countertops Bring Artist’s Aesthetic to Kitchen
Artist Sharon Knettell paints beautiful dancers with the skill of a master. After seeing her exquisite images, the fact that she just remodeled her kitchen with pink Durat countertops, from CaraGreen, makes perfect sense. Her kitchen is another medium for her to impart her artistic vision. Sharon did all the design work, research, and floor plan for the space. She told us that she caught a lot of grief for the color from people in the business. She heard, “it’s so bubblegum” and “Barbie, think of the resale value”. But now, everyone who sees it loves it.
Sharon said, “When I first was planning the kitchen I knew I wanted something modern and striking, but the design had to respect the architecture of the house, a 1905 New England carriage house in Woonsocket, RI. Ultra-modern Sleek Italian design would not cut it. I love black and white and the sharp contrast, gives, I think, a more contemporary edge to the traditional Shaker cabinets. The kitchen is galley shaped, and the bottom black cabinets visually recede making the space appear bigger. The counter therefore had to be an element that bridged the gap between the strong contrasts. I did not want all the usual suspects - neutrals, plain white or something as overused and boring as granite. Seeing Durat 150 pink was a eureka moment. Perfect! I love pink. It was not a coral pink or grey beige pink, but a lovely cool raspberry pink. I am a painter so perfect color is important to me. I also researched the quality of the material and found that it was highly regarded.” Sharon uses the kitchen heavily and says the counters are great for rolling out dough. The material resists stains and cleans easily. And, “it always looks fresh and bright – a joy in the morning”. The fact that Durat is sustainable and contains 30% recycled content and is 100% recyclable is a bonus.
Contractor - Ocean State Property Services
Back splash and wall glass mosaics - Bisazza
Black and white cabinetry - Crown Point Cabinetry
Range hood - Kobe Range Hoods
Sink - Elkay Avado Undermount Sink | EFRU3219
Stove - GE Appliances
Stacked washer and dryer - LG
Faucet and dish liquid dispenser - Hansgrohe
Refrigerator - Jenn-Aire
Dishwasher - Whirlpool
White German porcelain cockatoo , 'Earle' - Ebay
For more information on Durat, which comes in over 60 color choices, contact us
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Visual Studies Initiative at Duke Creates Durat Bench To Mirror Logo
The Visual Studies Initiative at Duke University converted their logo into benches made of Durat. The logo, which was designed by Chair, Hans Van Miegroet, is a colored barcode design. After a steering committee member saw Durat’s Raita bench in a magazine, the striking resemblance to The Visual Studies Initiative logo got them thinking the benches would be a great addition to their space. The idea gained momentum and CaraGreen worked with Durat and Duke to facilitate the custom order. Rachael Brady, co-director of the initiative, put the logo into Photosho p, pixelated it, counted the relative width of the stripes, and made it into a spreadsheet that was given to Durat for manufacturing. With Durat’s extensive color selection, the logo colors were easy to match. To efficiently ship the benches, both in regards to cost and carbon emissions, eight Durat bench tops were ordered without the bases. Duke opted to have the bases made by a local metalsmith, Leo Gaev, who was able to replicate Durat’s design.
The benches are installed at their two facilities, one of which is an old warehouse, and the modern aesthetic complements its urban industrial feel. The benches are also functional for the space, which is bustling with students. The durable material is easily cleaned. Rachael Brady told CaraGreen that the benches “helped the branding of the department and had been extremely well received.”
For samples of Durat or more information on custom Durat furniture, contact us.
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Durat in First LEED Certified New York Public Library in Manhattan
Durat solid surface material was used in The Battery Park City Branch of the New York Public Library. This LEED Gold facility is the first LEED certified branch in Manhattan. It is 11,000 SQFT and anchors the first two floors of the city’s greenest residential high-rise to date. 1100 Architects designed the open and bright space, which provides a welcoming environment for the public.
Durat’s playful colors and sustainability profile made the material fitting for the project and it was used for the shells of bookcases as well as worktops. Blue, orange, green, and white sheets were fabricated into brilliant modern furniture by Dimaio Millwork. Durat contains 30% recycled content and is 100% recyclable.
The branch houses a collection of over 23,000 items, separate reading areas for children, young adults, and adults, a multipurpose programming space, and access to 36 public computers. “This project illustrates the possibilities for a new urban future that incorporates environmental responsibility with the type of vibrant and dynamic design that enriches the public sphere.” says 1100 Architects website and we couldn’t agree more.
For more information on Durat or to receive samples, contact us.
Durat Glows at The Art Institute of Chicago’s Terzo Piano Restaurant
Terzo Piano Restaurant, located within the Modern Wing at the Art Institute of Chicago, used Durat tabletops in its elegant and predominantly white design. Durat, available through CaraGreen, is a solid surface material that contains at least 30% recycled content and is 100% recyclable. The tabletops, made from brilliant white Durat practically glow, as the space has large areas of windows and amazing natural light that radiates off the surface. The restaurant, which can seat 250 patrons, was the work of Dirk Denison Architects. The space was designed so that the restaurant would continue the experience of the museum into the dining area. There are display cabinets that rotate pieces from the Museum’s collection and bring character into the various dining areas. A critical aspect of the design was the concept of changeability, as the restaurant is lunch-only, but the space doubles as a banquet space for private evening events. To accommodate this duality, there are movable furniture pieces and flexible seating arrangements. And, the white palette allows guests to dress the room as they see fit. To learn more about Durat, contact us.
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