Kitchen Countertops- Soapstone

I'm a messy cook.  I can't be bothered with worrying about a spill of tomato sauce or a lemon on the counter while I am trying to get dinner on the table.  I need something that is low maintenance and forgiving.  Add that to a checklist of ecologically responsible and nice to look at and it becomes quite overwhelming to choose a kitchen countertop.  Lucky for you we have sorted through the labyrinth and chosen a few of our favorites to share with you.  As always, there are pros and cons to each choice and your location and lifestyle will play a large part in the equation. Today, we are highlighting soapstone.

Soapstone

This material has been a favorite for kitchen, baths and fireplaces for hundreds of years.  In fact, this material will more than likely, outlive you and your project.  The most eco friendly choice would be to find a slab or sink from a previous project to re purpose in your home. It is not a renewable resource and the transportation is costly.  Stone harvested from Brazil may be damaging the eco-system and should be avoided.  

It is maintenance free.  Yes, it's true.  It requires no sealing and wipes clean with soap and water.  It is a softer stone than granite and it may wear at the corners or nick if you drop a heavy pot.  These "flaws" blend with the natural patina of the stone and add character and warmth.  If you don't like the sound of that, simply buff out any stains with a fine sandpaper and oil once a year to even out the color.  Color varies from grey to black with veining that resembles marble.  Some slabs can have a green cast. The darker colors are more dense and better suited for high use areas. 

Alberene Soapstone offers a kitchen in a box. All you need are a circular saw, jigsaw, drill/driver, grinder, and a sander to assemble your counter top and back splash.  

Pros:

Fits into any design style- vintage, contemporary, traditional.  This stone is a chameleon.  

Maintenance free- Withstands high heat, is non porous, non reactive, and easy to clean.  

Easy to repair-fix any stains or nicks yourself with sandpaper and oil or wax.

Long lasting- this stone will outlive all of your other design choices.  

Cons:

Not a renewable source- check the provenance before purchasing.  Pass if the stone was quarried in Brazil.

Not locally sourced for most of the world.

Here are some images of beautiful kitchens that highlight the versatility of soapstone.  

 

  

Read Anything Good Lately? Green Accessories

Italy-based Gartenkulter pays tribute to the plant and tree with these beautiful planters made from old and disused books. By removing the heart of the book’s cover and pages and then creating a seal, the book becomes a home for a living and growing tree.

 “As each seed becomes a plant or tree, the book becomes a pot or cradle.”

Eco approved wood sealant

The search for a wood sealant is over.

Vermont Natural Coating is getting it right. The company was founded by a Vermont native who attended UVM and collaborated with UVM chemist to create a superior product. The company is located in Vermont, utilizes excess whey from Vermont's agriculture and employs locally.

Here's what they say about their products. "By using recycled whey protein we eliminate the need for heavy metal driers and displace both the toxic co-binders and carcinogenic solvents typically found in wood finish. Whey is a natural byproduct of cheese-making, a traditional strength of Vermont agriculture. Excess whey can end up on fields and in streams. To help keep our farms and waterways clear of excess whey, our goal is to reuse as much of this byproduct as possible in durable, safe coatings for your home."

The woman who answered their phone when I called told me she used the product on the wood floor in her bathroom and after 3 years she still does not have any water damage.  

Vermont Natural Coating can be found locally in San Diego at Rockler.

Children's Designer Height Chart

All you need for these designer DIY beauties is below...

A few quick steps:-

Paint or stain according to your color scheme.

We measured 2 1/2 " from the bottom of the wood for our 2' start mark. 

We taped the tape measure to the centre of the plank to line up the brass number stencils.

We were careful to tape the stencils and paint carefully. You could also spray paint and mask accordingly.... 

New California Fire Retardant Standard

Good News! Previously California manufacturers had to adhere to California Technical Bulletin 117, in order to comply with this manufacturers had to use a series of horrible highly toxic chemicals in the foams to ensure they were flameproof. Now, there is a new standard out which is centred around a new smolder test and uses far less chemicals than the previous standard necessitated.

These toxic chemicals contaminate our bodies - and the bodies of our children. Flame retardants have been linked to lower IQ in children, impaired fertility and increased cancer risk. And they don't even prevent fires effectively. In furniture, they can actually make fires more deadly by releasing even more smoke and toxic gases.

The new fire retardant standard is effective 2014 so make sure you check when you purchase your sofa. 

DesignerEco only works with eco friendly manufacturers. If you are looking for a healthy custom built sofa, send us a picture of one you like, specify the fabric or let us know if you want some inspiration, the dimensions and we will get a quote to you within 24 hours.

For more info & technical details click here 

Yolo - Fabulous Eco Paint

We love the color palettes of the YOLO. From Earth to Sprout to the Color of Hope. Designed and created by the awesome duo Virginia Young and Jamie Lowe (YO LO) when they moved from NYC to Portland, they adopted a healthy lifestyle. They set up a painting business doing murals and paint efffects and realised two things - firstly that clients were struggling with paint selections and secondly that the paints they were using, even the water based ones, were not in fact very healthy. They would come home with headaches and sore throats!

 So they created their own paint using clay and rice paste and collaborating with paint and green chemists to create the YOLO product we have today; YOLO Colorhouse premium, zero VOC interior paint.

How fantastic! Listed below are the things which are not in the paint:

• No reproductive toxins
• No mutagens
• No hazardous air pollutants
• No ozone depleting compounds
• No formaldehyde
• No phthalates
• No VOCs

The website has a very cool color choosing palette guide.

Get healthy painting! If you need any help selecting colors get in touch.

Using Factory Waste - Notwaste - Recycled Designer Furniture & Accessories

Notwaste famous in Mexico for their use of OSB panel wood furniture. Drawing on some of Mexico's finest designers they bring new life back into factory waste transforming it into stylish designer pieces.

Our favourites are featured below. Visit their website to see the full collection!

Name: Clara

Description: Poltrona

Material: OSB panel wood

Dimension: h750 x 1200 x 700 mm 

Designer: Ricardo Casas

Name: Mimí & Cocó

Description: Mirrors

Material: OSB panel wood

Dimension: h1700 x 550 x 19mm - h1100 x 1150 x 19mm

Designer: Gaia Bottari