John Stein is into demolitions, but not in the way one might think.  The founder and president of California-based Kirei USA has a knack for finding the possibilities inherent in the unwanted.

This vision shows clearly in every Kirei product, including the newest line, Windfall.  These engineered panels are produced in partnership with Windfall Lumber, which takes Douglas & Hemlock Fir from deconstructed buildings in the Pacific Northwest and brings the reclaimed wood to fresh, new life.

“It’s great to reuse demolition material that would otherwise take up space in the landfill,” says Mr. Stein.  “Having it become beautiful wood panels is even better.  This is old-growth wood that just can’t be found any more, and we get to bring it to designers.”

Windfall is manufactured in the United States using low-VOC adhesives.  The reclaimed wood is milled into strips of differing width, which are then randomly stacked to form the panels and cut to size.  Panels are available either solid or 3-ply with a NUAF/FSC-certified core.  They may come unfinished, with a clear coat that shows off the natural grain, or stained and prefinished in Anthracite, Mocha, Ivory, and Leather colors.  The result adds to any interior.

And as Windfall gives stylish new life to reclaimed wood, so the other Kirei lines bring new purpose to certain types of agricultural waste.  Kirei Board, Kirei Coco Tiles, and Kirei Wheatboard use reclaimed agricultural fiber from plants commonly grown for food around the world.

After harvest, waste from sorghum (an edible grass), coconut, and wheat plants is usually thrown into landfills or burned.  Now much of this unused material is removed from the waste stream, reducing landfill use and air pollution while giving rural farmers a new source of revenue.  Rapidly renewable or FSC-certified wood are used as bonding strips, greatly reducing the need for newly harvested wood for building.

Manufacture can be more involved than with particle board.  For example, with Kirei Board the sorghum stalks are compressed, washed, and woven into sheets.  The latter are then stacked and heat-pressed with a formaldehyde-free adhesive to create blocks, which are cut to desired size.

Kirei offers a similar product made of Moso bamboo.  The plantations from which this fiber is taken are generally reclaimed farmland, which helps to preserve uncut habitat.  Panels are available in a wide variety of colorways, including the luscious looking new Chocolate, probably the favorite out of all the bamboo treatments that I’ve yet seen.

These four products are suitable for architectural millwork, cabinetry, flooring (though not in high traffic areas), wall displays or covering, furniture, and decorative objects – in short, any application where one would normally think of using wood.

To round out this versatility Kirei came out with their Canamo Hemp Panels.  These are made with a no-added-formaldehyde resin and reclaimed hemp hurd fiber left over from fabric & seed oil manufacture: over 70% post-industrial recycled content.  The panels are produced in 48”x96” size and are offered in a variety of thicknesses, all left unfinished so that designers may best tailor the product to individual need.  According to Kirei, the hemp panels may be used for the purposes above.  Ceiling panels are also available.

Collectively, the Kirei philosophy may yield several LEED credits for one’s project, which in itself is wonderful, but there’s much more to it that that.

The word kirei is a Japanese adjective signifying many meanings, including Clean, Pure, Beautiful, and Truthful.  Under John Stein’s direction the company strives to embody its namesake as an ideal.  His business aims to stimulate the economic activity of its source regions by providing new jobs at fair market wages.  By using recycled products and efficient, sustainable practices, Kirei works to lessen humanity’s impact on natural resources while contributing to clean, healthy, and aesthetically pleasing indoor environments… with a eye to the latter quality.

“Green has to be beautiful,” says Mr. Stein.

“If you’re going to do green for green’s sake you’re going to have a very limited market – people who have health issues or people with a conscience.  If you have beautiful materials that happen to be green, then really they’re open to everybody.  I regard it almost as a gateway drug to other green activities.”

With the visual appeal of the Kirei product, perhaps we’ll see many new converts to the sustainable ethic.  Let’s hope so.

~ Emerald

Images courtesy of Kirei USA.

Sometimes an object is so stunning it can’t be properly caught on camera, and that is surely the case with Pietre Preziose, the latest surfacing material produced by the family-owned Italian firm, OKITE.  Pictures just don’t it justice.  As it is composed of natural quartz and resin, the translucent Pietre Preziose fills with ambient light from its environment and becomes truly luminous.  How brilliant is that?

This OKITE product, as with the rest of the company’s line, is available in a choice of thicknesses and can be cut and edged however needed for one’s project.  In addition to the lovely stuff pictured above, the company also produces a line of recycled surfacing.

OKITE product is available in a range of custom colors, from soothing white into earthy colors through bright, saturated tones and on up into deep, almost startling tones such as Prisma Blue Capri (pictured).

Everything the company produces can earn LEED credits.  Their surfacing does not emit any gas or VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) and is certified by GreenGuard Environmental Institute.  Due to its high structural strength, OKITE product does not require any substrate of plywood, MDF, or composite wood – and, as the latter often contains urea-formaldehyde resins, this is good thing.

At the end of its lifecyle OKITE stonework can be crushed or recycled to obtain concrete or roadfill.  Stonework which has been cared for properly will retain its original finish and properties throughout its use, and so can be repurposed as flooring, vanity tops, backsplashes, windowsills, or mosaics… to name just a few possibilities.

But to really appreciate just how gorgeous this product looks, take a moment to browse around the OKITE website.  It’s worth the time taken.

~ Emerald

my mad science experiment!  Here’s the story…

I had recommended using composite stone countertops for a project I’m working on, and the client said “Great, but we want to make sure it is extra durable”.  “No problem”, I assured them, “composite stone is much more durable and environmentally friendly than granite or other types of stone surfaces”.  “Terrific!”, they said.

I beamed.

“Oh,” the client added, “and please make sure it is made in the U.S.”.

I groaned.

You see, most composite countertops are made in places like Italy, Spain and Israel.  This doesn’t bother me as much as it might, because most of the technology and raw material is based there anyway.  However, I also understood the clients desire for a “made in America” product, as I try to keep my dollars closer to home too.

My actual problem was that the only large scale composite stone countertop manufacturer based in the U.S. was Cambria, and I had never used their product on a project.  I had no idea how durable it would be.  There will be a lot of countertop on this project, so I couldn’t afford for the material to be anything less than flawless.

That’s where the fun began…

Here is the 12″ x 12″ slab of one of the lightest colors I had sent to me.  Doesn’t it look so innocent and unsullied at this point?

And yes, that is my kitchen countertop you see in the right hand corner.  And yes, it is ugly beige Formica from the 80′s, And yes, I hate it.  Don’t get me started!

So, anyhoodle…

First I tried scratching it with a knife (not a good one mind you!), some keys, and a pointy rock from my backyard.  Nothing.

Then I brought out the big guns: red wine, soy sauce, ketchup, mustard, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, concentrated blue food coloring, red wine vinegar, and Tabasco sauce.  I left those little puddles of goo there for 16 hours, at which point most had started to dry out and look nasty.

I moved the slab over to the sink, and with nothing more than water and a swipe of my hand, it looked like this…

OK.  Yes, I know, that is the Before picture.  In my defense, I didn’t realize that I hadn’t taken an After picture until I had already passed the slab along to the clients so they could have fun trying to destroy it too.  However, I swear to you, it looked exactly the same as it does in this picture.  Nothing stained it, even after leaving it on overnight.

We have a winner!

A big thanks to Susan Serra, CKD of The Kitchen Designer blog for giving me the idea to go all mad scientist on this slab.   Always ask the expert!

And to my dear readers – thanks for visiting!

Rachel

How about if I pan out a little bit?

See it?  Next to the bridge?  No?  Well, see that big neighborhood right in the middle of the shot?  OK, now look underneath it…

There it is! Hidden beneath that neighborhood of fake streets, fake houses, fake grass, and even faker trees is a massive Boeing plant.

Those pictures were taken during WWII, when the B-17 bomber, also known as the Flying Fortress, was one of the most critical components of our war strategy.  This enormous Boeing plant in Seattle was churning planes out at a rate of up to 362 a month! The plant had to be hidden from potential enemy attack, so Hollywood art director John Detlie created an entire suburban neighborhood to hide it under.  Now that is some camouflage!

My Great Uncle Bill was the bombardier on one of these beautiful planes (sadly, it went down on his last mission and he was declared MIA).  If you ever have the chance to see one, you can marvel at how brave the boys were flying in them.  Many of the gunner’s positions were exceptionally dangerous.  Imagine sitting in a fish bowl on the underside of a plane, where everyone is shooting at you and the is barely room for you to get out, much less have a parachute, so you are essentially toast if the plane goes down.  That was the ball turret gunners position.  Yikes!

Anyway, I digress.  Back to that enormous plant…

It’s being deconstructed now, and Duluth Timber is salvaging as much of the wood as they can.  About 250,000 linear feet!

Some of these old growth beams are HUGE.  In the future they will be reused as building timber for new construction, flooring, millwork, and even furniture.  What a tale of American history you could tell if you had a piece of this reclaimed wood in your own home!

These beautiful Valley tiles by ModCraft are a perfect example of an old color looking new again. Although brown glazed tile was ubiquitous back to the 70s, paired with today’s crisp white fixtures it feels completely fresh and exciting again.  Doesn’t the luminous quality of this particular glaze highlight the dimensionality of the tile perfectly?  Gorgeous!

Industrial designer David Clark’s passion for modern, handmade tile shows in the striking modular designs he creates in his Hudson Valley barn studio.

By reusing clay and glaze to reduce waste, and packing of of their products in recycled cardboard and cornstarch peanuts, ModCraft strives to reduce their impact on the environment. All of their tile is lead free, and made of non-toxic components.

ModCraft also makes a line of cute salt-and-pepper shakers, and some handsome porcelain lighting, amongst other great things you should check out.

So, what 70′s color do you find yourself looking at in a new light?

Proteak

It’s always seemed strange to me that in the society where we remodel our kitchens every 10 to 20 years, we like to put in stone countertops that will last for centuries. Doesn’t it make more sense to use a material that, while long-lasting, is also biodegradable at the end of its use? Besides, wood countertops are not only better for the environment, but they have a warmth and beauty that can’t be beat.

There are plenty of sustainable options, including FSC certified wood, bamboo, and reclaimed wood. Take a look at some pretty examples and then take our poll:

Craft Art reclaimed chestnut

House & Earth Texas walnut

Plyboo Squared end grain bamboo

Old Growth Riverwood reclaimed wood

Antique Woodworks reclaimed red oak

A couple of worries I always hear expressed about putting in wood countertops have to do with staining and scratching. In truth, a wood counter would not be a good option for someone who doesn’t like the occasional imperfection. Good maintenance practices, including periodic use of a tung oil or a beeswax rub, and quick wiping up of spills will go a long way towards preventing stains. If the countertop does get stained, it is usually possible to remove it with a light sanding. The amount of scratching that may occur will depend upon the species of wood used more than anything else. The denser the wood the left scratching will occur.

On a personal note, I’m currently planning to put in wood countertops in my own kitchen.  I live in lovely house built in 1925, that was the victim of a late 80′s kitchen remodel, including golden oak cabinets and beige laminate countertops.  Ugh!  Plans for a full kitchen remodel (done right and with respect for the architectural style of the home), are on hiatus, pending, well, a lot of things.  However, painting those cabinets a soft white, and replacing the laminate with wood will be an inexpensive, environmentally friendly way to add a little charm to an otherwise charmless space in our home.  Due to budget restrictions, we will be opting for this wallet friendly countertop from Ikea…

Ikea NUMERÄR

To find out about other options, try my post on 6 Sustainable Countertop Solutions.

So, what is your kitchen countertop of choice?

While I was at AltBuid in Santa Monica last Friday, I ran across some great looking cement countertops by Rob Bausch.

Shinier and lighter in weight than concrete countertops, cement countertops are fabricated on site, so there are no seams.  All materials are locally sourced, and an effort is made to use reclaimed construction materials to save resources.

I love the movement of color inherent in the cement material.  So pretty!

The countertops are heat and stain resistant, and require only an occasional going over with paste wax to maintain the shine and finish. Because the cement is light weight, no special reinforcement in the cabinetry is necessary, making cement a perfect replacement counter too.

To find out more, visit the Rob Baush website.

Mosaic “wallpaper” by Trend USA

1.  Recycled glass takes only 50% of the energy to produce that virgin glass does.

Oceanside Glasstile

2.  Recycled glass  can be made into any form, color, or shape you can imagine.

Bedrock Industries

3.  Glass is truly recyclable, meaning it can be recycled over and over and over again without losing quality.  Paper and many metals can only be recycled a certain number of times before they become unusable (in their original form) due to contaminants or loss of structural integrity.  Plastic is even worse, as it can only be downcycled, meaning it must be converted into a lesser form from the very beginning.

Stone & Pewter

4. Recycled glass is versatile.  It can be used anywhere that ceramic tile can be used, such as walls, countertops, showers, fountains and pools.  It can even be used for flooring.

Hakatai

5.  Every ton of 50% recycled glass saves 250 tons of mining waste.  Imagine the savings when it’s 100% recycled!

Sandhill

6.  Recycled glass is inert, meaning it won’t affect indoor air quality, or add contaminants or chemicals to the interior environment.

So have I got you interested?  Good!  Now, here are a few more things you should know before you run out and replace that grubby old bathroom countertop:

• The post consumer recycled content of glass tiles can vary anywhere from 100% down to about 30%.  Most companies make the information available to you on their website or in information sheets and catalogs, but if you don’t see it anywhere, don’t hesitate to ask.
• Even though recycled glass takes a lot less energy to produce than virgin glass, there is still a significant amount of heat and energy needed to reform it.  Check with the company you’re considering to see if they have any programs in place to either reduce or offset the energy they use in production.
• Recycled glass is BEAUTIFUL.  That being said, it’s typically made using processes that allow for some flaws, bubbles and other quirks of production, so you should enjoy a little “character” in your tile.
• All of the recycled glass tile companies I have highlighted above are located in the United States, although a few of them actually manufacture in other countries.  If you are in another country and know of a good local source for recycled glass tile that you would like to share, please let us know in the comments below.  I love hearing about new sources for good things.

That’s because you don’t know about Ecor yet…Founded by noted architect and environmental designer Robert Noble, Ecor takes the idea of corrugated cardboard to a whole new level.  Relying solely on discarded material such as old newspapers, cardboard containers, and agricultural fibers, Ecor creates the new from the old.

Still exploring all the possible uses for their product, Ecor is currently making furniture, partitions, structural panels, table tops and more.  Available in a variety of thicknesses, including a flat panel product, the possibilities are almost limitless.

As part of their continuing product development, they recently launched the ECOR-YourCOR program, which will recycle a companies white paper waste into panels, furniture, or other products.  They can even integrate that companies logo and artwork directly onto the panels or products during fabrication.

So what do you think you would make from Ecor?

Like an extension of the natural world, the irregular topography of Gore Design’s Signature Erosion Sink has a beauty all it’s own.

Created in a studio which uses no chemical finishes, heavy metal pigments or plastics, this sink is only one of the many designs they offer with a nod to nature.  Gore Design also strives to maintain their commitment to green design practices by using additives such as fly ash both to strengthen their mix, and reduce the amount of Portland cement necessary.

If you have a minute, you really should see their tongue in cheek “obituary” for traditional concrete.  You just know someone had a lot of fun setting up those shots.