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Kitchen Renovation: Finis
August 20, 2010
At last! My kitchen renovation is complete. I have survived the insanity and am the proud owner of a simply fabulous, almost green kitchen.
Almost green? I tried in earnest to be flawlessly green but, inevitably, some things just slipped; my backsplash, for example. I struggled with the balance between aesthetics, practicality, cost and sustainability. Some of the greenest options--recycled content glass, ceramic or porcelain tiles--were not the look that I wanted. I also considered recycled content metal tiles and found one made from salvaged airplane fuselages. It seemed cool but very pricey.
A designer friend suggested I use recycled leather tiles, and though a respected manufacturer assured me they would stand up to cooking oil splatters, I was skeptical.
Just when I was about ready to settle on a perfectly ordinary ceramic tile, I fell in love--with a marble mosaic made, supposedly from scrap material scooped off the factory floor, mounted on 12-inch square sheets and given new life as a wall tile. It was exactly the look I wanted, extremely well suited for its application and in stock at a very good price.
I placed the order and then began verifying the environmental claims first made by a sales rep, which is not, dear reader, the correct order of things. Despite repeated attempts to document the product's origins, I have not been able to confirm that the tile on my kitchen wall is anything other than virgin marble imported from Spain.
But it is stunningly gorgeous and, literally, makes the kitchen. The material perfectly compliments my wonderful cabinets, will stand up to the abuse of my reckless cooking habits and will last forever with no maintenance. That's something, isn't it?
My other big failure was construction waste management as I wrote in a previous post. Too much stuff left here for the landfill and next time--oh wait, there won't be a next time--I'll know better.
All in all, however, I'm enormously pleased with this kitchen. Many, many thanks to the manufacturers whose products made being green very easy:
el: environmental language cabinets
EcoTimber engineered wood flooring
ECO by Cosentino composite countertops
New Bronze Age Tile cabinet pulls
Safecoat paint
Posted by Penny Bonda on August 20, 2010 |
Comments (23)
November 28, 2012
In response to:
Kitchen Renovation: Finiswww.georgerobinsonkitchens.co.uk commented:
The last image inspires such calm feelings and it is full of harmonious “choices”. I have to say that all images in your blog are very carefully selected (chosen) and truly elegant.
November 28, 2012
In response to:
Kitchen Renovation: Finishttp://www.articlepool.info/webzine/article.php?id=187293 commented:
I’d like to thank you for the efforts you have put in writing this blog. I am hoping to see the same high-grade blog posts by you in the future as well. In fact, your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my own blog now ;)
May 31, 2012
In response to:
Kitchen Renovation: Finislakerjudy commented:
I like your blog.To know more visit avonlearenovations
February 26, 2012
In response to:
Kitchen Renovation: FinisJosh commented:
I totally love the tiles! Please tell me where exactly you got them and I hope you could post a zoomed in photo of them.
---------------------------------------------
www.happywalldecals.com
February 12, 2012
In response to:
Kitchen Renovation: FinisAnneM||http://www.efficientarticlemarketing.com/ commented:
I love the kitchen renovation. I wish I can renovate my kitchen too. Indeed, for a mom like me, the kitchen is one of the most important parts of the house. Nice post.
November 2, 2011
In response to:
Kitchen Renovation: FinisKerry commented:
Kudos to Linda who stated the obvious here. It's one thing to blow your own money on a kitchen with a few "green" ideas thrown in. Quite another to tout yourself as some champion of "green design" and continue to go opulent and then hypocritically think you are saving the world. How much DID it cost? It's your money but don't preach to us about going green when you don't practice it. You confuse the concept from being a moral/social practice to being a fad for those that can afford to throw money at things and then claim some higher road so they can cont. a certain lifestyle. Kinda like some Hollywood actress that owns 3 homes, a plane,etc. but claims to drive a Hybrid, so that makes it all better? Give me a break....
March 1, 2011
In response to:
Kitchen Renovation: FinisBedroom Replacement Doors commented:
Really lovely great look kitchens ideas you give.
And awesome photos in this blog.
Nice, well job
December 1, 2010
In response to:
Kitchen Renovation: FinisJon Sirois commented:
Great new look! Are you using any LED lighting in you kitchen? The rectangular recessed lights look like they could be LED.I have just recently changed out some of my can lighting in my kitchen with these
directional LED can lights lightbeaminc.com/downlight
JTsirois@gmail.com
November 30, 2010
In response to:
Kitchen Renovation: Finiskitchen designs commented:
Wow.. Love the idea of green kitchen and happy that you are done with your kitchen renovation. Nice post with lot of cool stuff.
November 9, 2010
In response to:
Kitchen Renovation: FinisKitchen Renovations commented:
wow really nice photos, it is very beauty and you right very good contain for kitchen.
Thanks,
October 13, 2010
In response to:
Kitchen Renovation: FinisLinda commented:
Not "comfortable" stating the price of this project? No one is asking to see your tax return for goodness sake. Is the discomfort you feel due to the fact that you spent an exorbitant amount on this project which represents neither 'green' nor 'eco-friendly' principles? This project is not relavant or helpful to anyone without cost considerations.
October 4, 2010
In response to:
Kitchen Renovation: Finistoronto kitchen renovations commented:
When remodeling your kitchen, always remember that a well-designed kitchen is one that is tailored to the reach and breadth of the appointed chef of the home.
September 30, 2010
In response to:
Kitchen Renovation: FinisGrand taps commented:
You made the write chose by going with the marble mosaic tile. Your kitchen looks fabulous
September 23, 2010
In response to:
Kitchen Renovation: Finistoronto kitchen renovations commented:
Can you tell me the price? I want to know each and every thing before I’ll buy...
September 2, 2010
In response to:
Kitchen Renovation: FinisPenny Bonda commented:
Hey Lisa,
It is interesting that since I've had my new kitchen I have been cooking more and cooking healthier foods. Of course, it's farmer's market season so that makes it easy, but I just feel so good in that kitchen I want to spend more time there. Wonder if others have that same experience?
September 2, 2010
In response to:
Kitchen Renovation: FinisPenny Bonda commented:
In response to Jonathan's question on timing, the project started with the demo of my old kitchen on April 1 and took about 6 weeks to complete. Not bad really, but as everyone knows who's gone through a renovation, it seemed like forever. Haven't had a microwaved dinner since.
September 2, 2010
In response to:
Kitchen Renovation: FinisPenny Bonda commented:
Hey Daisy - so nice to hear from you. Yes, let's have that glass of wine and toast to good friends.
September 2, 2010
In response to:
Kitchen Renovation: FinisPenny Bonda commented:
In response to Peter:
I'm not comfortable giving out the total cost but will share that the cost of the cabinets and pulls accounted for about half of the total, including the contractor's fees. They are pricey but worth every cent. I economized on appliances by not going with the higher end luxury brands and I'm perfectly happy with my decisions. My backsplash wasn't expensive but the labor to install it was.
August 23, 2010
In response to:
Kitchen Renovation: FinisPeter commented:
Would it be too much to ask how much $ did this kitchen remod cost?
August 23, 2010
In response to:
Kitchen Renovation: FinisDaisy Hopkins commented:
Penny... It looks gorgeous... I just finished two bathrooms last winter and I can feel you pain and oh that waste issue! One day we should have a glass of wine and together toast to our stamina in this industry!!!
dhopkins@maharam.com
August 23, 2010
In response to:
Kitchen Renovation: FinisJonathan commented:
Looks Great! When did you start the renovation? How long did it take?
August 23, 2010
In response to:
Kitchen Renovation: FinisLisa Herriott commented:
Looks fabulous Penny! I recall you were just starting this effort when we were in Phoneix together. Hope you have many sustainable meals out of your new sustainable kitchen. cheers!
August 23, 2010
In response to:
Kitchen Renovation: FinisKaren Gustafson commented:
Your kitchen looks fabulous, Penny! Congratulations on pulling it all together. I always love reading your columns.
Karen
group@gustafsonpr.com
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