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Low-emission cabinets, a water-saving faucet and energy-smart induction cooktop make this kitchen green.
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appliances, conservation, green home improvement, kitchen, renovating, waterRecipe for a Green Kitchen Remodel
15+ eco-friendly kitchen design ideas for cabinets, appliances, faucets and more.
Living green has always been a way of life for EcoLiving executive editor Trish Snyder and her husband, Rob Harris. Long before blue boxes were fashionable, they cycled to work, composted food scraps for the garden and sweated out Toronto summers without air conditioning. So when it was time to update their 20-year-old kitchen, going green was an easy call. “I knew there was a growing number of products that would save energy, produce less garbage and give off fewer toxic fumes,” says Snyder, who scoured books and the web to track down green building materials, and worked with designer Cameron MacNeil, who created a clean look. “With his good taste and my homework, we put together a great-looking, functional kitchen that also happens to be green.”
Steer clear of chemicals
The space has all the comforts of a contemporary kitchen with none of the odours. “To me, that ‘new’ smell means we’re inhaling poisons,” says Snyder. So she chose products that wouldn’t emit hazardous chemicals in the home. Cabinets were built of formaldehyde-free plywood and recycled veneer with low-VOC finishes. The Marmoleum floor contains natural ingredients: wood flour, linseed oil and jute. Cabinets, AyA Kitchen Gallery; for full shopping info, visit the Shopping Guide.
 | Give old treasures new life The mismatched chairs are junk-store finds unified with fresh paint. On the banquette, old sofa pillows were recovered with linen, which is cultivated with less pesticides and water than cotton. Feather pillow inserts and a latex banquette cushion are natural alternatives to petroleum-based foam. The family chose a white acrylic window shade because it doesn’t off-gas like vinyl. Shade, Hunter Douglas; drapery, Kravet Canada; latex cushion, Foamsource; AFM Safecoat wall paint, CBR Products. | |
 | Recycle and revitalize To keep the old kitchen out of landfill, the cabinets were removed intact and given away via craigslist.org. The owners had spray-foam insulation applied to an exposed crawl space below the kitchen, and installed insulation made from recycled denim behind the walls. Even the artwork was recycled: magazine clippings were placed in white frames painted fire-engine red to create a striking gallery wall. Spray-foam insulation, Green$aver; Ultra Touch cotton insulation, Twin Maple Marketing. | |
 | Remember, old is gold Rylie and Morgan get crafty at the vintage harvest table, a consignment find that will last forever and look even better with scratches and wear. | |
 | Conserve water The Moen faucet has an aerated sprayer that reduces water use. Even the sink, made of recycled stainless steel, conserves water; the smaller bowl is ideal for handwashing delicate glasses and small batches of dishes. Moen faucet, The Home Depot; sink, Julien; tiles, Interstyle. | |
Choose smarter appliances The couple invested in Energy Star–certified appliances by Bosch, including a water-saving dishwasher, freestanding fridge and freezer, and efficient induction cooktop. A full load in the high-efficiency dishwasher uses about half the water of handwashing dishes in the large sink bowl. Let there be LED light Extremely low-voltage and long-lasting, under-cabinet LED lights sparkle on the IceStone countertops, made with chips of recycled glass and locally fabricated concrete. LEDs, LSD Lighting Solutions. Recommended Articles Find out how to keep your family safe from reno-related air pollutants. | ||
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