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9 Ideas From an Ecofriendly Kitchen Makeover
In this kitchen, green materials and upcycled finds create an environmentally friendly heart of the home
I write about interior design and architecture, and take what I learn into my own home (you may find me sanding and painting a kitchen table on the weekends). You can find my articles, published in Apartment Therapy, Architect, Eco-Structure, GRAY, Preservation, The Washington Post and more, at lindseymroberts.com.
I write about interior design and architecture, and take what I learn into... More »
This Potomac, Maryland, home needed a kitchen makeover, and because the owner is an environmental activist, it made sense for her kitchen remodel to be as green as possible. The kitchen also needed to be an organized place for hosting dinner parties, as well as a comfortable spot for weeknight meals and family time for three kids and two busy parents.
"This was one of the busiest kitchens I have ever been in," says interior designer Emily Prugar of M House Designs. "We needed to be able to seat a lot of people without crowding her cooking space."
Paint was key to Prugar's and the homeowners' goals. A new coat of VOC-free paint on the kitchen table legs, and voilà — a new kitchen table. She used the same tactic with the kitchen chairs and the walls. Other green choices included patronizing environmentally responsible wood companies, using salvaged antique windows and sourcing Energy Star appliances.
Read on for more of Prugar's tips from this kitchen renovation.
"This was one of the busiest kitchens I have ever been in," says interior designer Emily Prugar of M House Designs. "We needed to be able to seat a lot of people without crowding her cooking space."
Paint was key to Prugar's and the homeowners' goals. A new coat of VOC-free paint on the kitchen table legs, and voilà — a new kitchen table. She used the same tactic with the kitchen chairs and the walls. Other green choices included patronizing environmentally responsible wood companies, using salvaged antique windows and sourcing Energy Star appliances.
Read on for more of Prugar's tips from this kitchen renovation.
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| 1. Use VOC-free paints. These paints are earth- and people-friendly because they don't emit potentially harmful gases. But a word to the wise: You may need to apply three coats instead of the usual two to get the desired color on the walls. More about low-VOC paints Wall paint: Pale Oak, Benjamin Moore |
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| 2. Choose Energy Star appliances. All the new appliances in the kitchen are Energy Star certified |
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3. Use recycled materials as much as you can. Prugar used recycled antique windows between the kitchen and the family room. This way, the parents can hear and observe the kids even while they juggle cooking prep with setting the table.
Vintage details give a unique look that usually can't be bought, and you won't find duplicates in your neighbors' houses, either. These windows allow light and sounds through, but don't disrupt the clean, quiet feel of the kitchen.
The windows are from Housewerks in Baltimore, a good local source for salvaged finds. Prugar had the lead redone in some spots.
Vintage details give a unique look that usually can't be bought, and you won't find duplicates in your neighbors' houses, either. These windows allow light and sounds through, but don't disrupt the clean, quiet feel of the kitchen.
The windows are from Housewerks in Baltimore, a good local source for salvaged finds. Prugar had the lead redone in some spots.
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| 4. Source environmentally friendly companies. These kitchen cabinets are made here in the U.S. by Elmwood. The company participates in the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association’s Environmental Stewardship Program, which promotes resource management. The countertop is hard-to-find white granite. For a similar look, Prugar recommends Silestone or Caesarstone, two environmentally friendly surfacing brands. |
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5. Extend the green theme to your decor. The color scheme for the room came from the backsplash. The tiles are from Architectural Ceramics in Rockville, Maryland, a member of the U.S. Green Building Council.
Tile backsplash: South Sea Pearl Palm Green in Convex Brick Mosaic, Architectural Ceramics; faucet: Kohler
Tile backsplash: South Sea Pearl Palm Green in Convex Brick Mosaic, Architectural Ceramics; faucet: Kohler
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6. Repurpose old furniture if you can. In this case, the old kitchen table legs were painted a mossy green to refresh them. The upholstered banquette under the window "feels like a sofa in the kitchen," Prugar says. It can seat four or five kids during both quick dinners and big celebrations.
Table color: Deep Indigo, Benjamin Moore; chair paint: Daiquiri Ice, Benjamin Moore.
Table color: Deep Indigo, Benjamin Moore; chair paint: Daiquiri Ice, Benjamin Moore.
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7. Use fans to keep cool. Instead of a light fixture, Prugar added a fun retro ceiling fan over the table to help keep the busy kitchen cool without the need for constant air conditioning.
Ceiling fan: Sea Side Ceiling Fan, Savoy House
Ceiling fan: Sea Side Ceiling Fan, Savoy House
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| 8. Save money, gas, time and car mileage with a home espresso station. Small changes can make a big difference. An espresso bar provides the homeowner a space to serve drinks without interfering with her cooking zone. It is also a great place to sort mail or homework. |
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9. Use recycled wood flooring. You can find beautiful reclaimed wood that can be installed in wide or skinny planks, depending on the look you want. It is more comfortable on your feet than most kitchen flooring.
More:
See more ecofriendly kitchen remodeling ideas
More:
See more ecofriendly kitchen remodeling ideas
Comments
professorlilith Some great tips here! I would just warn people to be careful about their source for reclaimed parts from old buildings. There is a thriving trade in stolen materials. A few years ago someone stole the front door off my 105 year old house!
10 months ago · Like
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portpiro Love it! Those lead light windows, those black lamps, the retro fan - superb.
10 months ago · Like
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designchallenged Many good ideas here, but I am surprised at the use of granite, a non-renewable resource, in a "green" kitchen,
10 months ago · Like
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waterlynx Just because an appliance has an Energy Star label does not mean it is truly efficient, let alone "the most efficient." Energy Star is not a bad program, but the program has its drawbacks. Some manufacturers who make very efficient appliances do not participate in Energy Star. Find out what makes an appliance efficient for its purpose, and look for efficient appliances that way. A very good resource about appliances and efficiency is applianceadvisor.com.
10 months ago · Like
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hjkimbrough Environmental activist, and yet we have taken rare white granite over more Eco-friendly alternatives?! Why harvest granite to suit your own needs?
10 months ago · Like
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amron84 silestone and cesarstone are great if you can afford to spend twice the price of other surfaces. Green costs you green.
10 months ago · Like
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frugallynesting Love this site....great, practical, ideas!
10 months ago · Like
lizrow5 Can someone tell me where the wall lights are from? or where I can find some like those at a reasonable price.
10 months ago · Like
mmsalg Beautiful ideas here, especially for repurposing old things. Check here for makers who would love to help you repurpose something (or make something new from scratch) http://custm.co/hz/87
10 months ago · Like
Lindsey M. Roberts Lights are from Circa Lighting.
10 months ago · Like
lizrow5 Thank you!
10 months ago · Like
Mary OToole In an effort to be green, I reused our old kitchen cabinets which are oak and blended in new ecru colored cabinets and topped it all of with Silestone. I don't consider the use of granite as shown in your feature "green".
7 months ago · Like
Ideabook published on Aug. 3, 2012.
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