indoors
REN O VA TIO N
THE PLAN
Keeping the
overall layout simple eased
the renovation process.
By enlisting the help of
two do-it-yourselfers,
Shelley saved the cost of
installing the flooring,
cabinetry, tile backsplash,
and light fixtures.
) SIMILAR FOOTPRINT
The first rule for both green and
low-cost remodeling: Work
within available space. Removing
all original cabinetry and a
dropped ceiling dramatically
opened up this kitchen. No
exterior walls were moved, but
Shelley did push a wall 28 inches
into an adjoining bath to create
the new
175-square-foot kitchen.
*
CABINETRY
The most
eco-friendly cabinets at home
centers have received the
Environmental Stewardship
Program
certification from the
Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers
Association. The cabinets in
Shelley’s kitchen use certified
North American-grown
hardwoods and recycled or
recovered fiber content. They
also meet low-emission
standards for formaldehyde, an
adhesive chemical used in
pressed-wood products.
APPLIANCES
In addition
to an Energy Star-rated
refrigerator and dishwasher, this
kitchen features a new
kind of
appliance: an energy-efficient
induction range. Its cooktop
creates an electromagnetic field
of energy that provides instant
heat only to the pan. Its price
tag makes it a splurge, but
consider this method the future
of “green cooking.”
BACKSPLASH TILES
Above the range, 2x#-inch glass
tiles—both frosted and
iridescent styles—
launched the
color palette. The tiles are made
from 10 to 100 percent recycled
material, depending on color.
44
APRIL 2009 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
