Archive of posts tagged paint
Disposing Of Unused Paint Made Easy
The EPA estimates that about 10% of all paints (including stains, primers and other coatings) sold is not used. Most of us have, or have seen, cans of unused paint piled up in our garage with nowhere to go. If not disposed of properly, serious ecological damage can result. For a long time, it is […]
The Green Countertop Dilemma
During a visit to Eco6Design in Half Moon Bay, California, I was drooling over all the fabulous “eco” options for countertops. Serious eye candy! Vetrazzo, Fireclay Tile, Stone Age, IceStone, Fuez. I was itching to go home, rip out my pale-avocado-tile-with-black-grout counters and start afresh. After all, at 30-plus years old, they’re beyond dated, they’re […]
Tips To Green Your Kitchen Remodel
After using your kitchen for so many years, it is getting worn out and your needs may have changed. You may feel the kitchen is not functioning as well or the traffic flow is less ideal. You may be thinking of a major kitchen remodel. Especially with the trend of open floor plan with the […]
Health Tips for Interior House Painting
Spring is just around the corner. If you are thinking to paint the interior of your house, spring and fall are the best time to do it. Everyone is aware of the new paint smell, which is caused by the vapor as the paints/stains dries. The vapor may contain gases, including VOCs (volatile organic compounds), […]
Healthy Building Ingredients – (Not) A Piece of Cake
If people cared as much about their buildings as they did their dinner – organic, gluten-free, and vegan shoppers would be demanding better buildings! There are many similarities between building a house and baking a cake. There’s a basic recipe, ingredients are purchased and sifted through, there’s a rising process, add some pretty finishes – […]
How I Came To Love Wool Carpet
Here is a microscopic picture of a wool fiber. The burrs keep it from staining and keep it looking beautiful for 25 years. As a designer I love it for how it feels in a home. It actually creates negative ions, just like if you put a waterfall in a room. Also the colors in […]
Choosing A Whole-House Ventilation System
Increasingly, because of either code changes or customer demand, builders are having to take a closer look at whether the new, tight houses they build have adequate ventilation. Many builders would like to provide something better than just a few bath exhaust fans but aren’t sure how to design a simple ventilation system that is […]
Weingarten House at San Benancio – Energy Conservation without Sacrifice
“Freezing in the dark”, is how Ronald Reagan characterized energy conservation. I’ve been thinking about energy matters for about thirty years now and don’t think conservation must mean sacrifice. One goal with this house was to demonstrate that it’s possible to meet the current challenge of sustainability and do better than we have done in […]