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project was making sure the overhead lattice worked with the rest of the kitchen's layout. This dropped, deconstructed grid was designed by the home's architect, Justin Larson of VFLA Architects. It's designed to bring the high ceiling down for a sense of intimacy, and also provides a sense of visual division from the home's great room.
SaveEmail Butcher Block Composed of smaller pieces of wood, butcher block can make great use of reclaimed or repurposed material. Sustainable butcher block can come from diverse sources, such as reclaimed shipping pallets or deconstructed buildings. Your knives will love this surface and, after it shows some age, you can just sand the wood a bit and refinish with a food-grade natural oil. Cost: $30 to $85 per square foot for the material only
Plaster makes for a great ecofriendly shower or bath surround, as it's comprised of plentiful natural materials — lime, gypsum or cement — mixed with water. Unlike some plastic shower surrounds, the natural plaster matrix emits no VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that can be harmful when inhaled. And the sealers — natural waxes and/or oils — are equally easy on your indoor air quality and the environment. When applied by hand, plaster has a stunning artisanal quality suited both to modern and traditional interiors. To boot, the plaster provides a durable, monolithic finish void of grout lines to clean, maintain or protect.
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