|
Our main floor is our "public space", the living,
dining and kitchen, which is all one room. The kitchen is separated from
the rest of the space by an eating bar. The main floor was a real squeeze,
and if we weren't constrained for other reasons, we would have made the whole
thing about two feet longer.
Our cabinets were custom made locally out of sustainably
harvested cherry on sustainably harvested frames. There really aren't any
particularly "green" countertops: we choose Cambria, which is 94%
quartz and 6% resin, and looks very much like granite, but is much less
expensive and does not need to be sealed. The cabinets, as well as most of
the clear finish trim is spray finished with a catalyzed varnish which we were
told was environmentally safe, but we don't really know anything about it.
We also used a couple of quarts of Daly's pro-fin, which is a hard drying oil,
and definitely not a low-VOC product, but does produce a wonderful, time tested
finish.
In the upper cabinets near the window we have a Finnish drying
rack that we use for hand washed dishes. It's door is like a garage door
so we can hide our dishes when people come over.
Our dishwasher is an Asko, which is incredibly quiet and also one of the most
efficient dishwashers according the energy star. Our refrigerator is an 18
cu ft. from Sears, and also is one of the most efficient ones on energy star.
Under our upper cabinets, we put a "peek a boo" window (see photo below) so
that wall wouldn't be totally dark (the back door also has glass in it).
It also provides a view into the landscaping.
|
