Countertops

For our kitchen counters we decided to use soapstone, from Canyon Soapstone.  We chose soapstone for a number of reasons, the foremost being the health factor.  Because soapstone is non-porous, it is very sanitary (germs cannot sink into the stone).  It is also finished with a beeswax concoction that is non-toxic and all natural.  Beyond that I really like the fact that it is inert (does not react to alkaline or acid) and that I can maintain it myself.

Soapstone can be left un-waxed.  The photo above shows the counter after a month of no wax application.  The colour variations and veining in the stone is much more visible, and it is very matte... almost "powdery" looking.  The wax is for aesthetics only, the stone does not need protection.  As the wax slowly wears off the stone lightens, and over time the stone will naturally develop a dark patina and regardless of waxing.

applying the wax is just a simple rub on then buff with a rag

this is a good shot of how much the stone darkens when waxed

And there is the counter after waxing!  Dark, with a soft sheen.  An upside for me to periodically wax my counters is that it forces me to move everything off and reorganize (and I do so love a chance to reorganize!)

The final reason we chose the soapstone is that we were able to use leftover slab pieces from other jobs.  It made me feel a little better that a slab wasn't brought from South America just for us.  Almost all stone slabs are imported from distant parts of the globe, and so the carbon footprint is high.  There are a few stone options that are available closer to home (I posted about them here), but they did not have the health advantages of soapstone.  Because we wanted to use leftover pieces of stones, we chose two different varieties of stone.. one called "Beleza" for the kitchen, and "Julia" for the bathroom.

The "Julia" stone is much lighter in look and has an overall spotty appearance.  It does not retain the wax very long (I believe that is because it is a very hard soapstone), so I have been leaving it unwaxed.  It is absolutely gorgeous, but does show water rings and drips that sit on the surface.  All it takes is a quick wipe with a microfiber cloth to clean it right up.  

I believe there are two schools of thought on home finishes... those who want materials that "hide" the dirt, and those that don't mind it showing.  I suppose I fall into the second category, although let's be clear that it doesn't mean that the dirt doesn't bother me.  I look at it this way.. if I can't see the dirt, then I don't know that it needs cleaned.. which means we are using it dirty (ick).  So I would rather see the dirt, and clean it more often!

Our third and final countertop material is maple butcher block for the islands.  Once again, it requires frequent oiling (this time with mineral oil).  It's a darn good thing I don't mind oiling things.  I actually find it satisfying to renew a surface with oil.  A fresh start of sorts.

The butcher block is made with a non-toxic glue so it is food safe, but I don't actually use the surface for much prep.  It is nice to have the option of wood for rolling pastry dough, and soapstone for prepping a chicken.  The wood will stain, and that's OK with me.  I like patina... when did we get so worried about our home showing evidence of how we live?  I enjoy leaving my mark, and giving over the stress of "damaging" surfaces which are supposed to look perfect.  That said, I still can't bring myself to chop directly on the counters.  Maybe I'll get there one day, and maybe I won't.. at least I have the choice!

Kitchen Cabinets 2

The kitchen islands provide so much storage and counter space, that they almost double my kitchen size.  I had them built on casters so that I can move them around based on what I need them for.  The tops are the same size and height so they can be pushed together into one very large (4' x 8') island, or split into two.

One island is open underneath.  I had Kelowna steel fabricators build two legs based on my drawings, and SuCasa Cabinets attached the counter, shelves and casters.  This island also has an overhang to allow for two counter height stools.

The other island is enclosed, two big cupboards on one side, and drawers on the other.

The legs are 2"square steel pipe, with plates on the top and bottom.  There are two crossbars for the shelves to sit on.

The legs could have been painted, or powder coated, but I like the industrial feel of them just the way they are.  A quick wipe and a couple of clear coats and they were done!

When they first got delivered I thought I had made them way too big, but now that my eye has gotten used to them (and I have filled them to the brim) I am so happy that I maximized my storage space.  In this little house every inch counts!

bathroom cabinets

In taking the photos of the bathroom cabinets, I was reminded how small our bathroom is!  We'll have to make do here with shots of bits and pieces.

The cabinets are the same as the kitchen, with a fun upper cabinet between the sinks.  I love the little cubbies, and as this is our only bathroom it allows us to keep things close at hand while still looking tidy.

At the last minute we decided to add the plywood panels behind the mirrors.  The idea initially came about because one of the lights had to be moved slightly, and we were going to need to have the drywall patched.  I think this is a much more interesting solution, and I love how it ties the mirrors and lights into what looks like one big unit.

Although the bathroom is small, we have lots of storage thanks to the addition of a shelf and a pull-out drawer under each sink.  We had 4 drawers put down the center so we would have one each should the need arise.

cabinets by SuCasa Cabinets

The toe kick is recessed quite far back so that the cabinet appears to be floating.  It's always amazing to me how a little detail like that can make a small space feel larger.  

The counters and back splash are "Julia" soapstone through Canyon Soapstone.  This was a part slab left over from another installation.  We chose the toilet and two rectangular under mount sinks by TOTO, and the faucets are my Moen.  I spent a lot of time searching for plumbing fixtures made in North America, and didn't have any luck.  I decided on TOTO because as a company they have some good green initiatives, and their toilet quality is reputedly very high.  I chose the Moen taps for their water efficiency.

Countertops

One of the many decisions I am faced with right now involves the counter tops.. if any of you have ever looked for new counters, you will know that every material has it's positive and negative qualities.  Adding sustainability to the mix only increases the confusion.  It is my conclusion that there is no truly "green" solution for counters... here is a list of the usual (and some unusual) suspects:

granite

Granite is much loved here in the Okanagan.  It is durable and it is a natural material BUT it is porous, requires frequent sealing (which often includes toxic ingredients), is usually quarried halfway around the world, and can be damaged by acidic and alkali substances.  Any refinishing must be done by a professional.

marble

Marble has similar qualities to granite, with the additional quality of staining easily.  I am OK with a patina developing over time and LOVE the look of marble, but if you want your counter to look the same five years from now as it does today you might want to consider another material.  There are some gorgeous marbles available here that are quarried near Duncan, BC which reduces the carbon footprint somewhat.

tile

Tile... Really?  Grout on your counters?  My inner germophobe is shuddering.

laminate

Laminate is inexpensive, but generally speaking the backing material is full of toxic glues.  Also, it's not that durable and if damaged needs replaced.

corian

Corian is a plastic composite... it has limitless design possibilities, and is non-porous.  It can scorch if it meets extreme heat, and any repairs must be done by a professional.  The DuPont website reads like a science report, and to me the chemicals are a little scary.

stainless steel

Stainless Steel has the advantage of being recyclable and extremely durable.  It is also a non-porous surface, so is easy to keep clean with no special care.  Look for recycled content or reclaimed materials to up the green factor.  If you're worried about fingerprints, a brushed finish helps a lot, and the steel will develop a patina over time that will show marks less and less.

wood

Wood counters are warm and timeless.. look for FSC certified wood, or reclaimed wood.  Also make sure any glues that are used are low-VOC.  Butcher block counters with no added urea-formaldehyde (NAUF) are a good option.  Wood counters can be sealed with a variety of healthy products, but they are porous.  That means germs and staining.  They are however easily sanded down and refinished if it starts looking tired, or if you leave it, a patina will develop over time.  You can also choose to cut directly on your counters if it is butcher block, which will either make you happy or horrify you depending on your point of view.

quartz composite - silestone

Quartz Composite uses waste stone chips and glass (although sometimes it's as little as 11% if you can believe that).  It can also use toxic binders to hold them together.  All quartz is not created equally.. check out eco by consentino, and vetrazzo.  Keep in mind that the greener it is, the more it will cost you.

paperstone

Paperstone has some serious eco-cred.  It's made of recycled paper fibres and non-toxic resins.  You can sand out any scratches yourself, and treat it with any hardwood product.  It is non-porous and stain resistant.  It has a beautiful soft feel, and the only reason I am not sold on it is that I question the durability for something like a kitchen counter.  It seems to scratch very easily, and although the website claims a "beautiful, soft patina" occurs over time, I would think that with no pattern to distract the eye, areas of heavy wear would be glaringly apparent.  That said, it is beautiful and has potential for many different uses besides counters.

concrete in my old kitchen by Versatile concrete

Concrete is a favorite of mine.  The green factor is debatable.  Some say concrete is green because Limestone is the most abundant mineral on earth, and it is usually available locally.  It is also highly durable (which is one reason why we are using it for our flooring)but is not recyclable if it gets removed.  However the carbon footprint is high due to the quarrying process, and toxic sealers are needed when using it as a counter top.  Concrete is a hot topic online, here is an example of a site that does not think it's green.

soapstone

Soapstone is a natural stone like marble or granite, but is has the advantage of being non-porous and inert.  It is finished with a mineral oil, and any scratches (because, yes it is soft) can be smoothed out with sandpaper.  It is beautiful, easily maintained and durable.  It also has an incredible soft feel.  The downside is that although there is Canadian soapstone available, it is extremely soft.  The majority of soapstone seems to be imported from South America.

Here are some of the options we are considering...

the small blocks are Marble from Vancouver Island

two varieties of soapstone

For the Island(s) I am undecided as yet.. maybe wood to keep it light (they will be on casters) and warm (for the kids to sit and craft at).  We'll see..  writing this post has inspired me to do a little more research.

Check out this article on the sunset blog for some other new innovations in eco counter tops.. Just remember to check out the binders and sealers that are used for each material, as that is a place where hidden toxins can be, and that info is not always easy to find.  As a general rule of thumb, I have found in my research that if a company is not proudly informative about the material used and where it is manufactured, it is because they don't really want you to know... but that's just my opinion.