With the vulnerability of the environment making itself felt in every corner of the world, everyone is asking what they can do on a personal level to make a positive impact. This does not have to involve dramatic life changes. Often, simple steps such as the careful consideration of your new kitchen design can result in meaningful influence. Here are some practices that we recommend for a more ecologically sensitive bespoke kitchen.
The choice of materials is a crucial point in any bespoke kitchen and can have a significant influence on the overall carbon footprint. Distance contributes to 3% of global greenhouse emissions. As such, sourcing materials locally is a beneficial way to help the environment while creating an authentic, sympathetic, and powerful homage. It is also worth exploring new materials in your eco-friendly kitchen design. Bamboo is a fast-growing, carbon capturing grass that demonstrates exceptional durability and resilience when used for bespoke cabinetry and high-end furniture. Equally, FSC-certified wood is an ecologically gentle choice that offers stunning quality without the environmental cost, resulting in a wonderfully sustainable kitchen.
Kitchen appliances are one of the biggest contributors to home emissions. As such, developing energy-saving innovations has been a global agenda, with designers from far and wide offering eco-friendly kitchen solutions. Energy ratings are one of the most straightforward methods of ensuring that appliances are environmentally friendly. However, it is also worth exploring the sustainability profile of the manufacturer, as this will offer you cradle-to-grave information about the ecological profile of each appliance. In a world where knowledge is power, applying logic to bespoke kitchen appliances can make a significant impact.
Bespoke kitchens offer an unparalleled opportunity for creating a truly circular economy. Designers have flaunted the stunning effects of incorporating reclaimed materials in custom cabinetry and countertops, plucking forgotten gems from the realm of the unloved and transforming them into stunning statement pieces. Natural materials such as glass, marble, granite, and wood are endlessly durable, and therefore can and should be recycled and reused where possible. This is often achieved to dramatic effect, especially when the goal is for powerful juxtapositions that blend the old with the new. Recycled pallet furniture in industrial spaces, the unique glow of sea glass, or the charm of antique tiling can all offer a truly unique aesthetic in your eco-friendly kitchen.
Bespoke kitchens can have their sustainability upgraded with attention to natural details. In addition to non-toxic sealants, outstanding ranges of non-toxic paints are available for each of the iconic kitchen designs. Wood and stone finishes also offer a delightful array of environmentally sensitive choices, often with a quality that eclipses chemical-derived alternatives. For instance, luxurious beeswax offers a truly timeless finish with a unique tactility. Infusing the kitchen space with natural materials is gentle on the environment, and can help to create an atmosphere of calm wellbeing inside the home.
To explore the beautiful, hand-crafted options that are waiting for you, book a design consultation with Drew Forsyth today.