The Green Home's cottage-style kitchen is the hub of the great room, putting the cook at the center of the activity. It is comfortably sized for one person – the triangle is five feet between points – but the large island and ample countertops create work zones that can easily accommodate three.The countertops are manmade quartz done in the color of cement. This eco-friendly material is stain-resistant, heat-resistant and anti-microbial. This material is carried up onto the backsplash, simplifying the room's style and functionality.
The kitchen cabinets are the same style as those in the laundry room and pantry, but painted a warm taupe, which closely matches the walls. "The color scheme is calm and quiet and it makes room for the green to really pop," says the home's interior designer, Linda Woodrum.
The stove, range hood, dishwasher and refrigerator are all stainless steel, which gives the kitchen a sleek, urban touch. These Energy Star Certified appliances use 10-50% less energy and water than standard models. Woodrum complemented the natural tones of the cabinets, countertops and appliances with wicker baskets and trivets, as well as a cutting board of sustainable bamboo.
Because paper and dry goods can be stored in the laundry room and pantry, the kitchen cabinets stock everyday plates, glasses and storage pieces. (Larger serving pieces and specialty items are easily accessible in the dining room's antique pastry cabinet.)
Green-and-white dishware is displayed in the cabinets. A tray of apples and pears draws the eye to the corner of the island near the window, and the glossy bulb of a lamp shows off its apple-green base.
"I love when you take a color and show it in all the different ways," Woodrum says, when asked about the tone-on-tone design. "For example, take the gray countertops, stainless steel appliances, brushed nickel knobs and the zinc-gray in the baskets – it's rich and understated."
A white farmhouse sink with a high-arc faucet adds to the cottage style. Woodrum likes the single-bowl sink because it accommodates large pots. She says, "When planning your kitchen, plan it so the sink faces the best view. You spend 80% of your time at the sink so make it a view you're going to love."
Woodrum chose walnut veneer planking for the flooring on the first floor. This veneer covers a dense inner layer of recycled wood using up to two-thirds less harvested wood than alternative wood flooring options. It is harvest from managed forests.
The house is designed to minimize the length of the hot water lines, reducing energy wasted waiting on hot water at the faucet. Tankless water heaters service the house and save energy by only heating water when needed.
For ease of cleaning, the home features a central vacuum system, which has an access point in the kitchen.
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