Green Materials: Squak Mountain Stone and Bamboo Flooring

Squak Mountain Stone looks and feels like natural soapstone, but it is actually made of more than 60 percent post-consumer and post-industrial waste, including recycled paper, recycled glass, coal fly-ash and Portland cement. The result is an environmentally friendly product that weighs 50 percent less than traditional concrete slabs of similar size, but is just as durable. Squak Mountain Stone was used for the countertops in this project.

Many hardwood floors are made from cutting down old growth trees, stripping forests of these towering creatures. Bamboo is a great alternative and also an easily sustainable resource. Bamboo is grown in controlled forests and takes just three to five years to reach maturity, as compared to old-growth hardwoods which can take 120 years to grow to full size. Bamboo flooring was used in this project.

Product Information for Items Used in this Room Makeover:

countertop (latte) — Squak Mountain Stone
engineered horizontal grain pre-finished carmel bamboo floor (Four Winds Bamboo, #EHC) — Rock Solid Hardwoods
large cup hooks ( #10025409); mesh storage bin (silver, #10029003); over-door ironing board (#618680); stainless-steel plate stand (10042010) — The Container Store
kitchen paint (Pizza Pie #331-6) — Pittsburgh Paints
cookbook holder and towel bars — Target
bread box (#368971); bamboo kitchen organizer (#369272); Amy Melious botanical collage with espresso frame (#391111); 24-inch red glass jar (#384658); spatulas; dustpan set; stem glass holder — Cost Plus World Market
flower plaques (#16844888, #16844904, #16844896, #16845364) — Stein Mart
wire baskets — Cobblestone Cottage