Box Cabinets or Custom Made?

What should I do? I want new cabinets but I don't want to pay a fortune.

This is a question that comes up for many homeowners, they want to get a fresh new look for their kitchen but fear that custom made is out of reach. These days unless you are getting off the shelf cabinets from the local big box store, you may pay just as much for factory made cabinets as for custom made.

A few reasons to consider custom made.

1. You keep your money in the local economy. Why send your money to some big out of state corporation when you can support a local craftsman?

2. Custom cabinets often make better use of space. Box cabinets typically come in increments of three inches. then they use fillers to make up for the gaps so there is unused space.

3. Ask for no particle board to be used. Most custom shops won't use it anyway, but you should really stay away from particle board. In addition to the fact that it is weak and prone to break, particle board also gives off fumes from the formaldehyde that is used in manufacturing. This is called "off-gassing" and lasts sometimes for years adding poisonous chemicals to your indoor air. Factory made cabinets often use this.

4. Green finishes. With a custom shop you can ask for water based lacquers and other low or zero VOC finishes. VOC's ( volatile organic compounds) off-gas into your interior air just as formaldehyde does.

5. Stronger cabinets. With granite, quartz and concrete being the materials of choice for most custom kitchens haveing cabinets that are strong enough to support them is important.

Lime Plaster: Green no matter what color you choose!

Imagine a beautiful villa in Italy. The walls are as artistic as the architecture itself, and have withstood the test of time by lasting over 300 years. Now imagine wrapping these beautiful walls in plastic. Paint is like plastic wrap for furniture, the kind your funny old aunt used. Plastic covers on the carpet and furniture. Instead of that why not use the real thing, natural lime plaster.

The History of Plaster

Lime based wall finishes have been used for thousands of years. From the tombs of the pyramids of Giza to the Sistine Chapel, lime stucco has been a key ingredient in great architecture on six continents.

The earliest plasters known to us were lime-based. Around 7500 BC, the people of 'Ain Ghazal in Jordan used lime mixed with unheated crushed limestone to make plaster which was used on a large scale for covering walls, floors, and hearths in their homes.

Stucco often contained substantial amounts of mud or clay, marble or brick dust, or even sawdust. An array of other additives ranged from animal blood or urine, cow dung, animal hair, eggs, keratin or glue size (animal hooves and horns), varnish, wheat paste, sugar, salt, sodium silicate, alum, tallow, linseed oil, beeswax, and wine, beer, or rye whiskey. Additives, or admixtures, were usually added to enhance or modify characteristics such as curing time, plasticity, color, or volatility

Plaster decoration was widely used in Europe in the Middle Ages where, from the mid-13th century, gypsum was used for internal and external plaster. Hair was employed as reinforcement, with additives to assist setting or plasticity including malt, urine, beer, milk and eggs. In the 14th century, decorative trowelled plaster, called pargeting was being used in South-East England to decorate the exterior of timber-framed buildings. This is a form of incised, molded or modeled ornament, executed in lime putty or mixtures of lime and gypsum plaster. During this same period, terracotta was reintroduced into Europe and was widely used for the production of ornament. In the mid-15th century, skilled Venetian workers developed a new type of external facing, called Marmorino made by applying lime directly onto masonry.

The Mona Lisa hangs on lime plaster in the Louvre Museum. Same  formula as our Marmorino plaster.

In the last decade, an American invented term 'Venetian Plaster' has been assigned to a wide range of products - many having nothing to do with one another. There are synthetic products, some natural ones. It has become a generic and over-used term.  We prefer to stand alone without a label and just say we sincerely aspire to bringing you the best natural and beautiful plasters and stuccos to your doorstep, whatever you want to call it. And, no you can’t buy it at Lowes. What you get at Lowes is little more than thick paint.

The truth is that lime plaster was used in Venice starting in the 15^th century. Lime plaster has an unparalleled ability to hold up in moisture laden environments such as the waterways of Venice. Thus it is a perfect choice for moist areas such as bathrooms or even showers.

1.  It's beautiful. There's not much competition. It will transform your space.

2.  Lime plaster is lime based, natural, non-toxic, has no off-gasing of VOC’s and is hypo-allergenic.

3.  Because paint is synthetic - paint is rubber, plastic and chemicals surrounding you.

4.  It's affordable ... that means it costs a little more than regular paint, but saves your money and health in the long run.

5.  It lasts as long as the walls. It's the authentic, traditional stuff that's been around for thousands of years.

6.  Lime plaster is durable. When lime plasters cure, the result is hard-as-stone, long-lasting mineral coating. It's color integrated, so even if it's scratched, it still looks great.

7.  You can make it look like anything you can imagine ... from the very subtle to dramatic, in any texture sheen or color.

9.  Plaster will adhere to old latex paint, primer and cement, making it perfect for new contruction and remodels.

10.  Our products work perfectly for interiors and exteriors, for both commercial and residential projects.

11.  Plaster and stucco keep your space cooler in the summer, and warmer in the winter.

12.  Plaster is versatile for both traditional and modern designs.

13.  Color integrated products won't fade in color, meaning they are UV resistant.

14.  Our products absorb excess humidity keeping it cool and fresh inside.

15.  Natural plasters and stuccos filter the air, absorbing carbon dioxide and odors.

16.  Lime based plasters eliminate mold and fungus.

Lime plasters absorb carbon dioxide as they cure. A 1000 square foot wall can absorb 1 tom of CO2 as is cures. Since it absorbs moisture, lime when used as an exterior coating in the form of stucco can help a building stay cool by absorbing moisture during the damp night hours and releasing it to evaporation during the day thereby cooling the building.

Lime plaster continues to cure as it reverts to its original state, limestone. As such it is itself fireproof, it will not burn and will help make any substrate more fire resistant.

Unlike paint when plaster is applied there are no noxious odors from the volatile organic compounds found in paint. There are none there. Lime plaster is simply limestone and crushed marble. 

So why not consider Lime Plaster instead of paint for your next wall finish?

When Green Isn't Green

What does "green" really mean? 

You see it everywhere, products with advertising slogans that promise a new "green" formulation. But what does "green" refer to? This blog is about your home so let's talk about "green" paints.

A few years ago the problem of indoor air quality came to the attention of the public. Volatile Organic Compounds otherwise known as VOC's were recognized as a major contributor to bad indoor air quality. So manufacturers of paints began to develop low VOC paints to meet the demands of the public. Now there are zero VOC products available as well. But the question is, are these products better, and are they safe?

There are many different paints available so I will not make blanket statements about all "green" or low VOC and zero VOC paints. What I can tell you is that there are many other chemicals in paints that have potential negative health impacts that are not VOC's and thus are not regulated. Many manufacturers use "masking .agents to decrease the perceived odor of paints, these are not regulated because they are not VOC's. However that doesn't make them safe. Many paint companies use "proprietary compounds" that they consider trade secrets and thus do not disclose. Ammonia and acetone are two known dangerous chemicals that can have major heath consequences if they are use without adequate ventilation or come into contact with the skin. Neither is a VOC and so can still be an ingredient in these supposedly "green" paints.

The bottom line is that just because these newer paint products claim to be "green" and actually contain no VOC's does not mean that they are safe. There is still outgassing of chemicals into your interior air. Check out the paints that you use very carefully before introducing them into your house.

Next time we will talk about alternative wall finishes that really are green!

What is Artisan Style Living?

Too many homes that are built today have no personality, soul or vitality. Plain off-white walls, generic carpets, vinyl floors, off the shelf cabinets and counter tops and so on. So what can you do? This blog will be dedicated to exploring ways to enhance and transform your house into a home that reflects the uniqueness of YOU!

We all have preferences and as in most blogs this one will undoubtedly reflect mine, so why don't I give you some idea of what to expect.

I love older homes, especially Craftsman style, Bungalow style home that have a lot of character. I also like old farmhouses, especially some prairie style homes.

I hate plastic! Whether it is plastic furniture, plastic walls (i.e. latex paint), plastic floors (vinyl) or plastic counter tops (Formica). What I like is plaster walls, natural wood and tile floors, and concrete, marble, stone or tile counters.

I dislike the chemicals that are used in the production of many building products and I am convinced that they pose a health risk to many people. I will talk about ways to eliminate or reduce the use of these products and suggest alternatives that are more people friendly. Just because a product is labeled "green" doesn't mean that it is safe!

I will explore many of these options and talk about new products as well as old products that are being rediscovered. Products and methods that I am passionate about will crop up in many different posts, but I will gladly take suggestions as well as respond to questions and comments.