healthy interiors

Kitchen cabinetry using safe materials

The existing floor of this older house was a bit dark. Floor whitewash and sealant brightened the room. Rugs and natural jute added warmth. The table is oiled recycled timber

The lounge is made from woven banana leaf. Wall paint is zero VOC.

Materials of reduced or zero toxicity are concerned with human health of the occupants, although there are also benefits to the wider environment, such as reduced pollution during manufacture, less risk to installers and users, and less emissions to land, water or air on disposal.

Why consider toxicity?  As we spend up to 90% of our lives indoors (CSIRO), it is important that the building materials, finishes and furnishings in our homes are not harming our health. Many new home products and furnishings emit potentially harmful chemicals into the air or on the surfaces we touch. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) are gases which can irritate or are carcinogenic. Bioaccumulating chemicals (such as lead or Bisphenol A) are incompletely excreted by the body and build up over time. Unknown synergistic effects mean that the chemical mix combines in ways we don’t understand.      

Common sources of VOC’s & unknown synergistic effects include the chemicals used in paints, insulation, as flame retardants and polyurethane foam in lounges, pesticides in curtains & upholstery, phenols & formaldehydes from adhesives in particleboard, MDF or laminate kitchen cabinets. For more information on common household sources and specific chemicals, see these links. For a range of healthy materials and furnishings, see Ecospecifier or GECA.

Needless to say, it is wise to be selective and choose low or no VOC materials, for a healthy and beautiful home. There are many excellent options now available for building materials, insulation, paint, sealants, furnishings, floor coverings, finishes and cabinetry.

We can help!  We can work with you to alter existing spaces or design new homes to make safer, beautiful spaces in several ways: -

• Assistance with selection of non toxic building materials for a new home or eco reno
• More detailed material specification for a new home or eco reno.
• Colour selection for an interior / exterior revamp and recommendations for non toxic paints and furnishings
• Recommendations for a building biologist in your area that can assess your existing house for toxicity and advise on mitigation techniques or alternative suitable materials.
• Any combination of the above or a tailored service to suit you! 

For more information and our rates, please see our Service page. 

      

 The original kitchen was badly located and used dark colours that clashed with the wall colours. In our eco reno, the new kitchen is in a sunny corner, more windows, lighter tones and a servery window to a larger deck. And yes, that is a window behind the stove top! The cook top has a built in splash back lid.