Happily Shopping!

When I'm not busy reading boring paralegal textbooks, I can be found having fun cruising around the internet looking for appliances, tile and eco-cool finishing alternatives for our remodel. While our general inclination for materials is it to go with stone counters and floors, I'm taking the time for this house to investigate other options as well.

Here are a few interesting options for countertops:
Paperstone countertops. Made from 100% post-consumer recycled paper, resins and natural pigments. Some nice colors, but they may look too much like plastic. I hope to go see it in person soon.
Trinity Pacific countertops. Made in Washington State from 70% locally-sourced, recycled glass and low-carbon cement (20%).
Cambria Quartz counters are created from pure natural quartz
and, finally
ShetkaStone counters are made from 100% post-consumer and post-industrial recycled fibers, including cardboard, newsprint, retired U.S. currency, and other paper. The green shredded-currency counter looks interesting.

I've also been trying to find appliances that will accept wood panels so we can reduce the visual impact of these modern built-in appliances. I'd like to do something along these lines for the refrigerator. Though, I had forgotten how much good appliances cost! I shudder to add up the total. We'll obviously be doing our part next year to stimulate the Oregon economy.

(The refrigerator image was borrowed for my remodel idea file from one of the blogs I follow: Hartwood Roses.)