Good Taste, Green Flavor

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Photo Courtesy of Belle Kitchen

Sleek. Modern. Tres chic. And green, too.

This kitchen serves up a four-course meal of exceptional architectural taste. It was designed and installed by Belle Kitchen as part of a teardown/new home project in south Minneapolis. The architect owner had several requirements for his new culinary space: affordability and beauty with a modern aesthetic and green attributes. German manufacturer Leicht’s lines of cabinetry, available in the Twin Cities through Belle Kitchen, seemed a natural fit.

“In addition to Belle Kitchen’s design services, the quality, design, price point, and environmentally responsible production of Leicht cabinetry was important,” says Jean-Claude Desjardins, co-owner of Belle Kitchen. The homeowner spotted the cabinetry in Belle Kitchen’s showroom during a display sale and wanted to incorporate it into his kitchen.

“The layout of the space puts a modern stamp on the galley kitchen,” says Tricia Bayer, Belle Kitchen co-owner. It features high-gloss Bordeaux and anthracite cabinetry with ribbed aluminum and glass bi-fold uppers. A wall of tall cabinets, including a pullout pantry along with adjacent wide base drawers, functions for efficient and convenient storage. The countertops are LEED- and GREENGUARD-approved Silestone. The flooring is made of reclaimed wood. And, for a healthy indoor air environment, the Leicht cabinetry has no formaldehyde, fluorocarbons, or other harmful substances. Leicht extensively uses recycling during manufacturing, ships with minimal packaging, and keeps unhealthy chemicals out of its products, Jean-Claude explains.

The rest of the home uses green strategies, too. It makes use of structural insulated panels, a T-MASS foundation system, metal roofing, and soy-based spray foam insulation. Waste materials were carefully separated for recycling during construction. And, although the original home on the lot was partially deconstructed, materials were donated to the Re-Use Center.

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Only $9.95!

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