The Or-Green-Ized Closet

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Photo Courtesy of Ehlen
Creative Communications

Green roofs are all the rage these days. So are countertops made of recycled glass. But green closets?

That’s one room in the home where the green movement is still in its infancy, says Creative Vision Cabinetry & Design Studio designer Ricardo Sandoval, who has been designing closets for eight years. “But I’m sure it’s something that will start creeping, more and more, into the market,” he adds.

In fact, Sandoval’s work was featured on the Parade of Homes this past autumn. He designed the closets in Parade Home #177, a Minnesota GreenStar-certified home built by Pillar Homes and one of two designated “Dream Homes” on the Parade this fall.

To meet GreenStar standards, the homeowner wanted to look beyond standard melamine closet organization systems to something with green cred that would not break the bank. Sandoval’s supplier had just the solution: wood certified by Rainforest Alliance’s SmartWood program for the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). In this case, certification verifies that the wood did not originate from controversial sources and was harvested and processed responsibly.

With its maple veneer closet system and island, the home’s master suite walk-in closet is a study of clean-lined elegance. There’s nothing pretentious here, just the simple beauty of functionality. Elsewhere in the home, Creative Vision Cabinetry supplied the same FSC-certified closet systems for the bedrooms, storage closets, and the home’s loft.

Sandoval’s advice for homeowners: There are already few “green closet” products available—it’s simply a matter of what your budget can accommodate. Look for independent verification, like FSC certification, and ask for information to back it up.

Take your closet green

• Ask about Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood.
• Find out how much formaldehyde your prospective closet organization system contains. Lower formaldehyde content is better for your home’s indoor air quality and your health.

6 ISSUES (1 YEAR)

Only $9.95!

63% off newsstand price.
Includes annual HomeBook.

Save Big On:
Everything Home. Everything Local.