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Green DesignIssue 17 — Climate Minded

Steal This Look: The Low-Impact Kitchen

April 23, 2024

The cover of our newest book, Remodelista: The Low-Impact Home, features the kitchen of architects Ruth Mandl and Bobby Johnston of CO Adaptive. Their firm specializes in retrofitting existing buildings to make them energy efficient, and the couple transformed their own historic Brooklyn brownstone into an ultra-efficient passive house. Their monthly energy bill is zero—and that includes keeping an electric vehicle charged and maintaining a steady indoor temperature year-round.

In designing their kitchen, Mandl and Johnston prioritized green materials and energy efficiency, installing air-tight triple-glazed windows, a compact fridge from Liebherr, and a Monogram by GE induction cooktop. Here, we list the sources for the main elements, down to the small, cheerful, and future-minded accessories.

(Find Remodelista: The Low-Impact Home: A Sourcebook for Stylish, Eco-Conscious Living everywhere books are sold. For more on the book, see our book announcement.)

one key eco minded switch made in the kitchen? the architects removed the natur 17
Above: One key eco-minded switch made in the kitchen? The architects removed the natural gas from the building entirely, replacing it with solar-powered electricity via a solar array installed on the roof. New plumbing, electrical, and ventilation systems are all located within an interior central spine branching out to service each floor—a strategy critical to passive house performance. Photograph by Matthew Williams from Remodelista: The Low-Impact Home: A Sourcebook for Stylish, Eco-Conscious Living.

As for the shade of green on the cabinets, the couple had it custom mixed to match a favorite light fixture that hangs over their table.

a detail of the kitchen sink showcases a few eco swaps including a low flow fau 18
Above: A detail of the kitchen sink showcases a few eco-swaps including a low-flow faucet, natural bristle brushes, and a solid version of dish soap (reducing the need for plastic packaging). Photograph by Matthew Williams from Remodelista: The Low-Impact Home: A Sourcebook for Stylish, Eco-Conscious Living.

Materials

mandl and johnston created the custom pegboard backsplash from fsc certified, m 19
Above: Mandl and Johnston created the custom pegboard backsplash from FSC-certified, maple-faced ApplePly, a high-grade plywood produced with soy rather than off-gassing formaldehyde. Though not of the same pedigree, the George & Willy Wooden Pegboard, pictured here, made of architectural-grade birch plywood is $320 for the standard size. You can also make your own: See DIY: A Stylish, Modern Wooden Pegboard.
the kitchen cabinet fronts are by copenhagen based reform, a kitchen company wo 20
Above: The kitchen cabinet fronts are by Copenhagen-based Reform, a kitchen company working toward 100 percent sustainable materials and practices. Their Basis collection is inspired by Scandinavian architect kitchens of the 1960s and is available in custom painted oak, as shown in Mandl and Johnston’s kitchen.

While we recommend sourcing reclaimed or locally grown wood that is FSC-certified, we should note that Reform sources raw materials that are FSC-certified, but their final supplier, they explain, is not, and thus, their kitchens are not officially FSC-certified.

greenguard certified caesarstone, a product made of quartz, is a more ecologica 21
Above: Greenguard-certified Caesarstone, a product made of quartz, is a more ecologically responsible swap for granite and other stone mined in far-off locations. The Caesarstone Quartz Countertop, shown here in Pure White, is available at The Home Depot.

Faucets & Fixtures

the wall mounted vola faucet \13\1lap \20 is a pull out spray model with flow r 22
Above: The wall-mounted Vola Faucet 131LAP-20 is a pull-out spray model with flow rate below 2.2 gallons (or 8.3 liters) per minute; $843.75 at Quality Bath.
the kohler riverby 33 inch undermount single basin cast iron kitchen sink is \$ 23
Above: The Kohler Riverby 33-Inch Undermount Single Basin Cast Iron Kitchen Sink is $849.75 at Build.com.
the \2\2 system offers a selection of minimal flush mount wall outlets by bocci 24
Above: The 22 System offers a selection of minimal flush mount Wall Outlets by Bocci. Contact System 22 for price and ordering information.
the kitchen is lit with a few hay noc clamp clip lamps in off white; \$\2\13 ea 25
Above: The kitchen is lit with a few Hay Noc Clamp Clip Lamps in Off White; $213 each at Finnish Design Shop.

Sinkside Accessories

the kohler riverby utility basin rack with soaking cup is \$83.43 at build 26
Above: The Kohler Riverby Utility Basin Rack with Soaking Cup is $83.43 at Build.com.
the sink side dish is the stoneware berry bowl from elsie green, used here as a 27
Above: The sink-side dish is the Stoneware Berry Bowl from Elsie Green, used here as a draining soap dish; $39 at Elsie Green.
for a similar copper scrub, the andrée jardin copper wool sponge is \$\10 28
Above: For a similar copper scrub, the Andrée Jardin Copper Wool Sponge is $10 at Smallable.
the dish soap in round porcelain bowl is available as a citrus or unscented sol 29
Above: The Dish Soap in Round Porcelain Bowl is available as a citrus or unscented solid soap. It eliminates the need for packaging and the soap is available as a refill when finished; $36 at Ardent Goods.
the iris hantverk dish brush vardag is \$8.65 at finnish design shop. 30
Above: The Iris Hantverk Dish Brush Vardag is $8.65 at Finnish Design Shop.
the iris hantverk pan brush is \$\26.30 at finnish design shop. 31
Above: The Iris Hantverk Pan Brush is $26.30 at Finnish Design Shop.

Other Accessories

the typhoon farmhouse kitchen scale is \$40 at food5\2. 32
Above: The Typhoon Farmhouse Kitchen Scale is $40 at Food52.
throughout the kitchen, bulk goods are stored in various sizes of bormioli fido 33
Above: Throughout the kitchen, bulk goods are stored in various sizes of Bormioli Fido jars. Here, the Bormioli Rocco Fido Canning Jar is $28.99 for a 3-piece set on Amazon.

For more kitchen design with ideas to steal, see our posts:

N.B.: This story is originally ran on October 4, 2022 and has been updated.

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Pan Brush

$27.86 USD from Finnish Design Shop

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