Kitchen remodels often call for the refacing of cabinet doors as a cheaper solution to a new installation. But the downside is that the old panels often get dumped in landfills simply because they no longer fit the bill. That's seriously wasteful, even if your designer argues otherwise.

But the recently launched San Francisco-based M8 storage system is taking a new direction in the construction of greener cabinets, allowing front panels of its own design (wood veneers, low-toxic metallic lacquer or LCD screens) to be switched out while the solid foundation endures for at least two decades.

The eco-friendly structural frames are made of recycled aluminum while the internal shelving is comprised of a green MDF material made by Sierra of Arreis. The wood design is the brainchild of husband and wife team Steven and Joan Livingston, kitchen design veterans who sought to create high-quality sustainable material for their modular front panels.

"We've been in the industry for a decade with an Italian cabinetry showroom and we were tired of seeing perfectly serviceable kitchens ripped out because the designer didn't like the aesthetic," company president Joan  Livingston explained to me. "Now, we can give a fresh look to clients looking for some flexibility but afraid to take risks."

Livingston told me at her Snaidero showroom those fearful clients almost always opted for cherry wood, despite their infatuation with clean lacquer and color. What if they grew tired of color? What if high gloss lacquer slowed down a home sale?

""People are hungry for contemporary European styling with clean lines and fun finishes and now they can enjoy it without feeling they're taking a huge risk," ...Read More

"Write about night lights", a reader requested - and instantly I remembered being transfixed by the circling goo in lava-lamps. Nowadays my preferences are less gooey and more eco-friendly (that goo? Globules of mineral oil and, um, paraffin).

A successful night light is all about subtlety and artful unobtrusiveness. ...Read More

Sometimes, eco-friendliness is all about scale.

A hot 2008 trend in modernistic decor is the ethanol fireplace. Most models - such as this Planika model, pictured - look simply stunning: two glass plates ...Read More

What other fixtures & fittings can we write on?

Back in April we highlighted sponsor VivaTerra's reclaimed barn wood bins, their outsides lined with chalkboards. Storage containers you can relabel and keep notes on - practical and eco-friendly ...Read More

To satisfy my modern geometric furniture fix, I always turn to my favorite Brooklyn-based green team Brave Space Design for smart tables, consoles, bookshelves and more. Whether I’m looking to find a particular piece or just to be inspired by their artistic ingenuity, I constantly check their web site, eager for new creations.

In my ...Read More

It seems an unspoken rule that all modern businesses never have enough conference rooms free. So here's an idea - go sit outside.

During my Archaeology degree here in England, when the weather was good enough (a rare occurence), our lecturers would hold seminars on the lawns outside the department, snaking a power cable inside when ...Read More

We’ve all felt that ecstatic rush of wonder as we gaze upon a particularly transcendent piece of art. Art moves us, thrills us, makes us ponder or smile. And now a group of Italian researchers have found that ...Read More

You know those cute little herb-filled dream pillows that are supposed to enhance your sleep and dream life? I’ve always been skeptical of those. Sure, they smell nice and they’re adorable, but the practical utilitarian in me always wondered “what’s the point?”

Now a recent ...Read More

Personally, I prefer my grocery stores boutique style. I like a smaller store stocked with high-quality items. I don’t need 20 varieties of ketchup to choose from – just give me a few organic choices, thanks.

Many grocery stores are beginning to follow this trend. Safeway, Whole Foods and even Wal-Mart are ...Read More

I'd like to bring up a challenging topic for discussion with you all. What responsibility do churches have to encourage their parishioners to be responsible stewards of the Earth? If all animals and ecosystems are part of God’s magnificent creation, isn’t it imperative that Christians (to name just one faith as the predominant example) step ...Read More