(NC)-So you've made the environmentally conscious choice to be green this year… but how will this decision impact your entertaining? Don't fret, it doesn't mean bland food and recycled napkins - green can be glamorous. In fact, green choices can actually enhance your guests' experience - starting with the two rooms guest will be sure to see, the kitchen and the powder room.
A Gorgeous, Green Kitchen
Whether entertaining two guests or twenty - the one spot you'll congregate is the kitchen. And making a green impact in this room is one of the easiest. A few tips for updating your kitchen to be friendlier to the planet include:
• Install cabinetry or built-ins made with certifiable, eco-friendly wood (meaning they were not made from rain forest materials or endangered woods).
• Use Zodiaq quartz counters, which are more eco-friendly than granite and are available in a palette of beautiful colours.
• Install bamboo wood flooring, which provides the natural beauty of wood while also being environmentally friendly.
• If you're setting up the bar for guests, a Moen AquaSuite filtering faucet in the kitchen will provide filtered water at your sink - virtually eliminating the need for bottled water.
The Perfect Powder Room
After the kitchen, the next most-visited room is the powder room. To add a green flair here:
• Enhance the mood with candles - not only do they add a festive flair; but they also are electricity-free.
• Incorporate ceramic tile in floors, countertops and walls. Some ceramic tiles are made from recycled products, such as discarded bottle glass.
• Install faucets certified to meet WaterSense label criteria to conserve water. Moen's new Eva bath faucets are just one of many from Moen that allow water to flow at an optimized 1.5 gallons per minute (gpm), versus traditional aerators that flow at 2.2 gpm. This faucet, certified to meet WaterSense label criteria, not only reduces water usage by up to 32 percent, but it also is extremely stylish and available in a number of on-trend finishes.
Finally, remember that every little bit counts - and by showing your guests a glamorous - and green - experience, you can empower them to follow in your eco-conscious footsteps.
- News Canada