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Monday through Friday 9 - 5 Saturday by appointment
 San Francisco Residence We recently completed a conversion of a former commercial space into a private residence with interior designer Nagmeh Alikhani. The mezzanine was built to house a bedroom, bathroom and office space. The main floor features a kitchen in a custom lacquer by Eggersman and the countertops are poured concrete. The panel shown in the forefront is a Crestron TPMC8x Touchpanel for audio, video, lighting, HVAC and shade control. The unit is completely automated with features such as the kitchen shade being shared with the bedroom with presets allowing for the shade to be closed in bedroom but open in kitchen. |
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Designer: Nagmeh Alikhani
HRH Architecture
1204 Burlingame Ave. #7
Burlingame, CA 94010
p:(650)344-1244
f:(650)344-1241 |
GREENWASHING
The number of products waving their “green” credentials today is almost ludicrous. The good news is that most manufacturers are at least taking the first steps in environmental responsibility. Wading through the rhetoric to find products that truly qualify to wear that mantle is an ordeal. We have taken one segment of our product selection, countertops, and have done what we can to decipher the true meaning of their claim to be “green”. We thank Tom Sullivan of Sullivan Countertops for doing most of the legwork on this. All of these products are available at Studio Mehler. Please call or visit the showroom for more information.
Green Countertop Options |
Product |
Contents |
Maintenance |
Source |
Thickness |
Slab Size |
Finish |
LEED Points |
Warranty |
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Paper based |
Softer tan stone, will show wear & scratches |
Hoquiam WA |
¾" 1” 1 ¼"
edge built up not recommended |
60”x144” |
textured |
up to 6 |
? |
100% post-consumer recycled paper bound by a petroleum free resin (Phenolic resin)
www.paperstoneproducts.com |
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Pluses
Rich textured look. Recycled paper (trash, that’s a good thing) Stain resisitant. Very strong.
Very affordable. |
Minuses
Client expectations must be aligned with product performance. Surface will show wear and scatches. Can be sanded but sanded areas may not match surrounding areas. Surface is far from perfect when new. |
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Concrete based |
"clean up spills" sealed by fabricator |
Brooklyn NY |
1 ¼" |
52.5"x95" |
Polished |
up to 5 |
none |
100% recycled glass in a concrete matrix
www.icestone.biz |
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Pluses
Looks great, very green, unique offering with sea shells. Half sheets available for smaller projects. |
Minuses
Client expectations must be aligned with product performance. Needs to be sealed by client every 2-3 years. Needs to be waxed every few months. Penetrating sealer doesn't prevent etching by citric & other acids. No warrenty. Pricey. |
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Concrete based |
"wipe up spills" sealed by fabricator |
Richmond CA |
1 ¼" |
60"x108" |
Polished |
up to 6 |
10 year |
85% recycled glass with concrete binder
www.vetrazzo.com |
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Pluses
Unique aesthetic with large glass sizes. Very green, local manufactoring. Quarter and half sheets available for small projects. 10 year warrenty. |
Minuses
Client expectations must be aligned with product performance. Needs to be sealed by client every 2-3 years. Needs to be waxed every few months. Penetrating sealer dosn't prevent etching by citric & othe acids. Pricey. |
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non porous, scratch resistance, heat resist., like quartz counters. |
Europe |
¾" usually
stacked at edge to make 1 ½" |
63"x128" |
Polished |
some |
10 year |
75% recycled post consumer or post industrial glass, mirror, crystalized Ash, stone, bound by a combination of corn based/ petroleum resin.
www.ecobycosentino.com |
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Pluses
Performs like quartz hard & shiny. Edges laminates for extra thickness easily. Lays out well from large slabs. Affordable (Priced like Quartz). 10 year warrenty. |
Minuses
Resin is 22% corl oil but the rest of the resin is petroleum based. May be an issue with "Green" client. |
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Concrete based |
"clean up spills" sealed by fabricator |
Seattle WA |
1 3/8" |
56"x96" |
Polished |
up to 3 |
none |
50% recycled glass & paper
50% low carbon cement
www.squakmountainstone.com |
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Pluses
Unique aesthectic with mottled leather look. "Rustic elegance". Very green. |
Minuses
Client expectations must be aligned with product performance. |
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soft, shows scratches, not heat resistant. |
Europe |
¾" adheres to plywood |
79"x100ft |
Matte |
? |
? |
Marmoleum
Linseed oil, wood dust, & jute backer.
www.forboflooringna.com |
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Pluses
Soft & warm. Original green surface. Just the thing for the client sick of hard & shiny. Affordable. (50% more than Laminate) Used in libaries where a soft writing surface is sought. |
Minuses
Soft. Will show scuffs & scatches & cut marks. |
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AIDS/LifeCycle | 7-Day 545 Mile Cycling Event to Support HIV/AIDS Services:
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Our friend Jim Logan is riding again in the AIDS/LifeCycle, a 7-Day 545 Mile
Cycling Event to Support HIV/AIDS Services. Please visit the website to help him reach his goal. www.tofighthiv.org
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Ron’s Recipe of the Month
 Summer is almost here. One recipe, Lemon-Mint Cucumber Salad seems appropriate to share since the refreshing flavors of this dish compliment the season’s inherent attributes. Over the years, I’ve created several interpretations of the dish, but this version remains my favorite. Easy on the budget and requiring minimal time to prepare, invited guests often make a special request for this simple but interesting twist on salad. It just might become one of your favorite salads all year round. Enjoy and share!
Lemon-Mint Cucumber Salad (serves 6)
In a large mixing bowl, combine the following ingredients:
1 large cucumber (preferably a seedless English or equal quantity of small, almost seedless Persians); score the cucumber’s skin from end to end with a fork for visual appeal, cut in half and slice thinly 1/8”;
1 fresh green pasilla chile* (seeded and sliced very thinly, matchstick size);
¼ - ½ cup of grated carrots (grate to matchstick size to add color and natural sweetness to the mix);
¼ cup of diced shallots (shallots are more subtle than most onions);
generous amounts of fresh mint & cilantro loosely chopped** (leaves only, no stems).
*Pasilla chilies are sold under different names. It has just a little bit of heat. Taste test your chile after preparation for degree of heat and add accordingly.
**A friend once likened the taste of cilantro to soap. Cilantro-intolerant? Begrudgingly, I’ll suggest you substitute with fresh Italian parsley.
Gently whisk together:
4 tablespoons of fresh squeezed lemon juice
½ - 1 teaspoon of salt (to taste)
2 teaspoons of sugar (more or less to taste)
1 teaspoon of Mint Sauce (lightly mix the bottle before use)
Note: Use quantities as a guide - make to one’s own taste - sweet/tart/salty…whichever side of the fence you sit.
Finally, toss the salad thoroughly with the lemon juice mixture. Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes. Toss again before serving.
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