Guilt-Free Teak and Rosewood?
by Mairi Beautyman, Berlin, Germany on 09.14.07
Luxury hardwoods—there's just so much controversy over this one. New is very bad...and reclaimed? Well, then we just wonder what slice of architectural history was torn down. But here comes hardwood supplier East Teak. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, this firm is the first in North America to distribute reclaimed teak and rosewood stamped with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) seal of approval. Hailing from U.K.-based Brooks Brothers UK, Ltd. (no relation to the clothing company), each piece of wood is gleaned from old buildings by hand, according to East Teak, and can be specified for large-scale projects.
The first supplier of FSC-certified prime grade recycled teak and rosewood in North America, according to its Web site, East Teak offers aged wood ranging from 60-100 years old.
"This material conforms to the highest environmental standards available for timber, thus ensuring no tree has been cut and no building of cultural and historical value has been dismantled," says Hans Ng, head of environment for Brooks Bros UK, Ltd.::East Teak Also see ::Osisu Design's Beautiful Reclaimed Teak Furniture ::Still Troubled About Teak ::Eames Lounge Available in Sustainable Rosewood ::Reforest Teak Furniture, from New World Eco Trees Reforestation Projects
I realize what a fussbudget I am when my first thought wasn't "pretty floor" but "that sink looks designed to waste water."
Mary, I don't think of you as "fussbudget. I think that your observation of the sink being a 'water waster' is actually quite perceptive.
P.S. It is also too bad that the toilet is not a dry composting toilet.
How can a sink waste water?
And don't overlook the heated towel rack!
The heated towel rack merely heats the room anyway. And if you have too cold a bathroom, you automatically compensate by taking a hotter shower. I don't know if heated towel racks run off the hot water or the house heating, but if the latter, than it can be throttled down with the thermostat when no one is home.