Remodeling green goes mainstream

The creamy swirled-glass light fixtures in David Mattern and Pam Wilder's remodeled basement are not environmentally sound in the traditional sense, unlike their cork floors and salvaged door.

But to Mattern and Wilder, supporting the work of a local artisan is being eco-conscious on a human level.

"It's our human ecosystem," Mattern said. "The same principle that people accept may help the environment also applies to making a healthy local community."

And Mattern and Wilder have found dozens of ways to incorporate their philosophy on the environment and their community into their Fremont home in Seattle.

A kitchen remodel two years ago boasts gleaming black countertops made from a composite of paper and resin. The floor is springy, sustainable cork. A green slab of salvaged marble — once the exterior of a Seattle building — serves as a mini-breakfast bar looking out onto spectacular views of Queen Anne. Claw feet found at a local salvage store add a touch of whimsy to the stove.

Mattern, an environmental planner, and Wilder, a technical writer, couldn't afford the truly sustainable wood cabinets, so instead chose warm, burnished alder wood, which is local to the Pacific Northwest and purchased from a local company.

Buying local

Where to go


Here are some local stores that David Mattern and Pam Wilder shopped at for their eco-friendly home remodel:

Environmental

Home Center:

4121 First Ave. S., Seattle. 206-682-7332, www.environmentalhomecenter.com.

RE Store: 1440 N.W. 52nd St., Seattle. 206-297-9119, www.re-store.org

They went into the kitchen remodel, which was done by a local design building firm, knowing they wanted environmentally friendly products. But they didn't know exactly what was available.

They discovered that for the remodel, which cost about $35,000 and took one year to complete, they could often find comparable, sustainable materials.

The Richlite composite countertops, for example, were similar in cost to granite, Wilder said. And there were cabinet choices in the same price range as the alder that were not as ecologically friendly.

"You could spend far more money and get ecologically disastrous stuff," Wilder said.

Numerous local stores offer options for environmentally friendly home remodeling. Wilder compared the growth in those stores to the trend toward grocery stores carrying organic vegetables. The more convenient those items are, the more people will buy and use them.

"If you have to search for an organic vegetable, you're not going to do it," she said. "If it's in your local grocery, it's easier. Then it's just a matter of cost."

Eco emergence

Neither of them can pinpoint exactly when they became concerned about environmentally friendly choices, especially in a city that is so forward-thinking about environmental issues.

"It's an evolving part of our culture," Mattern said.

That culture made it easy for the couple to find sustainable materials locally to use in their remodel, but Mattern and Wilder had to be realistic about what they could afford.

In the ongoing basement remodel, they were less strict about their environmental standards due to cost. Still, the basement has salvaged items like a folding door with rattan that most likely came from a closet. One room is painted with low-VOC paint (volatile organic compounds can be toxic), and they plan to install wool carpet, which doesn't use toxic glues.

The laundry room, however, does not feature eco-friendly materials beyond a low-water-use washer. It has laminate cabinets and easy-to-clean Formica countertops.

Still, Mattern and Wilder do as much as they can to weave environmentally friendly items into their lives. They bought a Toyota Prius hybrid years ago, and say it is comfortable on top of using less gas.

Such purchases don't have a downside, Wilder said. The same goes for finding home materials that cost about the same as items that are not ecologically sound.

"If you're interested at all, go do it," she said. "Then the more people do it, the more mainstream it becomes and the more is available."

Nicole Tsong: 206-464-2150 or ntsong@seattletimes.com

Seattle Building Salvage:

2114 Hewitt Ave.,

Everett, 425-303-8500,

www.seattlebuildingsalvage.com.

Pacific Crest Cabinets: www.pacificcrestcabinets.com.

Call 253-529-8692 for information or an appointment.

Edge of Glass Gallery:

513 N. 36th St.,

Suite H, Seattle. 206-632-7807, www.edgeofglass.com.