The designer shared her favorite green solutions with NBKA | KBIS.
By Elisa Fernández-Arias
As part of NKBA | KBIS’ Sustainability Month this April, the association reached out to designers about their preferred green products and solutions for kitchen and bath. Barb Dornbush, owner of Campau Kitchen & Bath, who regularly incorporates sustainability into her designs, shared her top five eco-friendly picks for the bath, which range from non-toxic wallpaper to recycled tile.
- Wallpaper from Elworthy Studio
Dornbush lauded the product as “artistic wallpaper made in the U.S., which uses certified non-toxic water based inks on Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper.”
- Organic Towels from Gayle Warwick
The designer identified these towels made in Switzerland as a top sustainable choice. “These ultra soft and highly absorbent cotton towels can be customized with a monogram or a bespoke design,” said Dornbush.
- Cabinetry from CRYSTAL CABINET WORKS
Dornbush highlighted CRYSTAL CABINET WORKS’ products as being fully made in the U.S., compared to many other products that are solely assembled in the United States using foreign components. “They offer both North American hardwoods, which are sustainable because they are not currently endangered and have a lower carbon footprint than imported woods, and a low VOC finish,” the designer explained. “In addition, they are certified by the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association’s (KCMA’s) Environmental Stewardship Program (ESP).”
- Countertops from Cambria
“These countertops are GREENGUARD Certified and made in the U.S., which I think is particularly important for large, heavy products such as countertops,” said Dornbush. “Plus, they’re gorgeous and easy to maintain!”
- Ceramic Tiles from Fireclay Tile
Dornbush selected this product for being “made of recycled material here in the U.S., and from a brand that is a certified B Corps and Climate Neutral Certified.” She added, “And the ceramic tiles are stunningly beautiful, too.”
Barb Dornbush is the owner of Campau Kitchen & Bath in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She focuses on sustainable residential interiors because she is concerned about the impact of the home furnishings industry on the planet. Dornbush won the first ASID Design Excellence Award for Sustainable Design in Georgia, was published in several magazines, has given talks to groups such as Georgia Organics and the Art Institute of Atlanta, and served on the program committee of the IFDA’s national conference to bring information about sustainability to more designers. She has also been a guest on “The Lazy Environmentalist” on Sirius Radio.
