ECO ELEMENTS

The ideal new kitchen will be healthy for the environment and for your family, low in toxins and using wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Timber might not be your chosen finish, but there’s plenty of wood beneath the surface – in fact, as kitchen designer and FSC ambassador

Druce Davey of Greener points out, “[Kitchen cabinetry] is likely the largest concentration of wood product in your home after your framing and flooring.” Materials such as compressed boards and paint finishes can be filled with toxic nasties, so do your research – look at the E ratings of the MDF used (E0 or Super E0 is best) and request low-emission finishes. Also bear in mind a kitchen that will stand the test of time is the best choice for both the environment and your hip pocket.

“Solid timber kitchens really do live forever,” says Carmel Wylie of GIA Bathrooms & Kitchens. “You can refinish and even paint or stain them a different colour if your palette needs a change.”