A Sustainable Remodel - part 1...

Well, we finally closed on our house, it is now time to get going on making it habitable. We aren't supposed to totally start on ripping the place apart yet, but we had 5 different contractors stop by yesterday to check things out and give us bids on some of the work. They all seem like good guys.

We want to use sustainable, natural products and local businesses & labor as much as possible in the remodel - we have been working with a local company called 'GreenGoods' which is a building supply company that specializes in natural, sustainable, and recycled materials, as well as in materials for chemically sensitive persons. We were looking at using a carpeting that is made from recycled PVC bottles, but Kristin decided that she really likes one of their natural wool carpets instead. (Yeah, it is nice, but it is more than twice as expensive...) We will be installing carpeting in the entire upstairs, from the stairway up.

For the downstairs, we had been thinking about using a combination of cork and bamboo hardwood flooring - we love how it looks, and we love how it is easily renewable, regenerating itself almost every 6 years. It is very hard, and is becoming more popular, and more common all the time. We were almost sold, but then ran across several stained concrete floors that we loved. Since we already have a slab of concrete right under the stained, smelly carpet, it only made sense to investigate using that slab as a flooring surface. One important piece of sustainability includes using what you already have, and that has pushed us over the edge - we will have stained concrete floors throughout the main floor of the house, including the living and dining rooms, kitchen, entry and bathroom. (I have always wanted to live in a warehouse, anyway - this might be as close as Kristin lets me get!)

Here are some pics of the place. It is in pretty rough shape cosmetically, but the bones are solid and the layout is good. It has good views of the mountains around, and is on a decent sized lot. Best of all, there is room for a sizeable garden, even if I have to terrace it into the hillside! I can't wait to go back to eating something homegrown for every meal, as much as possible. Who knows, maybe a small vineyard eventually? With any luck, the after shots will be dramatically different (and hopefully better!)