December 6, 2010
Healthy Home 2010 is the first show house to combine traditional green building with a focus on healthy interiors. It incorporates elements of the Greenguard Environmental Institute’s first-ever Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) Management Plan for Residential Construction, a system for creating buildings that contribute to healthier indoor air and results from a partnership between the organization and Healthy Child Healthy World.
Located in Palantine, IL, the project drew on the talent and expertise of several design and construction professionals, including Dior Builders, Krupp Associates Architects, Susan Fredman Design Group and landscape architect Matt Smith, as well as Terry Goeke, of Terrell Goeke, Inc., who designed the kitchen. Together, they set out to create a home that was not just healthy, but also aesthetically pleasing. “We wanted to show people that a healthy and environmentally friendly space can be done beautifully,” said Ruth E. Delf, of Susan Fredman Design Group. “We approached the design of this house like we’d approach the design of any of our client’s homes where we consider the look, the feel, the form and the function—everything to make it as beautiful as it can be.”
Nevertheless, with indoor air quality a critical factor, the design team exercised great care in selecting products that would ensure interiors are almost completely free of volatile organic compounds (VOC). These include no- or low-VOC paints, all-natural cotton fabrics with no synthetic fibers, all-natural adhesives (including a clay-based adhesive) and urea-formaldehyde-free cabinets. In addition, the wood floors used throughout are white oak found locally and finished with a low-VOC finish and topcoat.
At 5,800 sq. ft., the home is larger than average, comprising five bedrooms, five full bathrooms and one half-bath, a three-car garage and a bevy of common living spaces. In addition to its focus on healthy indoor air, however, it demonstrates its commitment to green in other ways. Most of the wood used is FSC-certified and, where possible, consideration was given to locally sourced products. To conserve water, the design team opted for low-flow plumbing fittings and fixtures, including dual-flush toilets in all of the bathrooms.
“We are going beyond the notion of what is sustainable to create a home that has human health at the heart of our objectives,” noted Victoria Di lorio, education outreach coordinator for Healthy Child Healthy World. “The project seeks to raise awareness on cleaner, safer, healthier living.”
SOURCES
Interior Designer: Susan Fredman Design Group Kitchen Designer: Terry Goeke—Terrell Goeke, Inc., Chicago Builder: Dior Builders, Inc. Architect Krupp Associates Architects Landscape Architect: Matt Smith
Manufacturers: Kitchens:
Cabinetry: Holiday Kitchens; Countertops: Cambria
Dishwasher, range, ventilation hood, ovens: Miele; Refrigerator: Liebherr;
Sink: Kohler;
Backsplash tiles: Ann Sacks; Hardware: Colonial Bronze; Lighting: Framburg; Paint: Benjamin Moore; Tables, chairs and barstools: Lorts
Bathroom: Cabinetry: Holiday Kitchens;
Countertops: Cambria; Sinks, faucets, toilets, tub: Kohler; Tile: Florida Tile; Hardware: Colonial Bronze; Lighting: Framburg; Wall treatment: Sheri Zeman; Ottoman: el: Environmental Language
Photography: Nick Novelli, Novelli PhotoDesign; Sasha Fornari
THE KITCHEN AND THE MASTER BATHROOM
Here is a look at the highlights of the beautiful and über-healthy kitchen, designed by Terry Goeke, of Terrell Goeke, Inc., and master bathroom.
In the kitchen, the utmost care was taken to create a healthy environment that was also a beautiful space. The cabinets, which all have no added urea-formaldehyde and come with low-VOC stains and finishes, are topped with natural quartzite, which is non-porous and therefore impermeable to bacterial penetration. The stone is also responsibly harvested, which means that once it is extracted from the ground, the company restores the mining site by filling the quarries with native plants that were there originally. 
[1] The island provides family seating right at the heart of the kitchen. The layout lends itself to family time and, since it’s open to the family room, it’s also great for entertaining. (Photo above: Nick Novelli; below: Sasha Fornari)
[2] The countertop material was specified at 3-in. thick with a mitered edge to create a dramatic look. The designers carried the thickness over to the range area along with a darker finish on the cabinets, which also accents both the island eating area and the range. “The dual finishes added substance to the kitchen,” said Goeke. “When the kitchen is too light I think it lacks drama. The designers had dark wood accents and a dark wood floor throughout the house. The darker finish in the kitchen tied in nicely with it all.”
(Photo: Sasha Fornari)
[3] For safety and environmental reasons, an induction cooktop was chosen. It uses less energy than a gas cooktop, and as soon as the pots are removed, the magnetic surface is no longer hot to the touch, making it a great choice in a home with young children. In addition, a steam oven was specified instead of a microwave because it provides fast cooking in the healthiest way possible. Steam cooking cooks from the outside in, preserving vitamins as well as flavor and juices.
The master bathroom incorporates a palette of earth tones to reflect nature and create an atmosphere of relaxation, while a full glass shower enclosure maintains the open feel. (Photo: Sasha Fornari)
[4] As in the kitchen, the cabinets in the master bath are urea-formaldehyde free and use low-VOC finishes and stains. The floating mirrors at different heights add visual interest to the vanity area. The cabinet hardware used throughout the kitchen is antimicrobial, eliminating germs and the need to use chemicals to kill them.
(Photos: Sasha Fornari)
[5] The detailing on the tub enclosure, which sports an inside and outside edge, adds depth and interest, as does the Greenguard-certified tile.
(Photos: Sasha Fornari)
[6] All paints used are no- or low-VOC and, where appropriate, the fittings are WaterSense-certified and free of lead. In addition, because chrome is manufactured using a toxic process, all of the faucets were specified in nickel. (Photo: Nick Novelli)
Following are photos of other rooms in the house:
(Photo top: Sasha Fornari; bottom three: Nick Novelli)
