Decor News & Product Info .....

Check out my blog to see some great decorating ideas and inspiration      www.designsavvyinteriors.blogspot.com

Here are a couple of  products I found to be quite interesting.....

The Beauty of Natural Slate - 

A new format, an easy application!

Slate is an exotic and unique natural stone that is stately, sturdy, and durable; this earthy stone just exudes warmth. Who doesn’t love slate? The character of slate stone allows it to fit into a traditional design with an informal time worn, classic, old world feel; as well as an upscale rich, sophisticated, sleek look of the refined, modern design of a high-rise. This stone is versatile everywhere.

Slate was formed from clay on ancient seabeds by metamorphism (rock structure changes due to heat and/or pressure). Slate is durable and impervious to heat. It is fire resistant and you don't need to worry about burning or charring your slate countertops. It is a fine grained and non-porous natural stone. It won't absorb water and liquids; slate stone has a lower absorption rate so stains aren't a big concern. It's not generally necessary to seal.

Natural stone has been valued throughout the millennia for its sculptural and architectural qualities.

Slate is commonly used in its rigid form regardless of its application. How many more creative applications could be utilized if it were flexible?? Well this year at the IDS 2010, I visited the booth of Surface Innovation Inc., a company located in Parry Sound, ON who have a unique new surface product - “Flexible Slate Veneer” available for the Canadian market. This product is real slate available in lightweight, flexible veneer sheets.

This product comes in 12 distinctive slate colours and sandstone and is suitable for interior, exterior and wet applications. Slate can be applied to surfaces where it was never before possible. Think about the possibilities in kitchen and bath design, even furniture and curved walls. It can be used on a backsplash, cabinetry, and columns (curved), curved walls, furniture, lighting, signage and feature walls with common adhesives. Certainly we have seen it on some of these applications in its rigid form, however, with the lightweight and flexible nature of the veneer the possibilities are limited only by the imagination.

How is this possible?? This slate veneer is made from slate slabs that are laser cut off the stone surface. The rough split texture is a raw stone surface covering a wide range of the colour pallet. Both natural and quartzite slabs are available.

The Slate Flex veneer product is not only very flexible (approximately 2mm thick) it is also lightweight (approximately ½ lb per sq. Ft) which allows for many creative applications. A standard sheet size is 2’ X 4” and can be processed with standard tools and adhesives. Slate Flex can be cut with tin snips, table saw with carbide or laminate blade, metal shear or wet saw. There are different backings available – standard fibreglass, polyester, fleece and self-adhesive.

The rough stone surface can be treated against contamination with standard stone sealers. With the properties of natural slate being anti-bacterial, stain-resistant, non-absorbent (even with no sealant) and fireproof, this is definitely a low-maintenance and durable product now available at great cost savings. When looking at the transportation cost, fuel and space required in shipping and handling standard stone products, the extreme lightweight property of Slate Flex adds to its desirability of being eco conscious in reducing the carbon footprint.

Surface Innovation Inc has plans to open a showroom and/or warehouse within the GTA sometime in the near future.

Re-purposing Glass - AMMOLITE - Now this is green!!

 This is a relataively new, innovative, color-enhanced, unique and totally green wallcovering.  It is created from woven glass yarns and coloured in a unique eco-friendly process. 

It is 100%  natural

It is mold and mildew resistant                                             

It is breathable                                                                        

It is Class A fire rated 

It is sustainable – you can repaint over it to create new looks 

It is durable, washable and scrubable 

Impact resistant 

No VOC’s  

APPLICATIONS FOR AMMOLITE -  

Applying this material to already painted walls in a different colour adds unlimited and unique looks.   

If you desire a monochromatic scheme, adding this wallcovering to a wall painted the same colour will add elegant texture.  

This product is good for hiding imperfections in plaster. It adds great texture and will hide imperfections in poor plaster walls or ceilings.  

Ammolite is appropriate for commercial as residential applications.  It is hard wearing, can be maintained easily and has good fire rating.

A good solution to cracked ceilings would be to apply this material and disquise the imperfections.  This also assists with less demolition of old plaster and drywall to the the landfill site.  Good for sustainability.  

Another application for this material would be as a backsplash in a kitchen, or to apply to moulded cabinets by painting and applying for a tuscan or country casual style.  This would be an efficient way to update a kitchen without the expense of installing new cabinets, if the cabinets are in good condition.  It would also comply as a sustainable issue in that the cabinets are getting a longer life.  

COMPLIANCE WITH SUSTAINABLE ISSUES  

The ideal product must be made of natural, non-toxic components that are biodegradable – capable of being broken down naturally into environmentally harmless components when relegated to a landfill site.   

1. Ammolite is manufactured using 100% natural – made of glass yarns, renewable and recyclable material – no damage to environment

It is sustainable – you can repaint over it to create new looks  

2. Natural dyes

3. No voc’s

4. Ammolite’s durability  optimizes the lifecycle economic performance.  This in turn reduces costs, especially when used in a commercial setting.  It can also increase the asset value by using this high quality green product.  This would  be especially important in health care facilities where it is now being used.  

5. This sustainable product ultimately saves time and money to end users while conserving our natural resources.  

6. Sustainability also gives the flexibility to renovate in the future without the expense and waste of material removal.  This glass wallcovering is a great example of this and in 2005 won the IIDEX Neocon Innovative Product.