Big Ass Fans

Okay, any manufacturer that has the words "big" and "ass" together in its name proves to be an interesting company to specify. That being said, Big Ass Fans is a great vendor for fan specifications. Contrary to their fans, they have more characteristics than just a "big ass" size.

Element, is designed for sound sensitive areas, with its motor's acoustic output no louder than a whisper. In addition to this feature, the complex electrical wiring monitors electrical consumption, the balance of the fan, and the temperature of the room. They are specified with industrial grade bearings that they claim will withstand the test of time.

The patented airfoil and wingtip aerodynamic design help stabilize air control to assist in a more cost efficient heating and cooling expenses.

This fan system allows for some cool and innovative extras such as speaker systems, surveillance cameras, smoke detectors, and more. All features can be easily controlled by an LCD remote installed into the wall.

Standard sizes are 12', 14', 16', 18', and 20' foot in diameter. Nine colors are able to be specified, with custom colorization available at an upcharge.

Ten year non-prorated warranty covers the LCD remote, onboard electric, and prime mover, with certain exclusions. Standard warranty for Element fan is 5 years with a factory installation.

It received a Green Product Award in 2009. However, there was no further information on how it received this award - I speculate that it is because of the cost efficiency. However, I could not find any information on the installation or its testing procedures.

Technical specs found here.

Liri America

Liri America is a laminate manufacturer line that has some great selections.

The sheet sizes come 51" x 120" with a thickness of .035". In addition to many solid colors and natural patterns, they also offer the option to print customers' graphics. One's choice in pattern affects the application (vertical or horizontal) as well as the finish. With a wide selection of finishes, giving a textural look, wood grain, metallic aesthetic, mosaic design, and more, clients have plenty of options.

Construction consists of a core of variable thickness obtained with kraft paper treated with phenolic thermoplastic resins. One or two decorative sides made with cellulose paper impregnated with thermoset melamine resins, which give the surface resistance typical of laminates. They are pressed for over an hour at a 100 kg/cm2 pressure and at a temperature on the paper above 130°C. Then, the surface finish is embossed in the laminate through patterned steel press-plates.

Furthermore, these high pressure laminates can be divided into two main families: Thin laminates with a sanded back, which can be glued onto a variety of surfaces: particleboard, plywood, MDF, hardboard and laminates with two decorative faces, thicker and self-supporting.

Liri has issued an Environmental statement claiming to be making strides towards a greener environment. They have been diligently working with the Environmental Management System to develop products and finishes that reduce the thermal power from waste, along with purchasing local materials for construction.

Liri recommends are clients and installers practice safety procedures when handling their product, and they have taken extra measurements to outline them here.

These products have undergone many tests, and here are the results.

Cleaning and maintenance instructions are here. The website also has quite extensive information on shipping, storage, handling, and installation here.

Surface Works

I've seen folding tables and folding chairs, but at last year's Neocon Surface Works introduced a new take on this concept with chairs and tables that fold together cutting the space required in half!

The Zii/Drive won a Best of Neocon 2009 Gold award for this novel furniture combination. Both the Drive flip top table and Zii chair come separate and as a set. It also comes in a Mini Zii/Drive pair to allow for easily arranged classroom settings. The great characteristic of this set is that they are detachable as well.

The Drive tables come standard with casters (with brakes) to allow for easy movement and space planning. They have the capability to be wired for data and electricity (with an optional wire management brackets), providing your clients with many uses for these tables.

Not only are they folding tables, but they also have the ability to nest within one another cutting down space even more. They feature joining hardware to string rows of tables together at once. Average 6 chairs fit for 60" - 72" tables.

Fabric or laminate modesty panels are available for function and design purposes, and its arched chrome legs offer a unique aesthetic to the typical chair/table construction.

Standard finishes are specified through the graded-in programs offered on the website or COM pricing with a testing approval. They come with various edge types as well. Zii chairs come standard with polypropylene seat and back making maintenance very easy. A leather upgrade is available as well. Table top cleaning is determined by the laminate manufacturer.

The chairs and tables come separately, yet when they are put away - one folds the table, folds the chair, hooks the chair on the rail on the table, and nests the batch together to conserve space.

All SurfaceWorks tables are available for specifications in GreenWorks materials in ABS, bamboo, wood, urethane edges, linoleum tops, and NAUF (No Added Urea-Formaldehyde) substrate.

It has received awards and certifications from the following alliances: FSC, EPP, CHPS School Member, and USGBC Member.

Kova Textiles

Kova Textiles is a manufacturer that offers fabrics and window coverings. They have also paired with Veritas to provide a line of ResinArt translucent fabric weaved panels (of 9 patterns) to be sandwiched in between two pieces of resin for architectural applications.

Since the website has little to no information about anything specific, I was planning to just talk about the whole vendor's collection, offerings, etc.

Their fabrics are thin weaved sheers for window coverings, roman shades, panel tracks, as well as room dividers. Despite the entire collection being very dense in its composition, the manufacturer does recommend upholstery application in commercial and residential areas.

The new Krystal Weave SatinFR collection, slightly thicker in construction and resembling a crystalline basket weave with organic curves in the 8 patterns, is new to the manufacturer designed by Libby Kowalski. This is an ideal collection for scrims, panel track systems, upholstery and window applications.

Krystal Sheer with 5 patterns offers a weaving technique with colored threads giving the pattern an interesting dynamic.

Krystal Weave is similar to its successor, yet it has a thinner construction, offering for a brilliant sheer design in 6 patterns with an incredibly complex threading. Perhaps, the SatinFR is recommended for upholstery because it is thicker, the original Weave is dense and appears to be used for architectural and window applications.

They have won awards through Neocon and ADEX. No sustainable information or installation/technical specs were available on the website.

Contact information:
Kova Textiles - NY
212.254.7591
info@kovatextiles.com

Skyline Design

Skyline Design is an architectural glass manufacturer with some beautiful patterns. In addition to the glass panels, they also have a wide selection of mirrors to choose from.

VitraColor is a new innovative glass paint coating system. This product is low-VOC enamel with a tough durable surface and an unlimited color selection (including metallic finishes and color customization). The PPG Starphire finish allows for color consistency and control, this color matching formula also results in identical colored glass panels regardless of the quantity.

Within the collection, Vitracolor H20 offers an environmentally friendly glass coating application. Applications include interior wall cladding, backsplashes, surface installations, and many more.

It can be used as a marker surface to serve as a decorative and functional backdrop for meetings, study groups, and programming. It is also quite easy to clean. In addition to this function, it can be specified with a magnetic surface to hold notes, pictures, and many more while functioning as a drawing board too.

By default, Vitracolor is manufactured with 100% tempered safety glass unless otherwise specified. Because of safety requirements, Skyline Design glass panels are able to have holes and notches drilled upon request.

Even though the color options are plenty and the color consistency is impeccable, Skyline recommends for the truest color representation to specify on low iron glass.

The thicknesses are 1/4", 3/8", 1/2" gauges. The limits on sheet size end at 72" x 144". VitraColor is available for specification with plate, laminated, and safety tempered glass.

VitraColor meets all standard safety requirements, and the manufacturer offers a 4 year warranty for interior applications and 2 year warranty for exterior applications.

Although it is available for indoor and outdoor applications, no installation documents could be found on the website. Since it is glass, it can be speculated to have a high cost, but no pricing was revealed either. Lastly, no testing or maintenance information can be found on the website as well.

Carnegie

Carnegie Fabrics highlighted their wallcovering collection with "Xorel" previewed in the April issue of Interiors and Sources. This collection features 100% Xorel, which is 100% sustainable, high performance, PVC Free material.

Katagami Graphic 6739W pictured above in W109, has 3 other colorways (custom colors are also available). It costs $54/yard. They require a 50 yard minimum for orders, anything less will result in a $3/yard upcharge.

It comes in a width of 52", with a repeat of 25.25" long.

It has been fire rated by the NFPA 260 test and qualifies for use in Class A and Class 1 Areas under the ASTM E84. It also passed the NFPA 265 Room Corner Test.

This pattern has great durability, which allows it to qualify for heavy duty contract use after passing the Wyzenbeek Abrasion Test ASTM D4157 with no wear after 200,000 double rubs.

It also has a ton of Earth-friendly extras (which contribute to LEED points), such as an Anti-Bacterial finish and extremely low VOCs; it is free of PVC, Chlorine, Plasticizers, Heavy Metals, Ozone-Depleting Chemicals, Topical Finishes, and Dioxin. It is safely disposable, preventing lifetime in a landfill.

In addition to LEED points, the pattern is Cradle 2 Cradle certified by MBDC as well as SCS Indoor Advantage Gold Certified.

The cleaning methods are not on the website, and the simple installation method revealed is that the pattern's backing is paperbacked for direct application wallcovering.

Bentley Prince Street

Bentley Prince Street is a carpet manufacturer that has some pretty cool patterns. One interesting thing that I saw on the website, was that they have a new creation called Modloom™, which is a combination of modular tile and broadloom carpet. They come in rectangular planks, 50 centimeter by 1 meter, which offers more options like patterns such as herringbone, parquet or ashlar.

The pattern (style number 4LR220620R) above is called Lake Street 4LR22, in the color No Seatbelts 400950. It comes in 12 colorways total.

In addition to the modloom tile size 19.69 in x 39.38 in, it comes in a 12' broadloom format.

It has a fiber content of Aquafil Alto Chroma® solution dyed nylon. Its backing options are High PerformancePC™, Prestige PlusRC™, Optimum Barrier™ II, Optimum BarrierRC™ II Cushion, and NexStep® Cushion Tile.

Its construction is made of tufted textured loop. It has many finishes: a soil/stain protection and an antimicrobial Intersept® layer, and it also has a secondary backing of High PerformancePC™.

Its yarn weight is 22 oz/yd² and with a machine gauge of 1/12 in. It has three pile heights: high: .2 in, medium .14 in, and low .08 in. The stitches appear ever 8.7". The pile density is 6514 with a thickness of .28. It has a size of 12'. Its pattern repeats every 24" w x 43 11/16" l.

The pattern has passed a Radiant Panel Class 1 test (ASTM E648) for Critical Radiant Flux. It is DM Corrected for Smoke Density. It passed the static test (AATCC - 134) < 3.5 KV. It also passed the Methenamine Pill Test (DOC-FF1-70) for flammability.

I could not find any environmental information on the site, but there are plenty of documents regarding installation, warranties, and maintenance. Installation information can be found here. Warranty information can be found here. Cleaning instructions can be found here. The website also allows you to access the factory's inventory for a specific pattern and colorway.

Juxtaform

Juxtaform is a really cool company with architectural elements! Their "Space Articulators" are used to define, reconfigure, or highlight interior space. Cost-effective and simple to use, these fire-retardant stretched fabric panels are available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors.

These modular stretched fabric panels divide a space, soften hard surfaces, screen for privacy, assist with lighting control, create alternative ceilings and walls, separate a large space, create a focal point, and dramatize a setting.

They have been applied in office interiors, signature corporate spaces, cultural facilities, studios and galleries, exhibits and events, stage sets, public buildings, upscale retail environments, and restaurants.

They come in a variety of more than 30 colors, including their new "Eco-White" color which is an eco-friendly fabric made from 90% recycled material (postindustrial waste and post-consumer plastic bottles - conserving 61,000 BTUs of energy/yd). Colored lighting may also effect appearance of color in panel.

The fabric content consists of a Polyester/Lycra blend at a weight of 5.6 oz.

They have been determined permanently flame resistant, according to its fire rating by the ASTME84, class A and NFPA 701 small scale tests (as well as European B1 codes).

Simple maintenance applies - wash with warm water, no bleach, tumble dry in dryer on a synthetic setting (if applicable). Wash all dark colors separately.

All shapes and sizes in the catalog are determined by stretched and flattened panel, which may result in smaller appearance when installed.

The Space Articulators are recommended for interior use only. Graphic logos may also be screen-printed on panels, determined by testing with special ink for stretch-polyester fabrics.

Lead times are 3-4 weeks by UPS or Fed-Ex, and the product is sold only to the trade through the online catalog. They are shipped with all necessary hardware for your desired application: the stainless steel hooks (enough for each point) and a UV-resistant monofilament.

Space Articulators are very simple to install, and the manufacturer requires the standard carpenter’s tools. There is no need for a Juxtaform-specialized installer. The installation diagrams and information provided at the links below should be sufficient for most installers.

Installation and specification information can be found here and here.

CaesarStone

CaesarStone had a new collection called "Motivo" featured in Interiors & Sources. Unfortunately, there is very little information and only a few pictures available on the website, so I'm highlighting aspects from the entire CaesarStone collection.

The two pictures are from the Motivo collection, which demonstrates textures in wall and countertop applications (Crocodile 3100C above and Lace 2141L below).

Motivo is a highly visual and tactile architectural experience. This product line is the world's first quartz surface with a textured look and feel. This line features a brilliant, patented new technology to apply an embossed effect to a variety of surfaces. Motivo makes a stylish statement with its patterned finishes, shown Lace and Crocodile. Motivo is nonporous (as are many quartz surfaces), easy to care for and appropriate for numerous applications, including wall paneling, custom-made furniture, kitchen countertops, vanity tops and more.

CaesarStone is comprised of 93% natural quartz (with many lines offering recycled content) and has earned the ISO 9001 Certification. It claims to have a lifetime warranty, as long as you own your home - but some conditions apply.

Since the quartz surface is nonporous, cleaning is very simple. Most often, soap and water or a mild detergent are all that are needed.

CaesarStone has many attractive characteristics: it is stain-resistant, scratch-resistant, resistant to most chemicals and heat, crack-resistant, low maintenance, nonabsorbent, nonporous, mold-resistant, mildew-resistant, and color consistent.

With a variety of color and pattern options and edge profiles, CaesarStone allows for much customization to make one's project unique - they offer a visual texture, and with the Motivo collection, a tactile texture. Three finishes are available with the standard quartz lines: polished, honed (matte), and textured.

NSF safety certified to prevent bacterial growth since it is naturally nonporous. It has also been awarded the Good Housekeeping® Seal, the standard in consumer product excellence. All CaesarStone products are certified as a low-VOC product, meeting Greenguard’s Indoor Air Quality standards for chemical emissions for commercial sensitive environments.

Further information, regarding technical specs - including installation, can be found here.

Xander Blue

One day at work, I received a postcard for a company called Xander Blue, and not long after I fell in love with this creative manufacturer!

These glass panels are featured in a wide variety of applications: bed frames, desks, bars, tables, benches, and even vanities (pictured above). Each piece is colored and fabricated glass fused with high-tech construction fit for commercial and residential use. Each piece of glass is also custom made by the glass designer Andrew Ramsgard.

Costs are not available through the website, one must contact the manufacturer. Lead times depend on size of order, availability of materials, order confirmation, and deposit payment, but generally products arrive within 8-12 weeks after order processing.

Assembly of product is required once received but installation is not included. They recommend obtaining their "White Glove" delivery and installation services, which has a certified installer familiar with the product. Prices for this optional service vary depending on order size and delivery location.

No cleaning nor sustainability information could be found on the website. Although the manufacturer says it has been rated for both residential and commercial use, there was no testing information on the website. Further specification on the individual items, such as product codes and dimensions can be found on the website.

**The vanity was a custom item and does not have a product code on the website.**

Contact info:
* Xander Blue
* P.O. Box 798 Skaneateles New York 13152
* Tel 315.685.1092
* Fax 315.685.0267
* Email: info@xanderblue.com

Unika Vaev Textiles

Unika Vaev is actually a pretty nice fabric company despite its complicated name.

From the Europa Collection, the pattern above is called 639 Champagne, depicted in the colorway 39 Crystal. There are 10 color ways total in this polyrayon jacquard upholstery pattern. The pattern repeat is every 5.25" x 10.5".

The price per yard is $48, with a 10.96 oz/yard on a 54" wide bolt.

Its fabric grade is C within the company, which determines quality and pricing of the fabric. It is composed of 100,000+ Wyzenbeek double rubs. Its composition is made of 78% polyester and 27% rayon.

The finish on the pattern is a NanoBlok with BioAM, but you are able to specify any type of finish desired at an upcharge. The only problem with this finish is that it may result in fabric shrinkage when being processed, so they estimate that you should at least add 10% (depending on your order size) to account for this. There is also an option for a soil resistant finish, which is at an upcharge upon specification.

The maintenance of the fabric is not so simple to maintain the lifetime of the fabric. They recommend frequent vacuuming and dusting before it builds up in the fibers of the fabric. Spills must be blotted up immediately. Water-based liquids can be spot cleaned with soap and water. Oil-based stains should be quickly cleaned with a non-aqueous spot dry cleaner. Of course, they recommend professional cleaning should be used regularly to ensure the maximum life span of the fabric.

All fabrics have been tested to comply with the CAL 117 flammability test. Some specific fabrics have been more stringently, but all fabrics (upon request) can be durably tested to pass: Port Authority of NY and NJ Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards #302 Boston Fire Code FAR.25.853b. It can also be composed to meet the CAL 133 and NY/NJ Port Authority assembly tests. All further testing comes with a notarized certificate.

Lead times are 7-10 business days.

Luna Textiles

Luna Textiles is a great fabric company, if you can get through the tedious website. Similar to the design of the Unika Vaev website - seen in an earlier entry. The website requires that you select patterns individually, rather than looking at the whole manufacturer's fabric offering. It takes a good time for each pattern to load... so it was quite frustrating.

I digress... thankfully, I found a nice pattern close to the beginning of the list.



Boutique, pictured above in color Turtle SBO-3014, is a part of the Suite 280 collection designed by Jean Orlebeke made of 71% cotton and 29% nylon. It comes, like many other fabrics in a 54" w run. Its pattern repeat is 27 1/4" x 28 3/8".

It has 6 total colorways, and it offers custom color options with a minimum order of 60 yards.

It has passed the CAL 117 E flame-retardancy test. It has been heavy duty durability rated for 60,000 double-rubs as a result of the ASTM D 4157-02 test.

Since the site was so difficult to manage, I was unable to find any installation or maintenance information on the fabric. There is a sustainable promise, but no information on what they plan to do to this commitment.

Shaw Commercial Hardwood

Shaw Contract Group offers a nice variety of commercial and residential flooring - carpet, vinyl, and hardwood.

I found a nice birch hardwood at the website. Style Modern Birch CA246, pictured in the Olive 00502 colorway above, comes in only one other color Kohl. The olive color has a medium color variation.

Its species is birch, with a 4.5" handscraped birch description. It's grain variation is medium with no edge profile. It has a low gloss/sheen finish with Shaw's commercial-grade aluminum oxide. Its construction consists of 5-ply engineered piece with an all hardwood core.

The planks come 4.5" x 10"-42". It has a total thickness of 1/2" with a wear layer thickness .0984". When purchased, it comes 18.30 sq ft/carton.

Its installation consists of three methods: glue down, nail down, and float suitable for all grade levels. However, they recommend using Shaw's Urethane Adhesive for the glue down procedure and Shaw's Silent Step Ultra and Shaw's Tongue and Groove Adhesive for the float procedure.

Its testing consists of a hardness factor (psi) which was rated 1863 and a radiant panel rated class 1.

It has a 10 year limited commercial warranty as well as a lifetime commercial warranty.

Its environmental factors of this product include the Cradle 2 Cradle silver certified program, GreenGuard certified for children and schools, and Lacey ACT Compliant as a North American species.

Interface FLOR

Interface FLOR is a great flooring company, since they are working diligently to fight flooring going straight to a landfill. They are making active strides towards a greener environment.

Sew Retro 12329 in Shadow/Pink 9021 (one of 7 colors) is a modular tile carpet with tufted cut and loop construction. Since it is modular tile, it is versatile in its installation for four layout options: ashlar, brick, non-directional, and quarter turn.

It has a soil/stain protection barrier called Protekt²® with an antimicrobial treatment (AATCC 138 Washed) (AATCC 174 Parts 2&3) Intersept®.

Its yarn system was a Post-Consumer Content Type 6¸6 Nylon with a universal yarn manufacturer. It is 100% solution-dyed.

Its total recycled content is 67%, 33% post-industrial content and 34% post-consumer content.

The product specifications are as follows: 24 oz/sq yard tufted yarn weight with a machine gauge of 5/64". The pile height is .18" with a .145" thickness and a 5959 pile density. The stitches are every 11.83". Each tile comes in a 19.69" x 19.69".

This Shaw product has undergone so many tests. It is Green Label Plus Certified #GLP0820 for Indoor Air Quality and also has a NSF-140 Platinum rating for a Sustainable Carpet Assessment Standard. It has passed the ASTM E-648 Class 1 radiant panel test, ASTM E-662 smoke density panels, AATCC 16-E for lightfastness, and a AATCC-134 with a < 3.0 KV rating for the static test.

Other than the fact that its standard backing is GlasBac® RE Tile or its variety of layouts, there was not much installation information.

The website offers options for coordinating colors and the option to calculate LEED points for a client's project.

Installation seen below:

Lumicor

Lumicor is another manufacturer that offers architectural resin panels, similar to 3-Form.

The pattern is standard recycled glass in the color Ruby. There are 12 total colorways. It comes with a standard gloss finish, but other finish options are available dependent on specification. The glass panel is 75% opaque, with a 25% visibility factor. The pattern of the glass is non directional.

It is available in thicknesses from 1/16" to 1". It comes in three panel sizes, standard 48" x 96" and oversized 48" x 120" and 59" x 120". Oversized panels are not available in 3/4" or 1" gauges.

The glass has been certified by the R4 Recycled Glass certification. These panels are embedded with glass aggregate that is 98%-100% recycled post-industrial content or post-consumer content. This glass aggregate is composed of crushed bottles, plates, windows, and other recycled glass products. Because of this nature, each panel offers for a natural variation and direction of the pattern and composition. Also this may account for slight discrepancies in color, size, shape, and density.

There are many additional options that are available for specification. ChemShield™ offers a barrier used to increase chemical resistance. Illume™ provides a soft light
diffusion. Markerboard is a layer that can be added for nonpermanent markings to be made on the surface with dry erase markers. Opaque™ is a vinyl backing to create a fully opaque panel. UV Block™ has an additional layer of protection from ultraviolet light and keeps panels and embedded décor from fading.

Although it was listed under price group "D", which I imagine is not cheap because of the material it is made of, there was no installation or maintenance information available.

Allermuir

Allermuir is a fun furniture company that has many modern options for all projects.

The Lola chair comes in three styles - A820, which has a swivel base, A821, with a four legged frame base, and A822, a sofa. It also has a coordinating table A823. This collection was designed by German Wolfgang C. R. Mezger.

The dimensions are all in metric units, 745h, 770w, 670d, seat height of 440 - which translate to 2'4" high, 2'6" wide, 2'2" deep, and a seat height of 1'4", (standard to example chair A820).

Frames can be finished in EPPC from a list of standard finishes or chrome plated.
Upholstery is available in a wide range of fabrics and leather. Swivel bases are
available in polished chrome only.

Beyond this information, there was little else disclosed about this chair. No testing results, no installation or maintenance info... I was disappointed by that.

Tandus

I found a carpet backing at Tandus, and I was intrigued about how it could offer the durability of stiff carpet but have the style, feel, and aesthetics of soft carpet.

Powerbond - not only combines the durability of hard-surface flooring with the appearance and style of a soft surface. It was originally fabricated for education and healthcare environments, but it has evolved to be included in retail, corporate, and hospitality as well.

There are four types of cushions - ER3, ethos, standard cushion, and condensed cushion.

The ER3 Cushion contains 39 to 52% overall recycled content (10% post consumer content). Its construction consists of a 100% closed-loop recyclable in its existing recycling process. Not only has it been SCS Certified, but its molecularly bound seams also make this product impermeable to moisture.


The Ethos carpet backing contains 76% recycled content, from non-chlorinated thermoplastic polymer recovered from car windshields and safety glass. These products have traditionally gone directly to a landfill, but Tandus is striving to avoid this path for products with their "Leave No Trace" program. This product has the lowest environmental impact of all, according to BEES 4.0 Life Cycle Analysis software. Its construction is also 100% recyclable in the existing closed loop recycling process.

The standard Powerbond cushion is engineered to bond the yarn of the carpet. It consists of backing and dry adhesive in a single structure to ensure the best durability. Its six-foot structured backing has a warranty of 25 years, which they have said is three times the life expectancy of a typical carpet allowing you to get more bang for your buck. Its construction is 100% closed-loop recyclable in our existing recycling process. Molecularly bound seams make this product impermeable to moisture.

Lastly, the Powerbond Condensed Cushion has been fabricated for high-traffic performance for excellent rollability. Its six-foot structured backing has a warranty of 25 years, just as the standard cushion has. And its construction is 100% closed-loop recyclable in the existing recycling process. Molecularly bound seams make this product impermeable to moisture.

Surprisingly there was no information regarding fire ratings or installation. With as much information as I could find about each of the products, I figured that there would be a lot of information, but I assume that it is because the product is fairly new.

Crossville Ceramics

Crossville Ceramics has this really cool collection called Ultimetal, which combines the durability of ceramic and the aesthetics of metal! This collection won the Interior Design Magazine award for Best of Floorcovering: Tile and Stone for 2009.

The tile is availale in sheet sizes available in 24" x 24", 12" x 24", 6" x 24", 12" x 12", as well as a 12" x 12" sheet of 2" mosaics. Its construction has rectified edges. With five solid colors and three coordinating 12 x 24 patterned pieces (Listello: Grey MTLB3.11224 pattern shown above), this collection is very versatile.

The Schluter Systems Coordinating Custom Coordinating Metal Trim, available in 6 options, allows for the best installation of your Crossville Ceramics application.

Maintenance: Regular cleaning is the best way to keep UltiMetal tile's best appearance. The manufacturer recommends using clean, hot water (combined with a household cleaner for aggressive cleaning)and rinsing thoroughly and drying with a soft cloth to prevent water spots. No waxes or sealers are needed. Further information regarding cleaning can be found on the company's website.

Testing information, as it has plenty of it, can be found here.

B + N Industries

I have already looked at B + N's wall panels, but I wanted to take a look at their other products. They have these Graphic Cubes with a company's logo on it that help to highlight the product in a little spotlight and drive sales. They come in sizes of 22" h x 14" w or 30" h x 14" w and are available with customer-provided graphics used for inserts or without.

The frame is composed of brushed stainless steel with inserts for graphics. Graphics must be a minimum of 1/8" thickness to be supported fully in the frame. Levelers are at the bottom of the frame to add extra support to the piece. The 22" cube can support up to 80 lbs of product, and the 30" cube can support up to 60 lbs.

Additional options included powder coat and mirror-polished steel frame finishes, as well as the option to illuminate the graphic cubes with color changing LED lights or fluorescent bulbs.

The 22" h is the 320001-010 is $236 list, and the 30" h is the 320002-010 is $256 list.

No maintenance or installation information could be found for this product.

Architex

I am a total retro nerd to the core in terms of style, music, and especially design so when I saw an ad in Contract magazine that Architex created this new 60s Pop collection called "Summer of Love" - I had to check it out!

Low and behold, I found a fun and funky upholstery pattern inspired by the Beatles' album Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. I am such a huge Beatles fan, so this was right up my alley!



The pattern, appropriately dubbed - Sgt Salt N Pepper, has 4 colorways all inspired by songs on the album - "Lucy", "Sky", "Sub", and "Rita" (pictured above).

The pattern is 54" wide, and it repeats every 14" x 15.5". The pattern is not railroaded, but its fabric weight is 1200 lbs. It is 100,000 double rubs which complies with standard commercial durability.

It contains 52% polyester, 44% acrylic, and 4% nylon. The front finish is Nano-Tex while the back is protected with Dura Block shield.

I have not been lucky to find any installation information on this fantastic fabric, but I do have some technical specs. It has undergone the AATAC 16 test for lightfastness, being rated for 40 hours of light exposure before color fades. It has been fire tested by the CAL 117 TB and UFAC Class 1.

It was rated W for cleaning code, which was not explained, but from what I've seen from other maintenance information on fabric sites is light spot cleaning with soap and water.

Now that there's a fabric inspired by the Beatles, think of all the other bands left to conquer the world of Interior Design! :)

Arborite

Arborite is a high pressure laminate manufacturer, similar to Wilsonart, Abet Laminati, Formica, and Lamin-art.

Sheet sizes come 4' x 8', 4' x 10', 5' x 8', 5' x 10', 5' x 12', 30" x 8', 30" x 10', and 30" x 12'.

Wired Copper P-349 (pictured above) comes in the following finishes: Cashmere CA, Diamond DI, Laqwood LQ, and Velvatex VL. These finishes are available in all sizes.

The Gloss GL finish is only available in sizes 4' x 8', 4' x 10', and 5' x 12'.

The French Polish FP finish is only available in sizes 4' x 8', 5' x 12', 30" x 8', 30" x 10', and 30" x 12'.

This product comes in three grades: A3 - which has a 0.028" gauge, A4 - which has a thickness of 0.039", and A5 - which has a 0.045" thickness. However, A5 is not recommended for applications requiring postforming.

They've passed many tests - and are GreenGuard IAQ certified. They offer LEED points for CI, NC, and Leed for Schools 2007.

Maintenance instructions here. And everything you ever wanted to know about installation, fabrication, and adhesive is all located here in Arborite's technical guides.

Coalesse

Coalesse is a really cool manufacturer with neat seating. Pictured above is their EMU chair from their Re-Trouvé Collection designed by Italian furniture designer Patricia Urquiola. The designer says she was inspired by merging the present with the past - creating a sense of nostalgia from the 50s with the curls and spirals, mixed with a modern innovation and fabrication.

The basic list price begins at $1,135.

Other items that are apart of the Re-Trouvé collection include other chairs, poufs, and vases. This Emu chair is available for indoor and outdoor use, provided the right cushions and fabric are specified.

There are a multitude of powder coat colors are available, some even specific just to this collection. And the fabric options are plenty too, with their COM/COL program including Steelcase fabrics, Designtex, Maraham, and Luna.

It has received the Gold Certification for SCS Indoor Advantage.

They are working towards making their company more sustainable. They try to select the best materials that are able to be recycled at the end of their life cycle. But for the materials that are not they are working with Steelcase, their parent company to renew the life cycle of all products so none end up in a landfill. This chair is 100% recyclable, and they contain 34% recycled content (24% post-consumer, 10% pre-consumer). They offer LEED points from CI, NC, and EB.

No information regarding maintenance was found, nor fabric installation or chair fabrication - it doesn't say if the chairs come fully assembled or knockdown.

Aceray

Aceray is a great furniture manufacturer. They offer so many interesting and modern options! I am using one of their barstools for my convenience store project.

The #683SWIV Counter Stool, pictured above, is an upholstered swivel counter stool with a brushed or polished stainless steel column base. This chair design came from Studio Tipi.

The dimensions are as follows: 35.5" high, 20" depth, 19.5" width, and with a 24" seat height.

They offer 26 vinyl fabric options, as well as a COM/COL option for variety from Garrett Leather, Pugi, Designtex, Maharam, and GS-Tessuti. In addition to the two finishes on the steel base, they also offer additional finish options on large orders for an upcharge.

All Aceray products have been tested and rated based on the CAL117 and CAL133 technical bulletins. They have a 5 year warranty available for interior products and 3 year warranty for exterior products.

The maintenance instructions are simple. None the furniture should be in direct contact with any chemically reactive and substantially unsuitable objects of the horizontal surface, nor should it be placed in direct sunlight. Remove dust with a soft, clean and dry duster. A damp cloth should remove all dirt (dependent on the fabric specified), but they recommend that you strictly adhere to the label instructions for use of the cleaning agent.

The care for the base is the same as well. They recommend cleaning the base with a small amount of plain water and a clean cloth. If soap is needed, they recommend using mild dishwashing liquid. In the removal of smudges or fingerprints, glass cleaner should be used. For staining or scratching or dull polish, a stainless steel cleaner should be used, which help minimize scratching and remove stains. Be sure to rinse thoroughly and towel dry.

Joel Berman Glass Studio

Joel Berman Glass has some really cool product.

One of their products - "Esto" has a pattern with multidimensional, random, horizontal forms across a lightly brushed background. The pattern suggests direction, and the company offers glazing for the customer's specification.

The sizes are custom to a client's order, but the maximum panel size available is 80" X 132". The repeat of the pattern appears every 27".

The thickness comes in 5/32", 1/4", 5/16", and 3/8".

The natural color available is clear, but custom options are available. They recommend you contact the local distributor for details on your specific application or fabrication, who is Bob Larson in Houston, TX at blarson@craftsmanfab.com / 713.353.5800.

Many safety and security treatment options are available, such as tempered, laminate, tempered and laminate, and insulated.

The finish options include curve (bend), shape (cut), drill, notch, slump, carve, sandblast, and colored. The edge finish options are arris, mitre, flat machine polish.

I could not find any information on installation or maintenance on the website.

Kravet

Kravet is a great company - they offer furniture, upholstery, carpet, trimmings, and much more.



The pattern above is called Token 30472, color Onyx 81 (above - but offers 4 color options in this pattern). The rolls come 54" wide, and they are graded for commercial use with a heavy duty 42,000 double rubs. The furniture grade is 0011 with a horizontal half drop. The pattern repeat is every 2.5" x 4.5".

It is manufactured and shipped within the US, so lead times are usually swift. It has a Teflon finish, and it complies with all requirements of the CAL #117 test. The contents include 62% polyester and 38% cotton.

Maintenance includes spot cleaning with soap and water. Installation varies dependent on application.

Ceilume

Ceilume is a cool vinyl ceiling tile manufacturer. They are similar to Armstrong, offering both Commercial and Residential applications. All of their products are 100% recyclable, preventing its future in a landfill.

The pattern above is called Petal. It comes in 6 colors: sand, white, black, merlot, latte, and even translucent (for assisting in light distribution). It comes in standard sizes of 24" x 24" and 24" x 48".

This pattern is a part of the Feather-Light Series, which is intended for a grid mount installation (on a standard 1" suspended t-bar drop ceiling grid). However, for partial or irregular grid installations, they recommend edge trim be specified as well. It weighs .34 lbs, and it has a gauge of .013" thickness.

The ceiling tiles (with grid mount installation) have 3 profiles available: projected profile (tile features project below the ceiling or grid), recessed profile (tile features are recessed up above the grid) or hybrid profile (some tile features project below the grid and some tile features are recessed above).

The tile is Class A Fire Rated, which means it is designed to be used under lighting fixtures and sprinkler systems rated for heat up to 165°F. The website claims that their tile is also the first and only ceiling tile to ever receive the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute's Indoor Air Quality Certification and Children & Schools Product Certification.

This particular grid mount installation will not absorb water or stain from exposure to moisture even in the most humid of conditions. They can also be painted before or after installation, should you desire to paint it, however painting the tiles void the fire rating. Should you paint it, you should avoid solvent type paint thinners and cleaners. Maintenance is fairly easy. They suggest wiping ceiling tiles with a soft, damp rag. They claim that there is no risk of water damage during cleaning nor any need for professional cleaning and resurfacing to prevent environmental and aesthetic problems.

The pricing begins at $7.95 (for a basic white tile) for a set of 5 - for the additional options, pricing starts at $8.95 for a set of 5. With a high quantity purchase of more ceiling tiles, the price lowers. For instance, 1200 ceiling tiles costs $3.35 for white and $3.95 for color.

The recommended commercial installation is a school, office, or any other use that may introduce interest in a space through a unique ceiling tile.

Installation guide can be found here.

The website shows installations of the Petal ceiling tile here.

Livinglass

I know other students have looked at Livinglass for their blogs, and I had to check it out. In addition to my studio project, I've been shopping around materials for my Clue project.

I really liked the Kimono pattern for use as glass panels to serve as a room divider.



Apart of the Folio collection, the Kimono pattern comes in 8 colorways (Black Bronze pictured above), but custom colors are also available. It comes in the following options, luxe (an all glass pattern with materials laminated in between two layers), light (the 100% recycled resin and glass), and curve (an option that allows for curves).

Kimono is made to order in custom lengths up to 9' and widths up to 5'. Anything over 32 square feet will be an upcharge. They do not offer anything beyond 40 square feet. Thicknesses range between 3/4", 7/8", and 1 1/8".

They have 3 resin colors available in their Light collection: clear, mist, and cloud. But the only finish available for Luxe is clear, shown.

The safety rating is ANSI Z-97.1, 16 CFR 1201. C II - which qualifies as impact resistant safety glass. They have a fire rating of Class 1, Class A for all gauges.

Luxe is the application that I am interested in using. Additional information about this specific type of product includes UV, water, and chemical resistance. As well antimicrobial and sanitation. It resists scratching, fading, and discoloration.

Applications include interior partitions, exterior walls, hanging ceilings, doors, furniture, shower, flooring, stairs, safety railings, water features, lighting, countertops, sterile surfaces, backsplashes, cabinet doors, and signage.

Since the panels are custom made to your specifications, pricing is subject to client's desired application, size, and material.

I could not find any information regarding installation or specific hardware requirements.

Raydoor

I like Raydoor a lot for its room dividing/panel door systems... however, this will be a very general entry because there are SOOO many options available with this company, it is hard to limit them to just a few paragraphs!

The first step is to pick out a system. How do you want your room to be divided? Single sliding? Double? Bypassing doors? Sliding walls? Bifolds? Stacking doors? Pivot doors? Fixed panels? Or blank doors that come with no system or hardware? A complete list of options are here.

The next step is to choose your frame. They come in high pressure laminate options (10 selections) or real wood veneer options (4 selections).

Third, you need to pick your panel finish. The standard is a frosted acrylic panel, but they offer options including clear/transparent, opal frosted (which offers maximum privacy), and oyster linen, beach grass, and search light which offer patterns including real materials pressed into the panel's layers and even a layer of glass.

Next, you need to select if you would like a special frame design. They offer 5 unique options, which include anywhere from multiple horizontal bars to creative (and custom) patterns on the panel itself (shown above).

Lastly, you choose your hardware - locks, latches, door pulls, hinges, and even your tracks. All necessary hardware is included with your Raydoor purchase, specified for your intended application.

Recyclable content information as well as LEED information is available here.

Installation guides are individual to specific systems, link posted above.

Hive Modern

So, it is not an actual manufacturer (they are technically an online distributor), but I love Hive Modern!

They bring together a whole batch of popular manufacturers of furniture, accessories, lighting, and more with an emphasis on 1960s and contemporary design. So it is obvious that they have a wide variety of interesting pieces from great designers such as Florence Knoll, Arne Jacobsen (love the Egg and Swan chairs!), Pierre Paulin, and many more!



One of the coolest chairs that I saw on the website was the Living Tower, designed by furniture designer Vernen Panton in 1968. They are manufactured in Germany by Vitra.

Available in three colors - red, chocolate, and matt blue, the dimensions are 78.75" long, 26.5" deep, and 78.75" high.

The materials include a frame made of birch plywood, and the fabric is standard upholstery atop a polyurethane foam cushion.

The cost is a whopping $13,920. However, shipping is free to the US, so that makes up for something. But if you live anywhere else, you're SOL, I guess. Lead times are 8-12 weeks.

However, if purchased through the direct manufacturer - the closest sales rep (or dealer) is located in Dallas.

Hart Texas
Vitra Sales Representative
1910 Bennett Ave. #10
75206 Dallas
Telephone: 1-214-747-8282
Fax: 1-214-747-8285

Maya Romanoff

Wow! Maya Romanoff has some fancy wallcoverings and accessories for wallcoverings!

In addition to the many options with glass bead embellishments, "Crystalized" (MR-SWP1-01) above includes Swarovski crystal pearls in the center of one of the many elaborate patterns available through Maya Romanoff. This crystal pearl accessory is just one of the many available in the Swarovski Elements collection.

The application above shows a combination of the Crystalized element with the Sunburst Ajiro Wood Veneer wallcovering pattern. They come 50 pearls to a pack, with adhesive included. The pearls are 10mm in size, standard. The pearl color is Mother of Pearl, but the collection includes crystals for application as well.

It can be specified with any Maya Romanoff wallcovering. Each pack of 50 should be enough for one roll/9 yards of wallcovering, but it depends on the pattern of wallcovering it is intended for (or what pattern you have desired for the pearls). They must be purchased with a wallcovering as well.

No pricing or installation information was provided on this specific application.

Farmboy Fine Arts, Inc.

I found this really cool artwork website through Interior Design Magazine. The company is Farmboy Fine Arts, Inc. In addition to the 40,000 prints already available on the website, they also offer custom artwork based on your application (Retail, Hospitality, Healthcare, Corporate, and more), so pricing can be specialized determined on your project.

The mediums for artwork consist of acrylic, metal, glass, canvas, or more. The compositions include single, diptych, triptych, quad, or complete customization. But one of their coolest offerings is Wallcoverings (custom options for wallcovering is also available).



The wallcovering consists of polyester non-woven wallpaper, and all artwork is printed directly onto the paper through solvent inks. They have been fire tested and rated type 2, and they have also been federally tested CC-408, receiving the D, C, B, A ratings. They are resistant to mold, mildew, and bacteria.

The recommended commercial applications are corporate, casinos and retail, indoors, lobbies and corridors, guestrooms, and fitness and spas - according to average traffic and conditions.

The benefits to specifying this unique wallcovering is, of course - not only the awesome selection, but also they offer textured and non-textured fabrics, customization of sizes and graphics, they have the ability to be used as a large mural, they have great volume capabilities, and they are affordable.

I could not find any information regarding installation or maintenance. Contact information below.

Farmboy Fine Arts Inc.
Suite 500
319 West Hastings
Vancouver, BC, Canada
V6B 1H6
Telephone: +1 604 699 2466
Fax: +1 604 609 2699
Email: info@farmboyfinearts.com

Chemetal

CheMetal presents their 500 Series Ultra Brushed Metal Collection, which offers the modern and stylized representation of brushed metal patterns. This collection was designed in partnership with BRM Design, the creator of Stainless Steel Fine Art.

504 Grasshopper (pictured above), is one of the five selections from the 500 series. It is sold in two sizes 96" x 48" and 120" x 48" - but they offer custom sizes as well. The base metal is aluminum, with a .37 HPL thickness, .050 phenolic thickness, and .020 solid metal thickness. Its metal weight is .284. Because it is backed with HPL, it is unavailable in any tinted color options.

The manufacturer does offer LEED point eligibility, but the links were broken, so I could not further research them. All technical information regarding maintenance and installation can be found here.

Charles Loomis Lighting

Charles Loomis, Inc Lighting has a nice selection of dramatic and modern lighting fixtures.



The materials consists of stainless steel polished CL435 and sheer embossed crystal clear glass petals (and an inner glass diffuser).

This lighting fixture comes in 7 glass color options: white, amber, coral, gold iridescent, silver iridescent, clear pave, and grey. It comes in 7 sizes as well: P24 (24" x 20"), P30 (30" x 24.75"), P36 (36" x 30.5"), P42 (42" x 34.5"), P48 (48" x 40.5"), P54 (54" x 44.75"), and P84 (84" x 66.25"). The 120V lamping is included.

Installation seen below:

ArmourCoat

ArmourCoat offers a lot of interesting options for wall finishes. They have sculptural pieces and actual finishes to put on the wall to create a metallic finish, travertine, plaster, flat artwork, or other unique architectural aspects.

Their gallery shows installations worldwide in residential applications and commercial applications from all different types: a church, a shopping center, hospitality, restaurants, and many more.



Picture above is a Shoe Store in Inci, Turkey that has the polished plaster travertine finish. The polished plaster finish comes in three types: travertine, pitted, and dragged. The travertine finish has a lightly carved texture with echoes the pattern and flow of natural travertine stone. The finish has a low sheen, and one color brings out two or three other tones that complement well. The travertine has 16 colors in their palette.

The travertine has no VOC emissions, contains approximately 25% recycled content, and has been rated Class 0 and Class A for fire testing.

Cleaning and installation instructions are provided here.

Flavor Paper

I have fallen in love with this site since Angie introduced us to it in class. I mean, how freakin' cool is scratch and sniff wallcovering with bananas and cherries!!!

Flavor Paper is not only a very unique wallcovering company, but they are locally based in New Orleans, LA - so that makes them even cooler. :)

Anyone who can get away with making a wallcovering with sharp objects and hang it on a wall by meat is awesome in my book. Who comes up with these crazy designs?

The designer of the 'Sharp Descent' Wallcovering pictured above is Dan Funderburgh. The wallcovering has 1 screen with 2 colors on each "colorway". The available colors are: red/white, black/grey, purple/metallic gold, and blue/metallic silver. The pattern consists of knives, scissors, broken glass, forks, chopping knife, etc, and it repeats every 28". The recommended installation is to have the pattern straight across. They are sold as a 27" x 15' roll at $150/roll.

They have extensive installation instructions with advised installation products, which are outlined here. They recommend only water for maintenance and for clean-up after installation.

Maharam! Yay!

So, as if I didn't love Maharam enough - a wonderful lady from their Marketing Department contacted me at work inquiring about my interest in the Horto by Maharam fabric - shown here. Even though she had so graciously offered me a hefty discount to specify the fabric - much to my chagrin - I had to decline and inform her that it was, regrettably, a hypothetical project through school.

I arrived to work today to see a present! The gorgeous Horto fabric on a pillow from the fantastic people at Maharam!! :)

Every dealing I have had with these people has been wonderful. Susan Sublette, our local Maharam rep, is SO sweet and swift in every request. All of the contacts that I have spoken to at the company are great! I just had to share my lovely experience with the Maharam staff because I know I look forward to specifying many more Maharam products in academic projects and professional projects for years to come.

So thank you again!!

Zuo Modern

I found a really cool barstool that I want to use in my convenience store. Unfortunately, Zuo Modern has very little if anything about any of their furniture.

The Flute chair has abstract lines and a back lip for back support. It comes in a leatherette seat, a hydraulic mechanism for adjusting height, an adjustable footrest, and a chrome plated steel base. The standard leatherette options are black, white, and green.

Dimensions: 21.7" w, 14.5" d, 30.5" - 40.5" h, 23" - 33" seat ht, and 17" base diameter.

Little is revealed about further specifications or sustainability. There is no information regarding testing for commercial application, so upon further review, this may not be the best product to put in a convenience store. It's probably just recommended for personal residential use. Guess I'm back to looking for my barstool options...

LonSeal Floors

The second type of wood laminate floor that I want to use in my convenience store is through LonSeal Vinyl Flooring.



LonSeal is a vinyl flooring company that offers product with patterns, textures, and woodwork. They also have products made with recyclable material. One of the collections within LonSeal is LonZebra, which has a very interesting striated wood grain pattern. This helps mask dirt or any imperfections in the floor that may occur with daily use. It reminds me of bamboo, and it is so similar to my 3-Form Resin panel, so rock! :)

This line allows you to show an application of "wood" with the low cost and durability of vinyl. It offers up to 10 different color selections (68 African Sunset pictured above). It also coordinates well with other LonSeal vinyl collections.

LonSeal has many green features as well. It contains 35% post-consumer recycled content, an EQ 4.1: low VOC adhesive and a GreenAir low VOC emission product, and GreenMedic microbial resistant.

In addition, they have passed a multitude of tests, including abrasion resistance, smoke density, static load limit, and chemical resistance. They offer a 10-year limited lifetime warranty.

Specifications include a 0.080" overall thickness with a 0.020" wear layer thickness. The roll of flooring comes as 6' x 60', weighing 250 lbs.

Roppe Floors

Half of my flooring in my convenience store is laminate flooring, and the other half, I want to have rubber floor. Rubber floor is an awesome material because it is great for maintenance, it is incredibly durable, and it is very slip-resistant.

Roppe Floors offers options in smooth/marbleized, recycled rubber, textured/patterned, and extra slip-resistant - among many other options. They are often specified in healthcare, retail, gyms, and many other applications that would require extra caution for people. I feel like it would be perfect for my application.



Above is the smooth design/marbleized collection. It is available in patterns, marble or solid color. There are over 60 color selections.

They have very extensive installation instructions. But Roppe also offers you the option of integrating your own custom flooring logo for your client.

It has passed many tests, including ASTM E-662 (which tests specific optical density of smoke generated by solid materials), ASTM F-1344 (rated Class 1) NFPA, ANSI, and it is ADA accessible.

Sizes available: 12" x 12", 19 11/16" x 19 11/16" or 36" x 36"
Thicknesses: 1/8" or 3/16"
They even offer slender strips of 1/2" x 24 1/2", 1" x 25", and 2" x 26" to assist in completing a logo or design.

It is very green - PVC free, fully recyclable. This particular line contains 10% rubber, which may contribute to the LEED Green Building Certification System. Other Roppe lines are composed up to 100% recycled content.

It is incredibly durable. It stands up well to constant traffic from wheelchairs, shopping carts, luggage carriers or dollies and resists scuffing, gouging, cigarette burns, most chemicals and common substances.

Even though the initial investment of the product is quite expensive, for the life cycle of the material, the durability, and maintenance, the cost is well worth the investment. In addition to these benefits, it offers noise reduction from foot comfort and great comfort.

They offer 1-year, 5-year, and 10-year warranties available for this specific collection, dependent on the damage.

Armstrong Ceilings

So - I'm echoing this pattern of linear woodwork in laminate and resin panels in my convenience store, and I wanted a similar ceiling architectural element. It may end up being too busy in the end, but I thought it was a nice material to share.



Armstrong Ceilings have a really cool WoodWorks collection where they showcase interesting architectural ceiling patterned options with wood. The material and linear pattern depicted showcases the versatility of ceiling elements - they don't need to be boring standard tiles.

There are, of course, some major downsides to this cool application. One is that it is a high cost for only a 1-year warranty, no defects, damage. Beyond that point, the company claims no responsibility for damages... so if your $15,000 ceiling falls apart on the 366th day of its manufacture, you're SOL. Another is that there is very little to any durability to this expensive ceiling installation. And according to the specs, it says it isn't "hardware friendly"... maybe that's a delicate way of saying that it's a PITA to install? Or it strips your screws? Alas, there are some pretty cool features that still redeem this product...

They come in 4 1/2" and 6" plank sizes (96" in length and 3/4" thick), both suspended by steel cables. They are natural wood veneer, which can be cut to allow access to electrical and HVAC units above. They can be cut also to offer a curved grid installation.

They also offer many options for achieving LEED credits. The material is made of 92% pre-consumer recycled content. Choosing a Bamboo finish on your wood or also specifying your wood with FSC-certified options allows for redemption of LEED credits.

The finish availability includes: Dark Cherry, Bamboo Patina, Constraints Cherry, Constants Walnut, Constants Maple, Natural Variations Beech, Natural Variations Light Cherry, and Natural Variations Maple (all selections within Armstrong). It also comes with a semi-gloss coating on top.

They have a .50 NRC Acoustics rating, which stands for the Noise Reduction Coefficient - this rating is average, where .80 is very high and .20 is very low. The fire resistance/flame spread rating is Class A (HPVA), and it has a standard anti-microbial and humidity resistance rating.

Panda Chair!

Okay - so I don't have plans to ever put this in my projects, but I was looking for chairs, and I stumbled upon this crazy Panda Chair. Now, at a retail auction it sold for $76,000. It almost makes me want to head to the nearest Toys R Us and take up a new career of stapling stuffed animals to chairs and making bank.



The highly creative and a bit... bizarre designers at Moss Online have brought this Baquete Chair with Pandas (Limited Edition, mind you) to the public created by Fernando and Humberto Campana in 2006. They are manufactured in their studio in Brazil.

And if the construction wasn't evident or anything... it's composed of stuffed animals on a metal base

Their 25 piece collection, featuring the same construction with stuffed alligators, stuffed teddy bears, stuffed dolls, stuffed sharks/dolphins, and others are exclusively sold through Moss Online. It is numbered and comes with a certificate of authenticity, signed by the designers themselves.

The dimensions are roughly 41" x 37". And though the auctioned piece sold for a whopping $76,000 - when purchased through Moss Online, the price is omitted and only available upon request.

Unless you can recycle the stuffed animals, I'm fairly certain there are no sustainable materials involved in the construction of this piece.

Imagine Graphics

Imagine Graphics

I'm not sure if this company would be considered a material, but they are a graphics company that takes your drawings and manufactures them into physical signage for use. They also create graphics for you, should you require that service.



Since their portfolio is entirely custom, there are few specs to report on. They have over 50 materials available for use to create signage - which are chosen based on your budget. They color a wide variety of color-matching services, so if there is an existing logo, they can make signage to complement.

Lead times vary - some signs can be made in a week, others require longer - dependent on the design. The outdoor graphics have a lifetime of 5 years on average, some last longer dependent on the percentage of direct sunlight and weather conditions. Indoor signage and graphics usually last long term, but they are also dependent on their location and direct use.

Some green materials are used in signage, which offer recyclable or biodegradable options including a paper stock used for posters, cardboard, and foamboard. There is eco-friendly printable wallpaper, available with UV-cured inks. They also reuse many materials, so less waste returns to the landfill.