Designing Responsibly

As a kitchen and bath designer, one of my passions is finding ways to make design more sustainable. The industry has long been focused on the new—gleaming countertops, modern fixtures, perfect finishes—but too often, what gets left behind tells another story: waste.

The Wake-Up Call

I’ll never forget my first kitchen remodel. Demo day was shocking. In a matter of hours, an entire kitchen—cabinets, appliances, light fixtures—was torn out and tossed into the back of a truck, destined for the landfill.

Many of those materials were still in good condition. Seeing that level of waste firsthand changed the way I work. I realized that if I was going to create beautiful new spaces, I also had a responsibility to remove the old ones with care.

Small Shifts, Big Impact

Sustainability doesn’t have to mean sacrificing beauty or quality. It often begins with thoughtful decisions about what can be reused, repurposed, or responsibly recycled.

Ways to reduce waste during a remodel:

• Donate or resell what you can. If your cabinets, lighting, or hardware are still in good shape, consider donating them to organizations like Habitat for Humanity or listing them on Facebook Marketplace.

• Recycle locally. Rapid Recycle in Concord accepts almost anything—from appliances to metals to e-waste. Just pull up, and their team will take care of the rest.

• Dispose of hazardous materials properly. For old paints, stains, or solvents, the Central Contra Costa County Hazardous Waste Facility is an excellent resource.

Giving Materials a Second Life

Sometimes the most meaningful design details come from materials that already hold history.

During a recent fireplace remodel, we needed to remove 50-year-old redwood planks from the original ceiling. Instead of discarding them, we carefully salvaged the boards and transformed them into a custom mantel for the new fireplace—a piece that now carries the home’s past into its next chapter.