Eco-friendly Kitchens + Baths with Bradco

June 28, 2012 - With so many brands and product lines from which to choose, it can be quite a comfort to develop a relationship with a showroom that specializes in certain spaces; a place that can serve as a bit of a middleman for you as you work through projects and search out the products that will suit the lifestyle of a particular home. Bradco Kitchens + Baths is one such place. The Los Angeles showroom specializes in eco-friendly kitchen and bathroom remodeling projects, placing further emphasis on the maximization of space and beauty.

Green Measures

Sustainable design is not something taken lightly at Bradco. The company is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council and has been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council as well. There are a variety of products available for creating kitchens and baths that are both innovative in their functioning and eco-friendly as well. Here you can search for countertops and appliances, fixtures and hardware, lighting, tile, and more.

Particular green products here include non-toxic cabinetry manufactured by Columbia Forest Products . The cabinets are made using Purebond zero ureaformaldehyde plywood. The company’s care for the environment as a whole is reflected at the local level as well. In early 2012, for example, Bradco teamed with Habitat for Humanity for the ReStore project that provided local communities throughout Bradco’s hometown ofL.A. with low-cost improvement materials for buildings and homes.

Counter Culture

Ever wish you had more counter space when guests are coming? Bradco has created quite a solution in the way of the Slide N Hide, a custom remote controlled sliding countertop that smoothly moves to the side to reveal a cooktop and downdraft while at the same time transforming into a free hanging bar top.

The Slide N Hide is a terrific piece I saw in action at Dwell on Design, moving smoothly to cover the cooktop and render that space usable for serving and entertaining as well. At the show, Bradco cleverly paired the counter with the Miele telescopic downdraft proving how very efficient a kitchen can be by first retracting the downdraft and then covering the entire range area with the counter.

There are certainly more products of note here. For example, theServo Driveby Blum is a mechanism that allows drawers to gently open and shut with a single tap and, a similar advancement, theServo Drivefor Aventos, also by Blum, offers the same handy operation for the opening or shutting of cabinet doors. And, for those late nights when you sneak into the kitchen for a snack: the Loox LED 9001 by Hafele lights drawers automatically when they’re opened.

There’s also an element of safety available via the SleathLock, a keyless cabinet locking system that would be a great addition to any home where protecting valuables or curious little ones is at hand. The remote access allows cabinets to lock and unlock with the press of a button.

Big Partnerships

Beyond its work with individual product companies, Bradco has partnered with culinary retailer extraordinaire Sur La Table for a whole new venture. The company was selected to provide custom made cabinets for new teaching kitchens that will be opening in Sur La Table stores this year. Among the products being used in all the Sur La Table locations is the non-toxic cabinetry from Columbia Forest Products.

Bradco also worked with the culinary company to remodel the kitchen in the Sur La Table store at the Los Angeles Farmer’s Market. That particular location is scheduled to be unveiled in July 2012.