By Coco Clayman-Cook

Two important elements in any green kitchen design are countertops and flooring. There are ample choices in green countertops depending on your taste and budget.  You can even utilize recycled tiles reclaimed from demolished sites.  You'd be amazed at what you can find.  There are also tiles and other countertops made from recycled paper, hemp, engineered stone, even concrete.  This is a fast growing market so there is already a wide array of color choices to choose from.

Green flooring is also seeing a grand expansion.  Bamboo is one of the more popular floorings on the market.  It is a rapidly renewable resource and is available in a wide range of durable styles.  Cork is another popular alternative for much the same reason.  Linoleum is surprisingly seeing a resurgence in the green design market.  Made of all natural materials this versatile inexpensive flooring is once again finding its way back to the kitchen floor.

Designing a green kitchen is not only good for the environment it is also good for your family's health and can ultimately be a great deal of fun.