ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
Room for Improvement: Time to test 'green' paint
February 20, 2009
Comments on this story
(0)
Denise Holtby
YOURHOME.CA
While touring the Interior Design Show a week or so ago, I was introduced to Benjamin Moore's new line of eco-friendly paint, Natura.
According to the company representative at the show, there are two differences between Natura and the company’s current eco formulation, Aura.
First, Natura won't cover quite as efficiently as Aura, so it will require more coats and therefore more time. However, Natura's advantage is that it's a no-VOC paint, while Aura is low-VOC.
The question is, will consumers be willing to spend a little more time painting if they know the paint is “greener”? I, for one, would.
In fact, I was more than ready and willing to give the new product a test drive in our upcoming home office makeover. Unfortunately, Natura isn’t expected to hit store shelves until June 2009. Now that we've started to empty the office, I certainly can't put the project on hold for that long.
Then another suggestion came to me via Twitter. Toronto-based Ecopaints' tweets told me that some of their large commercial and institutional customers are using Boomerang paint. That got me thinking.
Boomerang products are made primarily from recycled materials. According to the company's website, only about one per cent of Boomerang paint is new material, and that is added only to ensure "consistent lustre levels, viscosity and drying time."
I've heard about Boomerang many times but have never tried it, so now might just be the right time to experiment with it.
While Boomerang's colour palette is more limited than most traditional paint companies, I'm sure I can find some in a blue shade that works. After all, according to recent research, blue is the colour that inspires creativity, and that, in the end, is what our office overhaul is all about.
Get alerts whenever a new article by Denise is posted on Yourhome.ca by following her on Twitter. You can also read Denise’s blog at www.deniseholtby.com.
(Editor’s note: Get your own home office inspiration from Colin and Justin and Debbie Travis, along with some tips on office essentials and easy office crafts.)
Catch up on Room for Improvement's office overhaul:
- Dean does IDS
- Looking for inspiration
- Time for an office overhaul
- Of reader polls, antiques and home offices
- What's next for Room for Improvement?
Read more from IDS:
Interior Design Show wrap up
More IDS eye candy
IDS a feast for the eyes
IDS highlight: AM Studio
Me and Karim Rashid
IDS offers inspiration
Swarovski adds sparkle
IDS excitement
Great design, eh?