We have all heard of using granite, formica, quartz, stainless steel and tile for countertops. But what about paper?

The new eco-luxury item in kitchen design is PaperStone.

PaperStone is made from sustainable sources, making it the “greenest” architectural surface on the market today. It is the only architectural solid surface certified by the Forest Stewardship Council for using 100% post-consumer recycled paper. ( There are three different PaperStone lines, one is made with 100% recycled paper, the second is 50%, and the third with virgin paper.)

The paper fibers are held together with non-petroleum, formaldehyde-free resins, some made from cashew nut shell liquid.

It can be cut and shaped with standard woodworking tools, yet is extremely hard and is practically impervious to water. It is scratch resistant and can be used for cutting boards. It is also highly resistant to staining and can withstand temperatures up to 350 degrees, making it an excellent choice for kitchens. It is also resistant to bacteria growth, making it popular for commercial applications.

At $90 to $120 a square foot, PaperStone is comparable in price to granite or engineered stone.

This entry was posted on Friday, December 21st, 2007 at 9:27 pm and is filed under green design, Kitchen Design ideas. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.