When I was in downtown Asheville, NC this week, I stopped by to check out Build It Naturally, a green materials hardware and resource store. The store carries non-toxic paint, hardwood plywood that is formaldehyde-free, and materials such as cork, linoleum, bamboo and other materials.
I checked out the showroom, and spent time talking with the owner Jennifer Woodruff and talked to her a bit about the business. She summarized the store as having, “non-toxic, renewable, or green” materials, and mentioned that they both sell materials and sources as well as doing contracting work.
Woodruff has had a lifelong interest in natural. Her parents did recycling, composting, had an organic garden, did canning, and did natural dying the wool of the sheep they raised on the farm years ago before it became trendy. In 2005, Jennifer met Susan Bahl who started the Natural Home Design Center, and ended up working for and being inspired by her passion for only having natural ingredients in all the products.
She decided to make her own green business in Asheville, and continues to bring new products into the store. We talked about wool carpet, a new hemp product used for building, and milk paint, which is a natural paint made of pigment.
I found the samples of cork to be interesting. They varied in textures and patterns, and are often used for floors and also as counters in cafes. The display of natural linoleum was impressive. I recently learned that linoleum is bio-based, durable, non-toxic and also anti-microbial, and comes in more than 100 colors. Other materials they have include stains and finishes, insulation, and sealing and caulking – making it possible to get most building materials at one store.
On the website, you can read about many of the materials, and there is also valuable information about health, fabrication tips, and other information.
Image Source:
Kristen Baumlier
Links:
http://builditnaturally.com/