Kitchen & Bath
by Scott
GibsonWater Miser.
Federal regulations
limit toilets to 1.6 gallons per flush, but customers looking
for even better water conservation may be interested in the
dual-flush toilet from Neptune. At full flush, the fixture uses
1.6 gallons; at the low-flush setting, it uses half that. Over
the course of a year, the water savings add up, lowering sewer
bills and putting less strain on single-family septic fields.
Neptune's toilets come in two styles (the Parma is shown), in
white ($720) or biscuit porcelain ($770).
Neptune, 450/773-7058,
www.neptuneb.com
Bamboo Counters.
Consumers warming
up to floors made of bamboo (which is actually a type of grass,
not wood) might want to apply the same green logic to kitchen
and bath countertops. Totally Bamboo offers 11/2-inch-thick and
2-inch-thick counters in 30-inch-by-96-inch slabs. According to
the company, the material is harder than maple and engineered
to stay flat; the counters — available in four grain
patterns — are made with a food-grade, formaldehyde-free
adhesive. They come unfinished (sanded to 180-grit), and cost
$30 per square foot. Totally Bamboo,
818/765-9000, www.totallybamboo.com
Paper Cuts.
PaperStone Certified countertops are made
from 100 percent postconsumer recycled paper, says the maker.
Available in seven colors, they come in 30-inch and 60-inch
widths, in lengths up to 12 feet, and in thicknesses from 1/4
inch to 2 inches. Originally designed for use as skateboard
ramps, the slabs are unaffected by water and can be worked with
carbide-tipped woodworking blades. A 1-inch-thick countertop
costs $35 per square foot. KlipTech
Composites, 360/538-9815,
www.kliptech.com
Ovens
Two in One.
Can't quite squeeze
a double wall oven into that kitchen remodel? Maybe a GE
Freestanding Double Oven Range will do the trick. Instead of
devoting the appliance's bottom drawer to pots and pans, the
company has added a second, 1.2-cubic-foot chamber capable of
either warming food or baking at up to 450°F. Altogether,
the electric range contains 6.5 cubic feet of baking space, and
the gas model, 6 cubic feet. The gas range includes an oval
burner for a griddle. Prices run from $1,500 to $1,800.
GE Appliances, 800/626-2005,
www.geappliances.com
Space-Conscious.
A built-in warming
drawer is one way to expand a small kitchen's usefulness
without taking up much wall or cabinet space. Viking's 30-inch
model, with a volume of 1.6 cubic feet, fits in a
91/4-inch-high opening. Temperature settings range from
90°F to 250°F; an adjustable vent allows foods to be
crisped or kept moist. The 450-watt element runs on a 15-amp,
120-volt service. Also available in 27-inch and 36-inch
versions, the 30-inch drawer costs $1,375. Viking Range
Corp., 888/845-4641,
www.vikingrange.com
Warp Speed.
For many homeowners,
time is of the essence — so why not offer them an oven
that will cook a 12-pound turkey in 42 minutes flat? The
TurboChef 30-inch Double Wall Speedcook oven's upper chamber
uses a combination of microwaves and high-speed air to cook
food up to 15 times faster than conventional ovens. The lower
compartment uses top and bottom heating elements and a
convection fan. The appliance comes with seven speed-cook modes
and 400 preprogrammed cooking profiles. It costs $7,500.
TurboChef, 866/543-6569,
www.turbochef.com