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At Barnes of Ashburton we believe in all things sustainable and we carry this philosophy right through our bespoke kitchen design and installation process always working towards a greener future. Our handmade kitchens are guaranteed by us for life so working with materials that last is of uptmost importance to us.

Handmade wooden kitchen using FSC woodAll the materials we use in building our bespoke kitchens have to satisfy our stringent policy of sustainability. We only use timber which are ethically sourced and carry certification from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The Food and Agriculture Organisation defines sustainable forest management as “The stewardship and use of forests and forest lands in a way, and at a rate, that maintains their biodiversity, productivity, regeneration capacity, vitality and their potential to fulfill, now and in the future, relevant ecological, economic and social functions, at local, national, and global levels, and that does not cause damage to other ecosystems”. We don’t use any tropical hardwoods to ensure that we comply with environmental standards in the UK.

Various timber finishes are available & doors and frames are typically made in Lime wood if painted and any hardwood of choice if the client wants a timber finish. See lots of natural timber exposed on this Barnes kitchen

When it comes to finishing our handmade cabinetry we use materials with low or zero VOC’s including water based paint from Farrow and Ball who were one of the first UK companies to drastically reduce its VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) content long before the law required it. Farrow and Ball moved over from oil-based to water-based paints whilst maintaining the high level of quality synonymous with the F&B range.

This applies to paints for the wooden kitchen cabinets but also their wall paints which we use extensively in our interior design projects including their estate emulsions and the highly durable and scrubable Modern Emulsion paint. In addition to the F&B paint range being environmentally friendly we also like it because it is made here in the South West in neighbouring county Dorset which helps to further minimise the carbon footprint of our bespoke kitchens. We also consider the environment in many other ways when designing your new architectural kitchen.

Led bulbs installed in kitchen lights

Energy is a big consideration so we always propose the use of LED lighting which is one of today’s most energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly lighting technologies. LED lights are up to 80% more efficient than traditional lighting such as fluorescent and incandescent lights which convert much of their energy in to heat rather than light.

The end result is using less energy use reduces the demand from power generation and decreases greenhouse gas emissions.

The manufacture of LED lights used in our kitchens is also environmentally friendly as LED lights contain no toxic elements such as mercury which can be found in traditional lighting. LED lights also last far longer which means lower carbon emissions. LED lights typically last five or six times longer than other types of lights, reducing the requirement for replacement bulbs. Kitchen appliances are assessed on their energy rating without compromising on the design aesthetic of the kitchen. See LED lighting in our Barnes pantry

If you are in the process of planning a new kitchen be it classic or contemporary or are looking for some interior design ideas for an architectural kitchen then why not get in touch and see if we can assist and help to make your dreams for a new kitchen come true.

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