Creating 'g'

When the space was still for lease.





Before we added the 'g' touch - a former outlet for working clothes will be transformed into a green building supply and design showroom opening October 2007.




My latest renovation project is a bit of a departure from recent work. This commercial spot is the new location of our new showroom for green building supplies and all things to make your home and your life more green, healthy and eco-friendly. ‘g’ Green Design Center is slated to open in early October, but more on that in a few minutes.

Here are the photos of this space as it is transformed from a dark blue outlet for working clothes into a natural wonderland of bamboo, water, recycled glass, paper, clay and everything non-toxic, healthy, welcoming and energy efficient.



New wallboard goes up to split the former clothes store in two pieces - one for New Balance, one for 'g'.







Electricians relocate the telephone jacks to the check out area and install tracks for the low energy track head fixtures.






We started with the basics – we looked at the existing space and tried to reuse what was already existing while making it a more beautiful environment to show off all the wonderful products, services and information we’ll be featuring.

The concrete floor was the first project. Working with a local contractor, Jeff Brown of Harwich, we reclaimed the floor by sanding just a bit, and then applying an acid stain that uses no harmful chemical to create a large water feature that envelopes you as you enter the front doors.


Here's a close up of the beautiful watery blue green of our new floor - like a pool of water to envelope and refresh you.







Next to tackle were those intensely dark blue walls that were left by the former tenant. The color was just not ‘g’ if you know what I mean. Our painter, Rob Minshall of Mashpee, has worked with us before and has fallen in love, as we have, with the non-toxic paints we’ll be stocking from AFM Safecoat. Its amazing, but there are no fumes, zero VOCs (volatile organic compounds. In Rob’s own words he describes the paint as having “excellent coverage”. He was able to cover those hideous dark blue walls with one coat of primer and one coat of a very light green paint. Pretty amazing – and non-toxic too.


Rob up high to rid us of thos somber dark blue walls.




The painting transformation....




Continues...


Finally Rob paints in the checkerboard pattern along the top of the walls - tune inlater to see how this board is put to use.






Next in were the bamboo cabinets that create a dynamic kitchen display and will help clients envision their own kitchen make-over. Mark Harding from Wampworx in Mashpee and Aquinah loaned his crew for the cabinet install as well as the laying of some bamboo flooring for the cash wrap and miscellaneous, but vital, carpentry items around the showroom.



Bob installs the bamboo cabinets.





Slowly the showroom is coming to life.



A view to the front - we've cloaked the windows to hide the mess as well as create intrigue for the opening just a few weeks away.














The cabinets will be fitted out with a gorgeous recycled glass countertop from IceStone next week, and will feature a back splash in Richlite, a recycled paper countertop material that will also be featured in our design conference area.

Still to come are the low energy track head lighting fixtures, the construction of the shelving, and some beautiful movable displays being created by Peter Ochs of North Falmouth that will show off several types of bamboo, as well as other building materials such as WheatBoard and Dakota Burl, a new material made from sunflower seed husks.

We are working in the back room to input all our new products and are busy ordering inventory that will take us through the Xmas season. There is certain to be something for everyone, from Sleep Mists to wine bottle stoppers made of reclaimed doorknobs, to flooring, paints and much more. While we are a bit overwhelmed at how much there will be to offer, we are weeding through everything to come up with a selection that will entrance, enhance and bring new shades of green into everyone’s life.