Mysest56 
June 24, 2019
Daily rituals floor our days with a predictable rhythm that can provide comfort. Although many of them are banal, why not take them from ordinary to extraordinary? Making my morning java, for instance, is a ho-hum ritual that I perform bleary-eyed; changing into something such as an elegant Chemex coffeemaker could elevate this everyday regimen.
In a similar vein, the daily ritual of bathing or showering ought to be special, taking place in a pleasing and healthful environment that fosters our well-being. Consider surrounding yourself with one of these handsome and eco-conscious finishes.
Garret Cord Werner Architects & Interior Designers
Plaster makes for a great ecofriendly shower or bath surround, as it is comprised of plentiful all-natural materials including lime, gypsum or cement — blended with water. Unlike some plastic shower surrounds, the natural plaster matrix generates no VOCs (volatile organic chemicals) that can be harmful if inhaled. And the sealers — natural waxes and/or oils — are equally easy on your indoor air quality and the environment.
When applied by hand, plaster has a gorgeous artisanal quality appropriate both to modern and traditional interiors. To boot, the plaster gives a durable, monolithic finish emptiness of grout lines to clean, maintain or protect.
Jane Ellison
True Venetian plaster is constituted of slaked limestone, marble dust and water, which yields incomparable depth of colour and translucence. Lime plaster, such as Venetian plaster, has some serious bragging rights. It’s stood the test of time over centuries, thanks to a healing process that sequesters carbon dioxide from the air and returns the substance into a stone state including all the strength and longevity of pure stone. Plus, lime plasters are naturally antibacterial, repelling mould and mildew — ideal for a bathroom.
Short-term upkeep is a breeze, as dirt and dust don’t permeate the plaster. Just wash it down with sterile fabric. Long-term maintenance can be minimal when the plaster contains mineral pigments, as they withstand UV light and fading and also make painting unnecessary. A new coat of wax every few years will continue to keep the finish shiny.
House+Earth
Tadelakt – $35
Tadelakt, a virtually watertight lime plaster, originates from Morocco. It can be located on both interiors and exteriors of buildings there, such as hammams (Moroccan bath houses). The conventional finish starts out light gray and is blended with natural colors to create a glowing, striking surface. The plaster is traditionally polished with a river stone to give a smooth, shiny finish, which is then rubbed with soft soap to provide water resistance. Much like different plasters, the handcrafting ends in a lavish, organic look.
Jay Hargrave Architecture
A concrete encircle can be a cheap method to achieve a monolithic look with natural variants, much like plaster. To improve your concrete’s green cred, raise the fly-ash content (a by-product of coal processing), but only if irrigation is processed in your area. Otherwise, the ecological impact of transporting the fly ash outweighs the advantages. Seek a low- or no-VOC sealer to provide water resistance.
DigitalProperties.ca
Backpainted glass is my preferred way to acquire a modern, shiny surface in the shower or bath, and the method provides limitless color options. Conventional glass is painted on the back side, then stuck to a substrate with pliers designed for mirror installations or mounted with upper and bottom tracks.
Glass gets the green check mark, because it is made of natural materials and is durable, long-lasting and easy to wash with nontoxic cleansers. A massive glass panel is just another uniform surface with no joints, making maintenance minimal.
Custom-printed glass, where a picture image is stuck to the glass’ buttocks, is backpainted glass’ spiffier cousin. Since durability is one of the main green features of glass, seek a graphic image that will not easily become outdated or drained.
live-work-play
Fireclay Tile is an industry pioneer in recycled-content ceramic tile. Its Debris series, utilized in this bath, combines 60% recycled content from postindustrial and postconsumer waste. The tiles are handmade and handmolded, which ends in beautiful all-natural colour variations. And all of Fireclay’s tiles have been completed with lead-free glazes.
Bill Fry Construction – Wm. H. Fry Const. Co..
Recycled-content glass tile, with its jewellike qualities and rainbow of colour options, makes greening your bath a snap. Nearly all of Oceanside Glasstile’s products include recycled content, which ranges from 30 to 97 percent of the tile composition.
More:
Ways to Get Your Home’s Glass Squeaky Clean
Surface Smarts: Venetian Plaster
10 Great Picks for Ecofriendly Tile