Going Green in Corvallis:

This 1970s two-story home was definitely in need of remodeling. Throughout the home faux wood paneling, shag carpet and popcorn ceilings were replaced by sustainable materials including bamboo wood floors, wool carpet and Paperstone countertops. In addition to the eco-friendly surface materials, we also improved the efficiency of the building systems. A new tankless water heater replaced the rusting 50 gallon tank, and new insulation was blown into the attic space. Not only does this space look "green," it functions "green," as well.

In the kitchen we created an open floor plan by eliminating two walls, one which was supporting the roof above. The load bearing wall, pictured above left, was replaced with a post on the end of the island, wrapped to match the kitchen cabinetry. In addition to removing the walls, we raised the dropped ceiling in the hallway and also installed two Solatubes and three skylights throughout the home. The amount of light added by these changes is incredible!