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Tag Archives: Wall Panels

4 ways to improve the look of your classroom with bamboo flooring and panels

As a teacher, you know that the design of your classroom can have a big impact on a student’s education. For instance, if the classroom is cluttered or messy, this sends the message that disorganization and poor work habits are acceptable. Instead, the space should enhance productivity, boost creativity and be a welcoming room that students enjoy visiting each day. Here are a few ways to upgrade both style and functionality in your classroom:

Stick with consistent color themes
While color can certainly help bring your classroom to life, too much of it may create an overwhelming space that makes it hard to concentrate. Stick to earth tones on the walls and floors, and use furniture pieces like a beanbag chair in the reading nook to add some bright color into the classroom. Choose that vibrant hue carefully – yellow can elicit feelings of energy and happiness, red demands attention, and blue and green evoke a calm vibe.

Bamboo panels
Bamboo panels are the perfect way to subtly dress up a wall. San Francisco-based company Smith & Fong offers a line of bamboo panels known as PlybooSound. These panels with QuietWall technology help to reduce ambient noise throughout the space, which is great for producing a productive work environment where students can really concentrate on their work. Bamboo is also great to have in the classroom because of its eco-friendly qualities. The panels have no volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are often emitted by common building materials and cleaning supplies. This means cleaner and healthier air throughout your classroom.

Bring light to dark areas
Take a moment to analyze your classroom. Which areas of the space are particularly dark? You’ll want to work to bring light into those areas using wall sconces, table lamps or overhead lighting. Feel free to get creative with your light fixtures. Add some personality to your classroom by stringing some lights around a reading nook, or hang colorful paper lanterns from the ceiling to produce a soft glow.

Introduce a chalkboard wall
A chalkboard wall can create a striking statement in the classroom and offer the perfect space for students to write out math problems, work on their spelling or draw pictures. You can also use the wall to write words of encouragement to create an inspiring environment. An entire wall of covered in chalkboard paint will accommodate more students than a small chalkboard mounted up on the wall, and can even allow for more work space.

5 ways to add texture to your home

Texture is a large part of what brings your home to life. It’s especially important in rooms that have a monochromatic color palette, because varying textures create visual interest and add character and dimension. Textures make an especially big impact when you put opposites together – like weathered wood cabinets against sleek and shiny flooring or plush couches with a brick accent wall. From the floor all the way to the ceiling, there are different ways to mix and match textures for an interesting ambiance. Here are a few ways to bring more textures into your own home:
Stone fireplace
Create a dramatic focal point in your living room with a beautiful stone fireplace. This natural material adds an elegance to this cozy part of the home. Surround the stone with sleek built-in cabinets for a stunning contrast of textures.
Area rug
Warm up your entryway, kitchen or bathroom with a large area rug. Experiment with different textures, such as fur, shag or plush. A rug down can really make a difference in the overall feel of a room and often helps define zones. Go with bold colors to produce a focal point on your floors, or stick with neutral shades to help it blend in with the rest of your decor.
Bamboo panels
Instantly add texture and beauty to your walls with bamboo panels. San Francisco-based company Smith & Fong offers three lines of bamboo panels, all of which display intricate detail with a modern style. The panels are also eco-friendly – they have no volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which contributes to healthier indoor air. In fact, bamboo can yield about 20 times more timber than traditional trees in the same area.
Tile backsplash
Use a textured tile backsplash in your kitchen or bathroom to add style and functionality to the space. The tile makes cleanup from spills and splatters simple, and the backsplash creates a contrast against your kitchen or bathroom walls. There are a number of textures, colors and patterns from which to choose to really enhance the interior design of your home.
Pillows
Throwing some pillows on your living room sofa is a simple and stylish way to add color to the space. However, you can also contribute texture to a room using pillows. Combine a mix of textures on your pillows, like satin, cotton and velvet. Display them all on a sleek leather couch or a cozy cotton one.

Tips for creating an accent wall

Accent walls are the perfect way to contribute plenty of color and personality to any space, whether it’s a bedroom, an office or a hotel lobby. An accent wall is where you can really be as bold as you would like. But there is a fine line between accentuating a space and overpowering it with this particular design element. Maintain a balanced interior by keeping these accent wall tips in mind:

Choose the right color

Whether you’re opting for wallpaper, a stencil or an entire layer of paint, choosing the right color for your wall is essential. The best way to go about this is to select a shade that’s already in the room. Maybe you have patterned pillows on your couch, then you can draw on the bright green that’s in the design. You could also pick a color from a piece of artwork to inspire the shade for your accent wall. You aren’t obligated to go with a bright shade for the wall, however. You can keep things subtle by opting for a hue that’s a few shades darker than the one that’s already on your walls. This provides enough contrast to add interest to the room. As a general rule, you should never choose a shade that is too light – it will get lost among the rest of the room’s colors. This wall should stand out from the rest.

Use bamboo panels

Another subtle way to make your accent wall the focal point of the room is to use bamboo paneling. San Francisco-based company Smith & Fong offers three lines of bamboo panels that are available in a number of neutral shades, from dark to light. Covering your walls with paneling offers a modern touch and creates a warm and inviting accent wall. You can install lighting along the paneling to highlight its intricate design. The Linear Line, for example, has a uniquely graphic inner core that’s made to resemble a woven textile.

Have a focal point

The focal point you have for your accent wall depends on the space. For instance, an accent wall in a living room may utilize a fireplace or a bookshelf. Other focal points for your accent wall can include a collection of mirrors, artwork, a headboard or open shelving. Use the lighting in the room to your advantage – track lighting, for instance, would do a great job of highlighting a fireplace mantel or a collection of art. Keep in mind that an accent wall should be kept simple – avoid decorating too heavily.

Making a movie theater more customer friendly

Going to the movies to see the latest flick has been a source of entertainment for years. However, it seems because of services like Netflix and Hulu, fewer people are heading to the movies. In fact, according to Fast Company, ticket sales have been decreasing by about 2 percent each year since 2002. Netflix costs just $8 per month to subscribe, which is often less money than one movie ticket and a small popcorn. It’s no wonder why so many people are leaning toward home entertainment instead of heading to the theater to catch the latest and greatest films. One thing that may prove to change the way people think about the movies is with the interior design. If owners put a focus on the layout of their theaters, more and more people may leave their homes for the comfort of the theater, instead. Try out the following design ideas for a more customer-friendly movie theater:

A lounge area

Sure, some movie theaters have an area that’s designated for arcade games, but what about the people that wish to do a little socializing at the movies? Often times, once the credits roll, movie goers are up and out of their seats, headed to the nearest coffee shop, restaurant or bar where they can talk with their buddies about what they just saw while having a beer or munching on a snack. Most movie theaters don’t offer the socialization aspect. Not only would this bring more customers into the theater, it’s likely that the concession stand would earn a larger profit purely from those who wish to enjoy some popcorn while talking with friends before and after the movie.

A quiet movie experience

There’s nothing more annoying than having someone in the movie theater who simply doesn’t understand the concept of not talking during a film. However, there is a solution to this common problem. San Francisco-based company Smith & Fong offers a line of bamboo panels, known as PlybooSound​, that can help reduce the ambient noise within a space. These beautifully designed panels are equipped with QuietWall Technology which can help produce a quieter theater experience even when there’s someone who won’t stop whispering.

Private boxes

One of the major benefits of being able to watch a movie with your friends at home is that you can talk freely without someone telling you to be quiet. If movie theaters brought this experience to the venue, customers may be more willing to see a film at the theater. For example, theaters could consider implementing social seating in private boxes which allows groups of people to talk freely without causing a disruption to the rest of the audience.

Architectural Record features Smith & Fong’s Reveal Collection

The Reveal Collection of bamboo panels from San Francisco-based company Smith & Fong was recently featured in Architectural Record magazine. This an American publication that is dedicated to both architecture and interior design. It’s where you can find all of the latest trends, projects, news and products in modern design and construction.

Among a slideshow of some of the latest and greatest products in interior design was bamboo panels from the Reveal Collection. This series is unlike any other traditional wall panels that you’ll see. Theyshowcase stunning designs that range from a pattern of soft waves to a trellis-like arrangement that you would see in a tranquil garden. The patterns aren’t only beautiful, they’re designed in a way that allows for stability and durability. In fact, Colombian architect Simon Velez replaced steel with bamboo, which allowed him to build faster and just as cheaply.

What sets this product apart from other panels is that it’s constructed using a rapidly renewable resource – bamboo. The number of benefits that accompany this plant are endless. It’s a lightweight building material, which makes it easy to transport and handle. However, it’s also extremely durable and boasts a modern style, which is why it’s been used to build anything from basketball courts and homes to bookshelves and tables. In fact, bamboo has seemed to become the building material of choice for the 21st century.

Bamboo’s environmental benefits are also plentiful, as it releases 35 percent more oxygen into the air than traditional trees. It’s also free of formaldehyde, which is commonly found in building materials such as pressed-wood products, particleboard and fiberboard. With more oxygen being released into the air along with a diminished amount of formaldehyde, you’re helping to create a cleaner environment for all with bamboo panels.

New trends in wall panels and paper

Today, designs for wall panels and wallpaper are taking a new, modern direction. With unique options and patterns available, there are countless ways to express your personality with paneling.

Fabric as inspiration

Wallpaper and panels can now be found in a variety of different textures, some that mimic the look and feel of fabric. One way to achieve an impressive textured look is by using bamboo panels.

Vertical lines of bamboo create a natural, harmonious feel, and many different color and tone options are available. This new and exotic way to decorate is attractive for all the senses and allows you to bring natural elements into any space.

Some panels that look like slate or brick are also available. The contrast of shiny surfaces and matte areas adds depth and dimension to any wall or an entire room. Flocking is a process used to create wallpaper by depositing small fiber particles onto the surface of the paper and new, sophisticated patterns are available. From striking geometric patterns to rich, luxurious colors like burgundy or teal, the opportunities to match your room’s design are endless.

Retro vibe

Many updated wallpaper options are inspired by designs from the ’30s, ’50s, ’70s and ’80s. Modern colors and metallic elements bring these designs into 2014. Polka dots in wasabi green, denim prints in oceanic blue, or even street-style graffiti are just some examples. Colors and designs on different wallpapers can be mixed and matched to create an interesting focal point for your room.

Photomurals

Another creative trend in paper and panels available for homeowners and decorators is that of photomurals. These pieces come in several sections that cover an entire wall. World maps, beach and forest scenes and floral patterns are just a few of the options. Some companies will even create a custom photomural using a favorite scene that you provide.

2 ways to reach your goals of getting healthier in the new year

With the start of a new year upon us, everyone’s thinking up resolutions they can accomplish in the coming months. One of the most common aspirations is getting healthier, whether that entails losing weight or eating better. Of course, getting healthier can mean much more than that. The environment, for instance, largely contributes to your body’s health. One environmental facet that affects your health is air quality. You want to make sure that you’re breathing clean air. Things like cigarette smoke, bacteria and mold can pollute indoor and outdoor air, causing allergic reactions and sometimes asthma and cancer. If you wish to do your part to create a more sustainable environment, consider incorporating more bamboo into your surroundings.

Bamboo panels

Americans spend a large portion of their time at work, whether it’s a home office or storefront. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employed people aged 25 to 54 spend an average 8.8 hours working per day. The remaining time is spent sleeping and participating in leisure activities. If you’re spending that much of your day at work, you’re going to want to be in an environment that is healthy.

Bamboo panels can actually help make the air in your office more fresh and clean. San Francisco-based company Smith & Fong offers a special line of bamboo panels known as SoyBond. These panels are formaldehyde free, helping you and those around you breathe cleaner air. Formaldehyde is found in many building materials that are used to produce household procuts. It has a number of negative health effects on the body. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, inhaling this colorless chemical can cause issues with the eyes, nose and throat, some of which have even been linked to lung and nasopharyngeal cancer.

Bamboo flooring

Not only will bamboo flooring help you create a healthier environment in your home or office, it also provides a warm and beautiful style to enhance the design of the space. Smith & Fong boasts seven different types of bamboo flooring, making it easy to find the exact tone and texture for which you’re searching. One style of flooring you may opt for is the Stiletto Strand flooring. It’s available in six stains and finishes and is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, which is a nonprofit organization dedicated to forest management.

Another bamboo flooring option is Durapalm. This sugar and coconut palm flooring is known for its look of luxuriousness without sacrificing sustainability. In fact, this material is recycled and used later as an alternative building material.

Create the perfect acoustic space for your quiet business with PlybooSound

Spaces like libraries and coffee shops are frequently visited locations known for their quiet and relaxing environment where people can study or simply relax. However, your choice of wall and floor paneling could be affecting the noise level in your place of business.

San Francisco-based designer and manufacturer of eco-friendly bamboo products Smith & Fong has come out with a new collection that is perfect for reducing noise. The PlybooSound bamboo panels have a natural elegance to them, equipped with sound-proofing technology to greatly reduce any ambient noise. The RealCore technology assures you that this is as stable as any other material, with exposed cores and bi-directional construction. The collection is available in eight different patterns and colors to fit whatever design you need.

The environment will also be happy with your choice of wall paneling, as Plyboo sound can help your business contribute toward three LEED credits. It’s made from 100 percent Forest Stewardship Council​-certified bamboo, which is not only renewable, it’s free of urea-formaldehyde.

Here are a few places of business that could greatly benefit from the PlybooSound bamboo paneling:

Restaurants

Restaurants can get particularly noisy, especially on the weekends. The main reason people go to dinner is to talk to those around them, whether it’s a family gathering or a first date. Customers are going to be much more likely to choose your eating establishment if they can actually hear each other speak while enjoying their meals. Senior citizens would especially benefit from the PlybooSound collection and its QuietWall Technology. With age, it can be harder to pick out specific sounds, and these walls will make it easier to socially interact with others.

Libraries

If you’ve ever been in a library when someone is talking, you know how much that noise can transfer and bounce off the walls. It makes it hard to study, read or relax. But with bamboo paneling, you can be rest assured that readers and students alike will find solace in your building. The QuietWall technology is equipped with sound-dampening material applied to the wall or ceiling, depending on the application.

Coffee shops

In order to attract customers, coffee shops often have to have a trendy design style and offer a quiet environment to sit and sip on your cup of joe. Bamboo fulfills both of these requirements, with a sleek design that can double as artwork as well as a noise-reducing resource.

Encourage office collaboration with an open-concept design

It’s a constant struggle trying to figure out how to increase collaboration within offices, but there’s one thing that may be able to encourage daily productivity: an open-concept office design.

An overwhelming majority of U.S. employees now work in open-plan offices. More and more businesses are opting for this type of design and moving away from the traditional high-walled cubicles and corner offices.

“There’s less hierarchy in the modern workplace, and this trend toward open office design reflects that,” Ken Wilson, principal at the Perkins + Will architecture  firm in Washington, D.C., told USA Today.

According to a research study by the University of Southern California, a collaborative environment actually increased productivity.

The concept largely reflects trendy spaces like lounges, cafeterias, outdoor plazas, alcoves and bistro lounges. The result of this particular design? More productivity, flexibility and collaboration among employees. The younger generation of employees is more accustomed to working in a more collaborative way, which is a big part of today’s education. It’s not about being chained to a desk, it’s about bringing positive changes to the workplace.

Open office designs also cut down on building costs by utilizing the same area in a less constricting way, increasing the efficiency of the space and filling the office with more natural light. The adoption of green building standards in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design has also played a key part in the growing popularity of this design by increasing the use of natural light in buildings. In this digital age, an open-concept floorplan allows for more face-to-face interaction, leading to increased employee satisfaction through social connections.

If you’re looking to produce an open-space office design in your place of business, consider taking advantage of bamboo panels. San Francisco-based company Smith & Fong has two new lines – PlybooSound and Plyboo Reveal – both of which are specifically designed with open-concept offices in mind.

These panels work to keep the workplace quiet by dampening the sounds that can create a stressful environment. This allows all employees to go about their business without unnecessary noise bouncing off the walls. These panels can help contribute to better productivity and an overall happier workspace.

The A5 panel from the PlybooSound collection offers a trendy design for an aesthetically pleasing space. Pair the panels with modern lighting for an office space that is as beautiful as it is productive.

See Plyboo’s panel collections with this virtual design tool

One of the hardest things about redesigning a space is the inability to see what the final result will look like. Sometimes you choose a certain material for flooring, or a color of paint for the wall, and it looks entirely different than you had imagined. But with Plyboo’s virtual tool, you can choose the perfect bamboo panels for your space with just the click of a mouse.

If you’re after a certain design aesthetic in your space, you’ll want to make sure to choose panels that are not only the perfect color, but that fit the style you’re after. If you’re not very familiar with bamboo panels, or the way they look, this tool allows you to pick between any of the three collections – Reveal, PlybooSound and Linear Line – and helps you see exactly how each of them would look once they were installed.

Simply click on the bamboo panel you’re interested in, and you will immediately see how it looks in a room. You’ll also be able to see a close-up of the bamboo panels to really give you an accurate idea of their appearance. This way, there are no surprises when it comes time to actually install the panels. You’ll know exactly what you’re getting, leaving nothing up to chance and giving you the design that fits your vision.

Bamboo panels for yoga studios

Yoga has become one of the most popular forms of physical and mental exercise in the world. Its mix of bodily exertion and breathing exercises intended to create a balanced spiritual experience have helped to establish yoga as a part of the American workout landscape.

With that growing popularity has come a proliferation of yoga studios, from simple storefront operations to more ornate spaces that use the most innovative techniques in modern design, including bamboo panels, to create a comforting environment that matches the activity taking place within its walls.

Yoga’s popularity

According to Statistic Brain, approximately 15 million people in America practice yoga as of July 2013, and about $27 billion is spent on yoga products in the U.S. on an annual basis.

Those are not only remarkable numbers in the aggregate, they also represent dramatic rises from just five years ago. In the past half-decade, spending on yoga products has risen 87 percent, and there has been a 20 percent average annual increase in the number of people who practice yoga.

What’s more, that popularity is pretty evenly spaced out across regions and age groups. The West Coast, Northeast and Midwest all have approximately the same number of participants. And the 18-34 and 35-54 age groups each make up a little more than 40 percent of people who practice yoga in America.

Designing a yoga studio

As the practice of yoga continues its rapid rise up the list of American hobbies, designing a yoga studio that stands out from the competition is more important than ever. So if you own or manage a studio, or are considering getting into the business, you’ll want to add materials and styles to your space that give it a unique and innovative look.

One way to accomplish that aim is to add decorative bamboo panels, like the Reveal Collection from San Francisco-based bamboo product manufacturer and distributor Smith & Fong. These panels, like the C10 version that is pictured, lend a subtle yet eye-catching aesthetic to any space, and will give your yoga studio an added visual element that won’t take away from the overall calming comfort that many studios attempt to instill.

And because the Reveal Collection is made out of environmentally sustainable bamboo, it adds an eco-conscious element to your studio that yoga enthusiasts will likely appreciate since they tend to be more environmentally aware consumers.

If you’re looking to add an innovative look to your yoga studio, Reveal bamboo panels from Smith & Fong may be just the thing you need.

New ways to incorporate bamboo into your home or office design

Partially due to its environmental sustainability, and partially due to its practical advantages, bamboo has become a go-to material for artists and designers in recent years. One area where it has been especially useful is residential and commercial design.

Floor to ceiling, bamboo is making a major impact on the way we live at home and in the office, and with new bamboo products coming out on a regular basis, that evolution is sure to continue.

Bamboo panels

Bamboo panels represent one of the innovative ways designers and manufacturers are increasing the versatility of bamboo as a decorative element. In San Francisco, bamboo product manufacturer and distributor Smith & Fong recently released its new line of bamboo panels, which it calls the Reveal Collection.

The carved and textured Reveal bamboo panels mesh the face layer and revealed inner core to create a remarkably visually appealing amenity that you can install in any room, public or private.

The collection, which uses Smith & Fong’s proprietary RealCore™ technology to ensure consistency and stability, comes in eight different color patterns and colors, providing you with even more options when you are designing your indoor spaces.

Just as important at the aesthetic element are the eco-friendly aspects of the panels. Bamboo is a sustainable alternative to hardwood, as it naturally regrows in a short, three to five year timeframe. And the Reveal panels are made of 100-percent Forest Stewardship Council certified bamboo, while also being free of urea formaldehyde. Those are just a few of the reasons they can help you earn three Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design credits.

Bamboo furniture

During the recent Beijing Design Week, artist and designer Jeff Da-yu Shi exhibited several pieces of furniture made of bamboo. He has been working on this line of products for more than two years, and design week gave him an opportunity to show them off to the public.

Part of the reason it took Shi so long to finish his line of furniture is that he is an adherent of “slowwork,” according to Design Boom.

“It is not only rethinking of mass production, but also an important spirit from our culture,” Shi told the magazine. “Designers need to spend more time on studying the material, craftsmanship, looking into the designs from the root. By doing so, design products will have the opportunity to surpass the test of time. Therefore, research, design, verification and breakthrough are the four key factors of ‘slowwork’.”

By incorporating bamboo into his process, Shi was able to create magnificent pieces of bamboo furniture that are also true to his culture and the environment.

How to make bamboo panels work in your own home

It’s often the smallest details in a home that make the biggest impact on its design aesthetic, whether it’s a piece of art hanging on the wall, decorative pillows on the sofa or the finish on your kitchen sink. But there’s one design element that is often overlooked and can not only bring style and modernity to your home, but a sense of calm as well: bamboo panels.

San Francisco-based company Smith & Fong has a new line of bamboo panels, the Reveal Collection, which are available finished or unfinished and come in a variety of designs. The collection is equipped with Real Core Technology, and have tight plywood cores and exceptional quality. The panels are available in a number of designs, making it easy to choose one that best fits the design of your home. The C12 panel offers an eye-catching design that provides visual interest, texture and personality for any room in your home.

No matter where you plan to install your bamboo panels, it’s important to know how to make them work when combined with the space’s design aesthetic. Here are a few ideas on how to incorporate these panels and make them blend seamlessly in any room of your home:

Open up a small space

Even if you only have a limited amount of space to work with, there are still ways to open up the room and make it appear larger. Open up a tight spot by incorporating bamboo panels on the walls over the dining room or kitchen table. The textured bamboo really gives a coziness and warmth to the kitchen and makes the area appear larger by using up the vertical space on the wall.

Accent walls

While you could use these panels as a piece of art, you can also create an accent wall, which is a creative alternative to the other walls in your home. With an accent wall, the design differs and its color can simply be a different shade of the hue on the other walls of the room. If you’re afraid of creating an accent wall using a dramatic color, you can play it more subtle while still making a bold statement with bamboo paneling. The shade of bamboo doesn’t overwhelm the room, but instead brings the design together by acting as a focal point. Mount a TV or light structure on the panels to draw the eye in.

Headboard

Create a cozy bedroom by swapping out your headboard for bamboo panels. The neutral shade of the panels makes it easy to match whatever comforter or wall color that you already have in your bedroom. Using panels is a simple way to quickly renovate your room for a new and updated look.

Creating a modern kitchen with bamboo paneling

The kitchen isn’t just a place to prepare, cook and enjoy food. It’s a spot where families and friends come together to have a good time and create new memories. It’s an entertaining space that is often the heart of the home. The kitchen is also one of the main places that potential homebuyers look at first when deciding whether or not they would like to purchase a home. Therefore, the design aesthetic in your kitchen should be as welcoming, warm and comfortable as possible. Creating a stylish kitchen and comfortable can increase your home’s value, both intrinsically and monetarily.

One of the best materials you can use throughout your kitchen is bamboo. Its environmental benefits are abundant. Not only is it more durable than hardwood, its ability to grow and spread quickly without the need for fertilizers or pesticides make it a very health-friendly option as well. Bamboo releases more oxygen into the air than a similar-sized stand of trees and it matures within seven years, compared to 30 to 50 years for other trees. Bamboo is also effective in preventing soil erosion, uses less water than trees, keeps water in watersheds and helps decrease water pollution due to its high consumption of nitrogen and tendency to absorb pollutants.

San Francisco-based company Smith & Fong has a new line of bamboo panels, PlybooSound, which is great for reducing noise in any space and brings a certain beauty that is both subtle and aesthetically pleasing. The A4 panel would fit seamlessly into any kitchen design. Its speckled brown color and patterned layout bring a warmth into the space that can’t be produced with paint or wallpaper. Consider any of these creative ways to integrate bamboo into your kitchen:

Backsplash

Create an attractive wall behind your cooking prep area with a bamboo backsplash. It provides the perfect neutral background to set the tone for the rest of the space. The bamboo is a textured backdrop that can be easily integrated into a modern, contemporary or rustic kitchen. This unique material keeps the overall look of the cooking space neutral and soothing.

Wall art

Not sure what to do with a blank wall in your kitchen? Consider using bamboo panels to fill the space. The bamboo will draw attention to the wall and provide visual interest without overwhelming the design aesthetic. Place them near your kitchen table to create a focal point.

How to position panels in your space for the most sound absorption

Whether you own a restaurant, coffee shop, library or home, controlling the acoustics in your space is essential to creating a welcoming and comfortable environment. Improving sound absorption can help to reduce stress, increase productivity and even improve people’s overall experience in the space.

With absorbing bamboo panels, the acoustics in your space can be significantly improved. Quality and clarity of sound can be improved, while noise, echoing and reverberation can be reduced.

Contrary to popular belief, sound-absorbing panels will not soundproof a room. It will, however, boost the quality of the acoustics and reduce noise in the space where they are installed.

For example, sound-absorbing panels are commonly found in home theaters. Oftentimes, people spend top dollar on high-definition televisions, surround sound speaker systems and theater-style furniture, but they forget about the acoustics of the room itself, which is just as crucial to the overall experience. Many home theaters can suffer from muddled voices and echoing from the bass. With sound-absorbing panels, there will be an amazing difference in the sound quality and clarity.

San Francisco-based company Smith & Fong has a new line of bamboo panels, PlybooSound, which is great for reducing noise in restaurants, public venues, open work spaces, libraries, lobbies, university lounges and more. The collection is equipped with QuietWall Technology, which is a sound-dampening material applied to the wall or ceiling. The panels are available in a number of designs, making it easy to choose one that best fits the design of your home or business. The A1 panel features a modern design that can easily be integrated into any style of room.

Where to place your sound-absorbing panels largely depends on the space in which they’re being installed. You should keep in mind that a visually appealing appearance is often the guiding factor in placement. However, no matter where you end up installing them, the panels will work to soak up any extra sound, whether it’s coming from a booming home theater system or the clicking and clacking of a keyboard in an office space.

Here are a couple guidelines for strategically placing your sound-absorbing bamboo panels to make the most of the space:

You get more absorption per foot of panel when it is placed in or near a corner.

If there is a primary source of sound in the room, like surround-sound speakers, it’s best to place the panels at first reflection points. These are places where the sound will reflect off the panel and reach the listener. Adding panels at reflection points reduces late-arriving sound so that your brain can focus on one clear copy of the sound, instead of hearing echos.

Preventing indoor noise pollution

While most studies and discussions of noise pollution center around things like airports and concerts, its indoor effects, especially in the workplace, can be incredibly harmful to production and worker attitudes.

Scientific study of noise pollution

In the workplace, indoor noise pollution can have a wide range of detrimental effects. Government and private studies conducted the world over have pointed to noise pollution in the office as a major factor in reducing efficiency, contributing to a negative social environment and even causing worker health issues.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency devotes a section of its website to the negative consequences of noise pollution. The World Health Organization has highlighted it as an issue in both indoor and outdoor environments. And studies done at two California universities show how noise adversely affects workers in the office.

Certain countries, like South Africa, even have specific protections built into their workers’ compensation acts that cover the health effects of noise pollution.

Ramifications of noise pollution in the office

Aside from any objective health issues that might arise as a result of noise pollution in the office, there is also the less quantifiable problem of how it affects worker productivity and attitude.

Anyone who has ever tried to concentrate in a noisy environment can attest to its difficulty. Reading, writing, researching and even taking a few minutes to yourself for lunch can all be hampered or completely interrupted by too much ambient noise. And the more often you have to deal with that problem, the worse it becomes, with the issue compounding on top of itself.

Open-design offices have only added to the problem. While they can be an attractive space that encourages collaboration, they also make it much more likely that conversations and activities will float through the space, making it more difficult for everyone to be productive.

Fixing noise pollution in the office

Fortunately, for owners and managers of businesses or properties that face this issue, there are two new lines of acoustical bamboo panels from the San Francisco-based company Smith & Fong. Its new lines – PlybooSound and Plyboo Reveal – are designed specifically with the open office design in mind.

The panels act to dampen the sounds that clutter public spaces, allowing workers, clients and customers to go about their business without unnecessary auditory clutter. In turn, the upgraded environment can lead to better productivity, more efficient use of time and a happier workspace where people don’t feel overwhelmed by those around them.

Plyboo Sound bamboo panels vie for Interior Design magazine award

Time is running out to vote for the Interior Magazine Best of the Year awards, and the Architectural Products category has inspired some pretty fierce competition. Among the entrants vying for the prize is the Plyboo Sound line of products from the San Francisco-based designer and manufacturer of eco-friendly bamboo products, Smith & Fong.

While there are certainly several products in the category that are deserving of recognition, Plyboo Sound offers a level of elegance, sophistication, technological expertise and practical benefit that few, if any, of its competitors can match.

What is Plyboo Sound?

Plyboo Sound is a line of bamboo panels that use Smith & Fong’s proprietary sound-dampening QuietWall™ technology to help reduce ambient noise. Made from rapidly renewable bamboo that is 100 percent certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, Plyboo Sound panels are also completely free of urea-formaldehyde.

Plyboo Sound also incorporates Smith & Fong’s RealCore™ technology and bi-directional construction, both of which ensure that the exposed cores are consistent and that stability is maximized. And it accomplishes all of that while remaining an attractive option for large open work spaces, hospitality venues and other public areas.

The many benefits of Plyboo Sound

Plyboo Sound panels offer a number of advantages – practical, aesthetic and environmental – over traditional wood or composite paneling.

With a Noise Reduction Coefficient average of 0.5, the QuietWall technology allows the panels to reduce ambient noise in public places, an important amenity in today’s design world where open floor plans have become the dominant style in many offices and commercial buildings.

They also come in eight different pre-finished or unfinished patterns and colors, and are available in sheet sizes of 4-by-8 feet, with a .75-inch thickness. That diversity of patterns and colors provides a wide range of options when it comes to creating a visually appealing environment wherever the panels are installed.

And Plyboo Sound’s environmental benefits are not to be understated. They contribute toward three Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design credits, partially based on their avoidance of urea-formaldehyde.

Although it’s a well-known cause of several adverse health effects that impact the eyes, nose and respiratory system, urea-formaldehyde is still used in many construction projects. By eschewing the substance, Smith & Fong has added yet another eco- and human-friendly element to this already impressive product.

Voting for the Best of Year awards closes on Friday, Oct. 11, so be sure to log onto Interior Design’s website and fill out your ballot today.

Plyboo Reveal bamboo panels and the annual Interior Design awards

Voting for the Interior Design magazine annual Best of Year awards is in full swing, and the Plyboo Reveal collection, from Smith & Fong, is among the entrants with aspirations for winning one of the coveted honors. And with voting taking place between Oct. 1 and 11, you’re going to want to log on to Interior Design’s site and place your vote within the next few days.

What is Plyboo Reveal?

Competing in the materials and surfaces category, the Reveal products are a series of carved and textured bamboo panels. Plyboo Reveal features a spectacular visual effect, which is created by the interplay between the exterior layer and a revealed inner core.

Offered in eight different patterns and color options, the Reveal line is also remarkable for its stability, a quality it achieves through Plyboo’s proprietary RealCore™ technology. That technology, along with bamboo material layered in a bi-directional layer format, ensures consistency in the revealed cores.

Why Plyboo Reveal?

The Reveal bamboo panels are ideal for open-concept office spaces where ambient noise and vocal collaboration can often become distractions for other workers. Its acoustical-dampening effect works to mute the cacophony of sounds that tend to float through those attractive yet sometimes impractical spaces. A well-placed selection of the 4-by-8, .25-inch-thick panels, which are available pre-finished or unfinished, can help accentuate the visual appeal of office spaces while also helping to make them more comfortable and enjoyable places to work.

Beyond wall panels, they are also excellent options for elevator lobbies and cabs, reception desks, focus walls or simply as artistic adornment.

Plyboo Reveal’s environmental benefits

The Reveal collection is not only notable for its beauty and stability, it is also an eco-friendly option for homeowners, contractors, designers and developers who are looking to make their structures and spaces more environmentally sustainable.

Made from rapidly renewable bamboo that is also certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, the Reveal products are good for 3 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) credits.
LEED has become the environmental standard that owners and developers of new and renovated buildings are attempting to achieve in their effort to meet the requirements of a changing world – one that is more aware of environmental techniques in all facets of daily life.

Discovering and voting for Plyboo Reveal

If you would like to learn more about Plyboo Reveal, go to the Plyboo website, where you can find specs and pricing for various products in the line. And once you’re aware of their many benefits, you can go to the voting page for the Interior Design awards and place your vote.

Bamboo is setting a standard in intelligent design

Along with greater public awareness of intelligent design in homes, offices and commercial buildings, has come an increased reliance on bamboo as a building material. Bamboo floors, panels and even bamboo plywood have become essential materials for developers and contractors who are looking to create attractive, sustainable buildings that also deal with problems like noise pollution and ecological calamities.

In fact, in some places around the world, bamboo has become so popular that entire homes, office buildings and schools are now being built out of the stuff.

Bamboo buildings

In Southeast Asia, where the benefits of bamboo have been known for centuries, modern designers have turned to it not just as an added amenity, but as the basis for construction.

Known as “The Green School,” a learning center in Bali, Indonesia, was recognized as the 2012 Greenest School on Earth by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Center for Green Schools. The sustainable, open-air structure recently graduated its first high school class, and world environmental leaders like former United States Vice President Al Gore were part of the tribute to all that has been accomplished so far.

Sitting at the foot of the Great Wall of China is another example of how bamboo can be the primary building block of a modern structure. Known simply as “The Great Wall House,” this home melds beauty, ecological sustainability and the recognition of the importance of integrating structures into their natural environments to create a building that is both modern and a nod to China’s history.

Standing up to natural disasters

Eugenius Pradipto, a bamboo structure specialist in Indonesia, advocates for the use of bamboo in buildings in places that, like his homeland, are prone to earthquakes and other natural disasters.

His work, including a church and a cultural center made out of bamboo, has helped make that country one of the world’s leaders in bamboo buildings.

Bamboo solving modern problems

Bamboo is not only an excellent option on an environmental level, it can also deal with modern issues like noise pollution. New bamboo panels from Smith & Fong help to cancel out overt noise in open-design office spaces, an issue that has plagued companies as they try to make their workspaces more collaborative.

With problems both manmade and natural always a concern in intelligent design, bamboo is providing a way to solve those issues in a smart, responsible and progressive manner. And as its use spreads around the globe, architects, contractors and designers are finding that bamboo is among the most useful tools at their disposal.

Reducing noise in the modern office

Just as homes and commercial buildings have undergone design revolutions in recent years, so too has the modern office space. Increasingly relying on open spaces – which promote collaboration between workers, as opposed to the traditional cubicles and walled-off spaces – offices have become places with personalities all their own.

While, overall, that is an exciting development, and one that has led many employees to enjoy their office experience more than they have in the past, there have been some negative consequences.

One of those is that open office designs can also often lead to much noisier environments.

The effects of noise in the workplace

Anyone who has worked in an open-concept office knows that it can lead to a little too much collaboration, in that you become privy to most every detail of your co-workers’ projects and even their personal lives. That has made finding a way to preserve the openness of these modern offices, while also reducing their collateral noisiness, a priority for many companies.

According to a study done by the Cornell University Department of Design and Environmental Analysis, any sound that rises above 50 decibels can be disruptive in the workplace – which, when you consider that the average human conversation comes in at about 60 decibels, makes finding a way to reduce noise in the office an important concern.

Many of the common effects noise has on people – including decreased productivity, increased illness, stress, fatigue and hormone levels, and lower job satisfaction and morale – are directly counterproductive to the original point of introducing open office designs in the first place.

Reducing the din

So, how can companies have the best of both worlds? Well, there are new products, like PlybooSound with QuietWall(tm) technology for offices, that are designed specifically to counteract ambient noise.

Smith & Fong, a San Francisco-based manufacturer of bamboo plywood, formaldehyde free and many other bamboo products for the home, office and commercial buildings, offers customers several options when it comes to reducing noise in the workplace.

By installing PlybooSound panels, companies can realize a severe reduction in ambient noise while also introducing a beautiful, environmentally sustainable element to their modern office that can also withstand heavy use. These bamboo products can even contribute to LEED(r) certification.

Managing to find the sweet spot between open collaboration, an aesthetically pleasing space, ecologically friendly materials and the practical considerations of everyday workplaces will always be difficult. But Plyboo sound panels and other products from Smith & Fong can go a long way toward achieving all of those goals.

Bamboo house could help alleviate many world problems

Bamboo floors and panels have almost become commonplace in modern home design and renovation, but what about entire structures made of the stuff?

In Vietnam, one architectural firm is using bamboo to build low-cost homes that can withstand floods and operate as environmentally sustainable structures. It’s a design that could prove revolutionary on many different levels.

Low-cost housing option

The 473-square-foot structure, designed by H & P Architects and known as Blooming Bamboo, is expected to cost approximately $2,500 per structure, making it the kind of option that could be purchased even in economically-distressed communities.

By relying on natural bamboo, which can be found in abundance many places around the globe, H & P was able to use a material that helped bring the overall cost of manufacturing down to the point that the home would be economically viable even for those who wouldn’t normally have the financial means to purchase a home.

Easy to build

Another attribute that could make this new home an important part of aiding world communities is that it can be assembled by the owner within 25 days or, with help, in even less time. That cuts into costly, deliberate construction delays that often hamper the extension of housing availability to areas where it is needed most.

Regional conflicts around the world, especially the ongoing one in Syria, have led to a sharp increase in refugees and, thus, refugee camps. That’s why it is so important to have housing options that can be erected quickly, while also offering strong shelter and protection from diseases that often thrive in the tents and other cheap structures often relied on by aid agencies.

Flood-resistant

Currently, Blooming Bamboo is designed to withstand floods of up to five feet, but H & P is working on an updated version that would take that number up to 10 feet. Especially in southeast Asia, where flood seasons are simply considered part of life, this low-cost, simple structure could provide a measure of relief to populations who are literally inundated on a yearly basis.

Environmentally sound

One of bamboo’s primary virtues as a building material is that it provides a sustainable alternative to hardwoods and other strong substances. By using it as the base for the house, H & P has not only come up with a low-cost, easy-to-build, flood-resistant housing option that could be a boon to distressed populations in many parts of the world, it has done so in an eco-friendly manner, once again showing the power of bamboo to be a tool in solving modern problems.

Innovative uses for bamboo in restaurants

Over the past 15 years or so, restaurants have become some of the most innovative businesses in the world. Whether it’s the dishes they prepare, the ingredients they use, the layout of their kitchens or the way they design their public spaces, restaurants across the globe have been pushing the envelope of what modern cuisine is and how it should be experienced.
Among those many innovations, novel approaches to bamboo have been some of the most notable. And it isn’t just being used by restaurants serving Asian cuisine. With many remarkable properties that make it beneficial for use as a food product, cooking implement or design element, bamboo has made its way into the consciousness of restaurateurs everywhere.

Not just bamboo shoots

Anyone who has ever scanned a menu at a Chinese restaurant, or most other Southeast Asian restaurants for that matter, has likely come across multiple dishes that include bamboo shoots.
The subtle sweetness and distinctive crunch of bamboo shoots have made them a staple of Asian entrees, soups and side dishes for centuries. Harvested as soon as they emerge from the soil, bamboo shoots are also potassium-rich and low in calories and fat, making them a healthy addition to any meal.

But these days, bamboo is being used in restaurant kitchens in a number of other innovative ways.

New ways to use bamboo in the kitchen

In Catalonia, Spain, the restaurant El Celler de Can Roca recently introduced a new “hot” ice cream dish. And while the dessert itself – which is a baked brioche with ice cream and other fillings inside – doesn’t incorporate bamboo in its ingredients, it is a pivotal part of the dish’s preparation.

The chefs at El Celler have reconfigured a traditional sandwich press so that it can make the hot-cold treat, while also giving it the moniker Oxymoron Maker II to reflect its new purpose. Designed by artist Andreu Carulla, it is made with stainless steel and bamboo plywood, and was custom-built to bake ice cream brioche.

The bamboo plywood is both a design and practical element of the machine, giving it an elegant look and acting to ventilate the inside of the press so that the heat affects the outer brioche without melting the ice cream.

El Celler’s innovation is just one of many cooking apparati being developed around the world that use bamboo, with bamboo cooking pots and steamers being the most common. Restaurants have also turned to bamboo panels and floors for practical and decorative process, making bamboo an increasingly all-purpose material in the culinary industry.

Using the natural world to inspire and create

For many people, making a house a home involves incorporating natural materials and into their building and design strategies. By creating spaces that have the look and feel of the outside world, homeowners and contractors can bring the tranquility of nature indoors while also maintaining a sense of intimacy.

Taking inspiration from the natural world

When you begin a design or construction project, it’s important to find inspiration in all manner of places. In nature, four and a half billion years of trial and error have produced the kinds of concepts that will serve you well when you look for insights into creating a comfortable yet eye-catching indoor or outdoor space.

Whether you’re trying to decide which materials to use, or looking for design patterns, the examples you see all around you can be the best place to start your process.

Natural materials and amenities

Hardwood floors are always an excellent place to start when trying to assimilate natural elements into your home or commercial spaces. Among the many options available, bamboo floors provide an option that not only captures the kind of rustic feel you may be looking for, they’re also a sustainable alternative to more traditional maple or oak. And if you’re going to take your inspiration from nature, shouldn’t you also opt for something that returns the favor?

If you want to carry that theme over to other surfaces, bamboo panels are also an excellent option for decorating your walls and cabinets. They can work as extensions of your floors while providing a smooth, attractive finish that will have you luxuriating in your wood-finished oasis.

Outdoor areas with an outdoor feel

Porches, balconies and decks often transpose indoor styles on outdoor areas. But using plastics and metals to build and decorate an outdoor recreation and relaxation area is like eating a spoon with a bowl of soup. Instead, consider molding those spaces so that they complement their natural surroundings.

Bamboo decking is one way to achieve that aesthetic. By giving your deck or patio a wood-finished look, it will become a seamless extension of its surroundings, making it appear as if your home melds into its environment. By using that sort of design concept, you will make your backyard or public commercial space a place where people want to gather to commune with nature, not set themselves apart from it.

Through nature, we are constantly surrounded by an aura only remotely captured by the word “beauty.” Do right by yourself and take advantage of it.

Bamboo in contemporary construction and design

With its eco-friendly sustainable qualities and naturally beautiful look and texture, bamboo is rapidly becoming the trendy material to use in home and commercial developments across the United States.

Some of the country’s hippest cities – as well as one that isn’t always thought of as being so fashionable but is in the process of watching a contemporary apartment building rise in its midst – are experiencing what can only be described as a bamboo revolution in the construction and renovation industries.

Environmentally friendly Hard Rock Cafe

The Hard Rock Cafe in Honolulu isn’t just a restaurant and attraction for locals and tourists, it’s also an environmentally friendly building with Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

While you’ll probably first check out the restaurant for its live music, specialty happy hour cocktails and exotic foods inspired by local cuisine, you’ll come back to spend a few more minutes gazing at its eye-catching bamboo floors. And it was those bamboo floors, along with recycled glass and green operating procedures, that were a major reason why the building was able to earn its

Diamond LEED recognition.

Chic Los Angeles home incorporates bamboo

In Los Angeles these days, the northeast side of town is the place to be. Boasting an ever-increasing population of celebrities, hot new bars and restaurants, and classic homes that have been renovated with modern flourishes, it’s the neighborhood in which to see and be seen.

One of those updated northeast-side vintage homes is located in the Eagle Rock neighborhood, and recently went up for sale. Built in 1921, the 902-square-foot residence located on an 8,000-square-foot lot features bamboo throughout, with strand bamboo flooring and solid bamboo countertops in the kitchen and bamboo floors in one of the bedrooms.

Those innovative and sustainable design techniques have made this property one of the more desirable on the market in trendy Los Angeles.

Hot in Cleveland

Cleveland isn’t usually thought of as being at the forefront of modern culture, but a new residential development in the city may help to change that image.

Developer Andrew Brickman, known for building the energy-efficient Eleven Rivers residences in nearby Rocky River, is using bamboo floors as part of his effort to keep his latest project – the Clifton Pointe Townhomes, in the Lakewood area of Cleveland – as sustainable and modern as possible.

Bamboo panels and floors aren’t just about sustainability. As these projects are showing, their natural beauty can make them an important feature of any modern design.

Working out on bamboo floors a more satisfying experience

A healthy mind is often the product of a healthy body. And by incorporating the comforting atmosphere afforded by bamboo flooring and paneling into your workout space you can bring those two things even closer together.

Groups get fit on top of bamboo floors

Group fitness classes are among the many popular health options available to those looking to improve their physical and mental well-being. Classes ranging from yoga to resistance training programs have become some of the most popular ways for people of all ages to spend their free time getting into better shape.

It used to be that when you went to a gym to work out, the rooms were intentionally designed to be as militaristic as possible, or simply didn’t make any attempt at having a design at all. Now, though, as people become more aware of the psychological benefits of a well-designed space, workout studios and gyms across the country have increasingly begun using more modern, attractive elements to create a welcoming environment that is more encouraging to people who might need a little extra motivation to put in their workout time.

One of the ways that effect is being achieved is by using bamboo to make fitness flooring. The material’s rich colors and natural look can lend studios a more comforting, zen-like ambience, and just as importantly, bamboo often holds up better against heavy use than do traditional hardwood floors.

Pop Physique, in San Francisco, is just one of the many fitness palaces that has found bamboo flooring to be a superior option in terms of its practical ability to withstand multiple classes a day – each made up of dozens of people – as well as its eco-friendly qualities, including bamboo’s improved sustainability over hardwood.

Blended with floor-to-ceiling windows and a view of a neighborhood garden, Pop Physique’s bamboo floors allow the studio’s many customers to get fit in the midst of an environment that soothes and relaxes their minds.

Fitness at home

Those who prefer to do their working out at home will find that bamboo can help them turn a small office or unused bedroom into a comfortable getaway where they can engage in yoga, weight lifting or pretty much any other activity.

By installing bamboo panels or floors in a room you intend to use as a home workout studio, you can create the kind of meditative environment that will not only make your daily fitness routine more palatable, you will probably come to view it as one of the brightest moments of your day.

Bamboo an important player in DOE’s Solar Decathlon competition

The Solar Decathlon, a biennial competition sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, is set to take place at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine, Calif, Oct. 3-13, 2013.
The DOE describes the decathlon as, “an award-winning program that challenges collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive. The winner of the competition is the team that best blends affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency.”

Bamboo for the win

Collegiate teams competing in the decathlon are always looking for an ecological edge in their effort to take home the grand prize, and this year many of them are using sustainable bamboo products to maximize their chances of winning by minimizing their environmental footprint.

Bamboo leads to decreased deforestation due its annual natural regenerative quality. It also has a root structure that prevents erosion and, with its ability to be harvested by hand, reduces man-made impact on local habitats. Those are just a few of the reasons bamboo is considered a superior material for use in ecologically friendly homes, and they are part of the motivation for its expanded use in this year’s decathlon.

University of North Carolina, Charlotte team using bamboo

Having been inspired by the ambitious urban revitalization projects taking place throughout Charlotte, N.C., the Solar Decathlon team from UNC Charlotte has designed a home, which they call UrbanEden, that is intended to be capable of being easily built in a modern city environment.

According to the Mother Nature Network, UrbanEdge was the team’s answer to the question, “How do you bring nature into the city?” – a feat they were able to accomplish by incorporating natural design elements and materials like bamboo panels, which they installed on interior and exterior walls, a rainwater-collection system and locally manufactured non-toxic paints.

Santa Clara University’s team turns to bamboo

While solar energy is the driving force behind Santa Clara University’s Solar Decathlon entry, known as the Radiant Home, bamboo is also a primary component in its effort to take home the top prize. Using bamboo to build a large portion of the home’s structural elements, including the walls, floors and ceilings, represents the culmination of 10 years of research and development into the material’s design and engineering capabilities at Santa Clara.

The Solar Decathlon is meant to help blaze a trail forward in the world of eco-friendly construction, and these teams are showing how bamboo can be a major step forward in that effort.

Finding inspiration for your design project

When it comes to designing a home or office space, inspiration can come from anywhere. You can rely on a childhood memory or incorporate something from a friend or neighbor. You can turn to a favorite book, movie, stage or television show. The options are only as limited as your imagination allows.

Searching for inspiration

While some people will have a very clear idea of how they want their living or work space to look, others might start out with a more nebulous vision. For those whose mental picture of the outcome of their efforts isn’t as detailed, try carrying a notebook around with you or using your smartphone to record notes on ideas and inspirations.

Keeping notes is one of the most effective ways of putting together a design scheme. You can track and organize different things that catch your eye, record details of specific items of art or furniture that you might want to incorporate and build a database of different styles or materials that you’ll want to use or avoid.

Maybe you’ll wander into a friend’s home or a professional office and be struck by the way they use bamboo panels or the style of the hardwood floors. You might find a coffee table or couch you find especially appealing. By recording these things you will have a wealth of information to work off of when the time comes to get down to the business of designing your own spaces.

Finding what you want

Once you’ve built a list of wants, needs and things to avoid it’s time to find find those items out in the real world. Hopefully, part of your note taking involved recording where many of your inspirations can be found, but either way there are some places you’ll want to look.

If you’re going for a classic look, local antique stores and garage sales always present opportunities. Many of the bigger sales or antique stores will be listed either online or in a local newspaper.

Much like you’ve set up a plan to capture and inspiration, come up with an itinerary for your shopping travels. Maybe find an area that has multiple antique stores and come up with a plan that will allow you to see multiple places in one outing.

However, if you’ve decided that something more modern and innovative better fits your style you will want to look for boutique stores and online retailers to find a range of options. No matter which direction your inspiration takes you, be sure to keep records of what you’re doing. They will become an invaluable resource for you.

Using paneling to accentuate your home

When people design or redesign their indoor spaces, most of the attention is often paid to floors, furniture and appliances. As for walls and cabinetry, they can often be second thoughts, or simply places to hang paintings and photographs.

Whether you want to make your rooms to pop with appeal or casually blend in with the rest of the decor, spending some time, effort and thought on your wall and cabinetry design can go a long way toward achieving that goal. Of the many ways you can go about that, paneling can be your best solution for achieving your design goals.

Wall paneling

One way to spruce up your walls and other surfaces is by adding paneling. You can attach it to existing surfaces, use it to section off certain areas of your home or office and create small alcoves, or make it part of accenting to your indoor environment.

There are dozens of paneling options available on the market, but one that has been gaining in popularity in recent years is bamboo panels. Offering a wide variety of color and design options, along with superior environmental sustainability, products like Bamboo Tambour Paneling from Smith & Fong can blend in seamlessly with their surroundings or serve as the basis for tropical or oriental design themes. And it’s available for LEED credits, to boot.

One of the many benefits of bamboo panels is that they can be easily stained or re-finished to give you the exact hue you’re looking for, so you can beautifully realize your desired motif no matter what kind of lighting or color scheme it requires.

Cabinetry paneling

Cabinetry can be one of the most daunting challenges when building or redesigning a home or office. Especially during a redesign, it can be a huge added expense, while often only serving a practical purpose. But if you’d like to make those cabinets more than just protective, hinged coverings for your kitchenware, food and various other implements, consider adding paneling to help bring them out as a visually appealing feature.

By using attractive paneling to accentuate your cabinets or other often bland-looking surfaces, you can turn them into integrated parts of their environment.

Bamboo is an excellent option for cabinetry paneling as well. It will add some pizzazz to your rooms and make every trip to the pantry a little more interesting as you soak in the beauty and refinement of your innovative design choice.

Bamboo versus hardwood as an environmentally-conscious option

Whether you’re looking to install flooring or paneling in a new building or redo existing surfaces, you’re going to want to consider the environmental impact of the material you choose, along with price and visual appeal. Traditional hardwood options offer many benefits, but their contribution to deforestation and the fact it takes upwards of 20 years for trees regrow can have severe ecological repercussions.

Bamboo, on the other hand, is an alternative that has many environmental benefits over hardwood products. With greater overall sustainability and natural attributes that actually help to preserve and repair the local ecosystem, bamboo has become one of the most popular options for homeowners and contractors looking to lessen the environmental impact of their projects.

Ecological benefits of bamboo

Moso bamboo, which is native to China and is the material used in most bamboo floors and panels, has many ecological advantages over hardwood alternatives. The most notable is probably its short, five-year growth cycle. The relatively fast regrowth period significantly cuts into the deforestation issues created by hardwoods. And since Moso naturally regenerates on an annual basis, there is no need to replant after harvesting.

Bamboo is also an important natural source for erosion reduction. Its unique rhizome root structure holds loose soil in place, helping to bolster its surrounding ecosystem.

Environmental benefits of bamboo

Aside from working with its local ecosystem, bamboo also has many broad positive impacts on the Earth’s environment. It can capture up to 70 percent more carbon than hardwood forests on an annual basis, thus having positive benefits for impending climate change.

It is also grown without added fertilizers or pesticides, an important consideration for reducing chemical pollutants in a world where pervasive chemical toxins are causing unforeseen consequences to people, animals and the Earth itself.

Products that utilize sustainable bamboo

Because of its many environmental benefits, as well as its abundance, strength and pliability, Bamboo is used in a wide variety of products, from textiles to furniture to bicycles. In the past two decades, it has increasingly become a go-to resource in the building, remodeling and design of homes and commercial buildings.

There are a number of options available to you if you would like to utilize bamboo in your construction or design project. PlybooSahara and PlybooStrand bamboo flooring, from Smith & Fong, combine the best of the environmental and design worlds as have the beauty of hardwood, are actually harder than red oak, are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and use formaldehyde-free adhesive for bonding.

Redesigning a vintage home

Designers and DIYers often appreciate nothing more than taking a vintage home and using their skills and experience to turn it into a mesh of classic and modern styles. Their goal is to find a way to take the things about the home that made them fall in love with it in the first place, then add features and elements that retain its old-school feel while incorporating modern technology and style.

Working within the original framework

If you’ve decided to buy a vintage home it’s probably because you have an appreciation for the nostalgic essence it provides. So, as you go about redesigning it, you don’t want to lose that traditional appeal. In order to preserve what made the property so attractive in the first place, you’ll almost always want to work with what’s already there, instead of gutting it and starting from scratch.

One of the aspects of a vintage home that often needs the most work is flooring. Even if the home has been redesigned in the years since it was built, floors are one area that people often leave untouched. Preferring to stick with the original design, especially when the floors offer a beautiful complement to the overall environment of the home, they will settle for material that has withered or cracked in the intervening years. Aging hardwood floors are probably the most frequent example, since they are usually vital to the what makes the home so special, but also don’t necessarily stand up to the test of time.

Fortunately, there are ways to replace those old floors with something that can retain their original aesthetic value while also providing an environmental and visual upgrade. Bamboo products, including formaldehyde free flooring from the Smith & Fong company, are visually stunning and environmentally sustainable, making them an excellent option as you consider how to go about redoing your vintage home.

Reimagining your indoor spaces

Most vintage homes offer far more opportunities for redesign than just the floors. There may be foundational issues, surfaces that have to be re-stained or replaced altogether, and a raft of painting jobs throughout the house. Fortunately, these problems also present chances for you to use your keen eye for design to fashion them into your ideal living areas while also using more environmentally friendly products and materials.

Bamboo plywood for your foundations and bamboo panels to replace aging surfaces are two of the many choices available to you in your pursuit of turning your vintage home into a modern, efficient and gorgeous work of art.

How to live a more environmentally sustainable lifestyle

In today’s more eco-centric world, the word “sustainability” gets thrown around a lot. But what does it mean?

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, sustainability is a basic principle meaning, “Everything that we need for our survival and well-being depends, either directly or indirectly, on our natural environment. Sustainability creates and maintains the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony, that permit fulfilling the social, economic and other requirements of present and future generations.”

Applying the principle of sustainability

Even without a definition from a government agency, most people can come up with their own relatively similar understanding of sustainability. The problem is figuring out how to apply it to everyday life.

Sustainability requires more than just recycling and turning off the lights when you leave a room. To truly practice it, you have to make a conscious effort to utilize sustainable practices as often as you can in every facet of your life. That means thinking about it when you go to the grocery store, buy clothes and consider renovations to your home.

Sustainability in the home

Since your home is probably where you spend most of your time, it affords you the greatest opportunity to practice sustainability. Conserving energy by switching to LED light bulbs, turning thermostats down in the winter and up in the summer, and avoiding the use of appliances like dishwashers and microwaves whenever possible are just a few steps you can take.

But sustainability also extends to the way you design your home in the first place. Using products that are less harmful to the environment, like bamboo flooring, bamboo panels and bamboo plywood, provide significant sustainability advantages over traditional wood, and can be a major step toward leading a more ecologically productive lifestyle.

Using bamboo products to live a more sustainable lifestyle

With the ability to naturally regenerate on an annual basis, bamboo doesn’t have many of the dangerous deforestation effects Dr. Seuss warned us all about in The Lorax. Nor does it use the kinds of pesticides, fertilizer or erosion-causing artificial irrigation techniques that go into growing many other materials.

Bamboo also helps avoid erosion with its rhizome root structure that holds loose soil in place. The climate change benefits are also stunning, as bamboo forests can capture up to 70 percent more carbon per year than their hardwood counterparts.

Certain bamboo products, like Plyboo, from Smith & Fong, even eliminate formaldehyde from the adhesive process, leading to better indoor air quality.
Living a more sustainable lifestyle is a matter of awareness and effort. Fortunately, new products are becoming available every day that make that goal more attainable.

Bamboo products in the modern workplace

The old way of thinking about design as a system of function over form has almost disappeared over the past 20 years or so, as people realize they can achieve both ends at the same time. Customer-focused businesses have led the way in changing public spaces for the better, but even in traditional office spaces, employers are finding they can no longer get by with ordinary decor and furnishings in their efforts to create a comfortable and appealing work environment.

Modern design in the workplace

With the rise of modern design, workers are no longer satisfied spending 50 or more hours of their week sitting in staid, ugly, poorly lit offices. As their employers have become increasingly aware of those changing attitudes, they have turned to new and unique concepts to make their offices into welcoming, collaborative environments.

Newer, creative architectural techniques have led to things like open floor plans, cozier work spaces, more efficient and effective lighting and stylistic enhancements that have turned offices into places where people actually enjoy spending their time, as opposed to feeling like they’re trapped in a galley.

Among the many concepts, materials and design elements that have been making their way into the modern office are bamboo-derived products for floors, walls and furniture. Bamboo is even used as an alternative to plywood in products like Plyboo, from the Smith & Fong company.

More environmentally sustainable than traditional wood, while still providing the same, or even enhanced, aesthetic appeal, bamboo products can be part of any office construction or design. Not only are they more pliable and able to stand up to the kind of heavy use experienced in most offices, the environmental advantages they provide can be a big part of making commercial buildings more sustainable – a major concern in today’s more ecologically aware society.

Environmental benefits of using bamboo

Bamboo is grown with no added fertilizers, pesticides or irrigation, leading to significantly reduced, or even the elimination of, run-off toxic pollution in the local environment. Bamboo forests can sequester up to 70 percent more carbon than hardwood forests on an annual basis, limit land erosion and, since it regrows naturally every five years, there is no concern about deforestation.
Smith & Fong has taken the sustainability of bamboo even further by developing a formaldehyde-free glue for its products, making it the first adapter in the bamboo or palm industry to do so.

With their beauty, durability and eco-friendly attributes, products like bamboo flooring and paneling are becoming a bigger part of the interior design revolution, and can provide a major enhancement to any office space.

Using bamboo in your next project

Whether you’re a contractor or a DIYer, the type of materials you use in your next construction or home design project will be an important consideration. As you think about the look, feel and practicality of your interior spaces, it’s important to understand the impact all of the different materials that are available to you will have. Wood, brick, granite and steel are some of the go-to components for most home projects, but as design has become a major industry in America over the past few years, the options have greatly increased.

Building and design alternatives

While many of the traditional building and design components can and will play a major role in most any project you undertake, there are a slew of newer or repurposed older materials that are taking a larger role in the marketplace.

Beyond expanded consumer demand and awareness of design and construction, people are also more keen than ever to make their homes more sustainable and environmentally friendly. To that end, products made with bamboo and hemp, or that are manufactured from recycled, salvaged and natural building materials have been gaining in popularity over the past decade.

Of those products, bamboo has experienced some incredible growth in its use as a nearly all-purpose solution for some of the most difficult building and design problems. Unlike many of the other alternative materials, bamboo can be used in almost every room of the house, on nearly every type of surface and in a wide variety of styles and colors.

Using bamboo products to build and design a home

Flooring and paneling are the two most common areas where bamboo is being used. However, with new innovations like Plyboo, a bamboo-based alternative to traditional plywood, the options for using durable, pliable, sustainable bamboo in your home are growing all the time.

Plyboo, which is manufactured by Smith & Fong, can be the basis for turning any room of your home, office, restaurant or other space into a sleek yet comfortable environment. It’s especially adaptable to surfaces or structures that would normally call for wood, as it can retain the same look and feel while also being easier to install and paint in most cases.

As you begin to contemplate how to go about your next construction or design project, allow yourself to explore different styles and materials. By using sustainable, alternative materials, you can make your project both a showpiece and an example of modern, environmentally friendly architecture and design.

Bamboo plywood in the modern kitchen

For many people, the kitchen is the most important room in the house. It’s not just where they cook their meals, it’s a gathering place, living room, dining room and work station all in one. It’s a centerpiece of the home and can be a sanctuary from the trials and responsibilities of modern life. So making that room as welcoming and comfortable as possible is a top priority in most home designs.

Creative kitchen designs

These days, there may be more options for designing or redesigning your kitchen than there are kitchens in need of those services. Home design has been one of the true growth industries in the United States over the past several years, as more Americans choose to spend their money on longer term projects like home efficiency and design, rather than on perishable goods like clothes and entertainment.

The only downside of that remarkable range of choice is that it can be hard to sift through all of the options and find what works best for you and your kitchen. One area of that industry that has garnered a lot of attention lately is products made with bamboo. Panels and flooring are just two of the many bamboo-derived products that can emulate the look and feel of wood in your kitchen while being more durable, resistant and environmentally sustainable.

Bamboo products are also extremely versatile. Although primarily used for cabinetry and flooring, they can also be used to build or adorn other kitchen essentials like tables and chairs, and to decoratively cover other surface areas as well.

The many benefits of bamboo

While technically a grass, bamboo is actually much stronger than many types of wood. And that strength doesn’t come at the cost of pliability, as bamboo hardwood floors retain their springiness for years, making high-traffic areas like the kitchen ideal spots for installation.

Plyboo, from Smith & Fong, a San Francisco company that has been in the business for more than 20 years, is a type of bamboo plywood that can be easily adapted to pretty much any project in pretty much any kitchen. Whether it’s used strictly as an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional plywood, or as part of the aesthetic design of your kitchen or other parts of your home,

Plyboo is the ideal product for the modern homeowner who is looking to marry style and sustainability.