Pacific Northwest Surface Trends are Extreme Luxury Mixed with Uber- Sustainability Rather than Just Green

SEATTLE, Wash. (March 12, 2008) – According to Lee Hojin, architect/design buyer at Pental Granite & Marble, extreme luxury and uber-sustainability are the surface trends in commercial projects and residential design and remodels in the Pacific Northwest. These two styles could be seen as a complete contradiction unless you understand the reason they are important: homeowners expect that products are environmentally-friendly, and they want elements that make them feel unique.

“The countertops and flooring can’t just be green,” Lee adds. “They must be beautiful and striking. We represent this balance in our showrooms. We travel the world looking for natural products that feel and look distinctive and amazing.”
The Pacific Northwest has long been recognized as a leader in the movement toward sustainable building practices. Now, green has become expected and often demanded. However, “there is a common misperception that sustainability equates to rustic or unrefined,” says Lee. True to regional form, Pental is intent on challenging these confines by finding contemporary, edgy and unique design solutions that are also sustainable.
This year, Pental is offering many new products that fit these needs. This is just a sample of the unique quality items that are in demand by architects and designers:
␣ Vetrazzo: From bottles and jars collected from curbside recycling programs to stemware, dinnerware, windshields and even traffic lights, these beautiful and durable slabs are comprised of 85 percent recycled glass, half of which would otherwise end up in landfills. In addition to their extremely high recycled content, Vetrazzo contains no toxins or VOC’s. Available in a variety of stunning colors formed into entirely unique slabs, Vetrazzo can be used in multiple applications. Vetrazzo is made on the West Coast and developed from regional materials.

␣ Bio-glass slabs: This product is made from 100 percent recycled glass and is fully recyclable. White and light green slabs contain pre-consumer recycled glass; brown contains post-consumer recycled glass. The product is completely inert and does not produce any off-gassing. Some of its many uses include countertops and worktops, accent walls and flooring. The natural finish is satin with a slight texture. Light colors allow light to shine through. This product is not tempered glass. Bio-glass is available in Polished (107″ x 45″ x 3/4″ slabs) and Natural (110″ x 49″ x 3/4″ slabs).
␣ EcoTech Porcelain: These tiles are made from the powder, body and scrap remaining after the processing of other porcelain products—composed of up to 100 percent recycled material. EcoTech Porcelain comes in 24” x 24” tiles and can be used both for both indoor and outdoor surfaces. This product come in two surface finishes—natural and textured—and is available in four organic colors: Ecolight, Ecodark, Ecogrey and Ecogreen.

␣ Terrazzo: Composed from a variety of recycled materials such as limestone, marble, glass and granite mixed with cement or epoxy, people choose Terrazzo for its playful palette or its edgy European look. Currently, the Terrazzo line includes the Eco-Terr tile and Eco-Terr Slab series’, the Trend Q Slab series and the Vetrazzo series. These Terrazzo lines are available exclusively through Pental in a variety of tiles, and slabs are available for commercial projects.
“We’re intent on stretching the creative and imaginative limits of the design industry,” adds Lee. “We are committed to offering that singular unique solution that will satisfy our customer’s creative vision.”
Pental’s contemporary and cutting edge eco-friendly lines can be viewed at any of their three showrooms, located in Seattle, Portland, Ore., or Fife, Wash, or online at www.pentalonline.com.

Pental provides products for both residential and commercial clients and projects throughout the Pacific Northwest, including: Microsoft, the WaMu Tower, Seattle Design Center, Four Seasons Hotel, Concourse C at the SEA/TAC Airport, 2200 Westlake condos, Widmer Brewery, The Governor Hotel, Southwest Washington Medical Center, Multnomah Athletic Club, Spirit Mountain Casino and Reed College.

Pental Granite & Marble was founded in 1999 by brothers Peter and Ravi Pental and has since grown to become the Pacific Northwest’s largest importer and wholesale distributor of natural stone and tile. Pental provides architects, designers and fabricators with unique, innovative and luxurious custom solutions to their commercial and residential projects. Pental has three showroom and warehouse locations open to the public in Seattle, Wash., Fife, Wash., and
Portland, Ore., showcasing a vast array of unique natural stone, porcelain, ceramic and eco- friendly tiles and slabs. For more information, visit www.pentalonline.com, or visit one of the company’s three showrooms, open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., as well as Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Fife and Portland and 9 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in Seattle.

For more information:
Erika Schmidt, APR or Laura Gese Frause
206-352-6402 / eschmidt@frause.com / lgese@frause.com