Rachel Maloney's kitchen counters contain crushed walnut shells. The locally made cabinets are formaldehyde-free. The backsplash tile is composed of waste glass. In fact, Maloney's Craftsman-style kitchen could have been lifted from the showroom of Natural Built Home, the eco-conscious business she founded. Maloney sold it last week and plans to continue to work there as a consultant.
In 2005, when only a few people knew -- or cared -- what VOC stood for, Maloney began offering environmentally friendly building and finishing materials to homeowners, first from a website and, later, from a retail store in south Minneapolis.
"My husband and I had bought this new house and we wanted to paint the white walls yellow and green, but we couldn't find healthy nontoxic paint that wouldn't give us a headache," said Maloney. "I decided to start a business where consumers can find these products and also become educated about the differences."
For the seventh year, Maloney and other eco-conscious experts and organizations will advocate green living at the Minnesota State Fair's Eco Experience. We caught up with her to talk about her pioneering business, the comeback of linoleum and the alternative to granite.
Q The green-building movement was still on the fringes when you started your business. Why did you decide to take the gamble?
A I saw the benefits of having all different kinds of products in one place -- nontoxic countertops, healthy paints and water-saving toilets -- so people could see and touch them.
Q What was the response?
A The first customers were hard-core green folks. Over the years, the clientele has evolved, and people are coming in for so many different reasons. A new mom might be looking for nontoxic paint for the nursery. They're not necessarily people who drive a Prius and have solar panels on their roof. Some people just think the products are beautiful, like recycled-glass countertops. The fact that it's made of recycled glass and locally produced is a bonus.
